What's the second cable?

[Jupiter01]

Single conductor in each would be switched live in one and neutral in the other .No earth would mean you should not connect this type of fitting that is currently there. If the cable is round its likely to only carry a single conductor.

But one of the cables isn’t even going back in the direction of the switch. It’s headed elsewhere

 

[terryplumb]

Why would the neutral need to head toward the switch ? Only the switched live needs to come from the switch to the fitting. The neutral would be coming from elsewhere.

 

[chivers67]

The switch needs two wires Terminated into it - one Live in - one Switched live out.

 

[terryplumb]

The switch needs two wires Terminated into it - one Live in - one Switched live out.

Quite right ,but the feed doesn't have to come from the light fitting.

 

[chivers67]

No it doesn't but since there's only two cables at the fitting where else do you think it would come from?

 

[terryplumb]

No it doesn't but since there's only two cables at the fitting where else do you think it would come from?

Permanent live looped from switch to switch would be the most obvious . could be a two gang switch for all we know ,with a bridge .Or from a junction box or another lighting point.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Unfortunately, I don't have a multimeter

You really should rectify that unfortunate situation.

A multimeter, at least, is an essential tool to have if you want to work on your electrics. It is just as important to have that correct tool as it is to have screwdrivers to use on screws instead of the point of a vegetable knife, wirecutters to use instead of nail scissors, wirestrippers to use instead of teeth, and so on.

Neon screwdrivers are questionable from a safety POV as they use your body as a current path, and they are unreliable. and non-contact testers (magic wands) are also not much more than toys. To safely check for voltage you must use a 2-pole tester, such as a proper voltage indicator or a multimeter.

This looks ideal for a household starter set - multimeter, 2-pole voltage indicator and dedicated continuity tester, all in a handy case: https://www.beha-amprobe.com/en/products/electrical-testers/junior-set-and-kits/amprb-eu-03-a



Also see another discussion here: http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=26282 It's several years old, so specific model number advice will be obsolete, and prices will be higher, but the generic advice is still sound.

 

[Taylortwocities]

I’ll second that!
Please remember that AC circuits require two elements to work:
Live and Neutral

While those magic wand things are helpful in indicating the nearness of a live conductor, they are useless in determining the presence of the neutral.

A two-probe voltage test device is an essential tool.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The only time I've used one was to identify which cable in a bunch I needed to cut into when I couldn't physically trace it.

I still turned off at the main switch before cutting, and then after cutting confirmed that it really was the right cable.

 

[Jupiter01]

Update: each cable had one inner core: 1 had the switched live coming from switch and the other was neutral coming from elsewhere in the house. The tester was spot on in its reading of the live current, as was @terryplumb with his earlier post.

Thanks for everyone’s help and I will look into the testing equipment mentioned above too.

 

[Jupiter01]

@ban-all-sheds ”non-contact testers not much more than toys” really? That’s a gross exaggeration surely?

I’m sure the double pole testers add value but that doesn’t completely diminish the value of the Non-Contact tester? Or does it?

I’ve used this countless times and it’s been spot on. As was the case today too

I wil look into the double pole tester but my current tester has been a constant companion I feel

 

[Taylortwocities]

As I said, it won't help you find a broken neutral, and that's at least 50% of the disconnect faults that you'll experience.
Also, those things can lie to you, or give you false information. They will readily pick up induced voltages from an adjacent circuit and make you believe that there is voltage present on a ciruit that has been disconnected. Put them in the wrong position and they won't detect voltage when the circuit is still energised.

Really, I wouldn't put my fingers in a circuit where isolation had been 'suggested' by one of those magic wands. They have their uses, but they are not a 100% reliable test tool.

 

[terryplumb]

Update: each cable had one inner core: 1 had the switched live coming from switch and the other was neutral coming from elsewhere in the house. The tester was spot on in its reading of the live current, as was @terryplumb with his earlier post.

Thanks for everyone’s help and I will look into the testing equipment mentioned above too.

So there is no CPC ( earth conductor) ?
If so you should only fit double insulated light fittings ,and switch plates should not be metal either. You would be wise to check the rest of your lighting circuits / accessories.

 

[Jupiter01]

There is no earth wire. I was planning to install a led light unit. What should I be looking for in the spec of this light?

 

[Taylortwocities]

You really should learn to read the helpful replies to your questions …

There is no earth wire. I was planning to install a led light unit. What should I be looking for in the spec of this light?

you should only fit double insulated light fittings ,and switch plates should not be metal either.