Hi
I am attempting to replace an old ceiling light and replace it with a new pendant.
The house was built in 1971 and still has the same electrics from when it was first built.
I started removing the old light and found out the 3 cables (brown, blue and green/yellow) from the light were connected into a choc box. These 3 were in turn connected to a further 2 choc boxes as shown in the picture:
The same 3 colours continued into the 2 choc boxes, but then as you can see when they go into the choc boxes they change colour:
brown to red
blue to green
green/yellow to black
I tried rewiring using 'modern' colours i.e.
from the pendant brown joining ceiling cable red
from the pendant blue joining ceiling cable black
from the ceiling cable green into earth
As soon as I turned the power on the fuse tripped. So instead I tried to replicate what I had found when I disconnected the old light i.e.
from the pendant brown joining ceiling cable red
from the pendant blue joining ceiling cable green
from the ceiling cable black into earth
As shown below and this now works!
I'm a bit baffled how this works as I have just replaced all the other lights in the house and found different configurations each time.
I did have an electrician check the cabling in the house and although he said it was old he said it was safe. He comes from the school of thought that if it ain't broke don't fix it, but he did say all the pendants needed to be replaced.
As the light works I'm happyish but naturally concerned if it is correct and safe. What's you opinions chaps?
Thanks
I am attempting to replace an old ceiling light and replace it with a new pendant.
The house was built in 1971 and still has the same electrics from when it was first built.
I started removing the old light and found out the 3 cables (brown, blue and green/yellow) from the light were connected into a choc box. These 3 were in turn connected to a further 2 choc boxes as shown in the picture:
The same 3 colours continued into the 2 choc boxes, but then as you can see when they go into the choc boxes they change colour:
brown to red
blue to green
green/yellow to black
I tried rewiring using 'modern' colours i.e.
from the pendant brown joining ceiling cable red
from the pendant blue joining ceiling cable black
from the ceiling cable green into earth
As soon as I turned the power on the fuse tripped. So instead I tried to replicate what I had found when I disconnected the old light i.e.
from the pendant brown joining ceiling cable red
from the pendant blue joining ceiling cable green
from the ceiling cable black into earth
As shown below and this now works!
I'm a bit baffled how this works as I have just replaced all the other lights in the house and found different configurations each time.
I did have an electrician check the cabling in the house and although he said it was old he said it was safe. He comes from the school of thought that if it ain't broke don't fix it, but he did say all the pendants needed to be replaced.
As the light works I'm happyish but naturally concerned if it is correct and safe. What's you opinions chaps?
Thanks