Hi I bought a light fitting that says to connect red to connection marked L and neutral to N. The earth is marked but there is no N or L marked on the fitting. How do I know which is which. I am used to changing switches and fittings but dont know what to do with this. Does it matter if I get them the wrong way round.
Live and neutral not marked on light fitting
- Thread starter ttony2
- Start date
Depends what kind of light it is. Does it contain a transformer? If yes then you don't want ot get it the wrong way round. If there are no markings on the fitting then it might be able to be wired either way. Have you got a link to the light?
- Joined
- 27 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 27,500
- Reaction score
- 3,325
- Location
- Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool
- Country
Most electrical equipment will work connected either way around can't think of an example that would not. But many items have the switch connected to the line only so for safety it needs to be correct way around. With lights using a bayonet lamp normally it will not matter however lamps with screw fittings must have line to centre and neutral to outer screw.
In most light fittings the line is feed to the switch in red or brown and from the switch in black or blue with a red or brown sleeve on it which will be the line connector.
Note1:- L stands for Line not Live as both Line and Neutral are considered Live.
If the fitting is bayonet type it is quite likely not to indicate which is which as it would not matter and the same where a low to extra low voltage transformer is used.
Note2:- 230 volt is low voltage 12 volt is extra low voltage.
In most light fittings the line is feed to the switch in red or brown and from the switch in black or blue with a red or brown sleeve on it which will be the line connector.
Note1:- L stands for Line not Live as both Line and Neutral are considered Live.
If the fitting is bayonet type it is quite likely not to indicate which is which as it would not matter and the same where a low to extra low voltage transformer is used.
Note2:- 230 volt is low voltage 12 volt is extra low voltage.
Thanks for replies. Cant find a link to the fitting. It is a bayonet cap fitting so it should be alright either way then?
Love the fantastic irony of that typo...
On a more serious note, why do you think that if it has a transformer there would be a "wrong way round"?
In some transformers the answer is yes, there would be a wrong way.
Where a thermal fuse is fitted in the tranformer the live should go to that.
Where the primary and secondary windings are separated by a minimum distance it is considered good practise to take the neutral to the end of the primary winding closest to the secondary winding.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local