Wiring an outside security light

[pooksahib]

I've been phoned by a relative - she's just bought an LED security light which has 3 points for connecting wires. The cable exiting her house (which was previously for a halogen lamp) has 4 wires.

Can she install the LED light? If so, which wire is the 'spare' and is it just a case of taping it up?

Thank you.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Impossible to tell from here.

Was there a light there before?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Your relative either needs a multimeter and an understanding of electrical circuits and UK domestic wiring practices or an electrician.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Can she install the LED light?

which wire is the 'spare' and is it just a case of taping it up?

Untitled

• Taylortwocities
• 17 Apr 2008
• 30

 

[PaulUszak]

Don't they always cut the red wire?

 

[Taylortwocities]

If its a bomb, then James Bond usually cuts the blue..

..but then again, cables these days don't have a red wire...


but seriously

Your relative either needs a multimeter and an understanding of electrical circuits and UK domestic wiring practices or an electrician.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Don't they always cut the red wire?

No - sometimes they might be colour blind.

 

[JohnD]

 

[ban-all-sheds]

As I recall, the wire which needed cutting in the bomb strapped to a woman in the recent series of No Offence was plain uninsulated copper.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Hands up those who, if making a bomb which (I assume, reasonably) they would prefer not to be easily disabled, would do anything other than use random colours, or no mixed colours at all?

 

[pooksahib]

Electrician it is then...

 

[Taylortwocities]

Afraid so. It's an easy job if you have the test gear.
Unfortunately, there's no standard way of wiring these things up. Some installers can be very creative in their methods.
And we don't guess.