3 reds and 3 blacks!

[zockie]

Good Morning.

I want to replace a 1970's ceiling rose/batten holder with a new 3-light ceiling fitting.

I have disconnected the ceiling rose/batten holder and there are 3 red wires and 3 black wires (3 reds connected to one terminal, 2 black to another, and 1 black to the 3rd terminal, as shown in the photo below - if my upload has worked!).

However the new ceiling fitting has 1 live, 1 neutral, and 1 earth terminal.

Please can anyone advise how to connect the 3 red and 3 black wires to the new fitting. Thanks.

 

[Spark123]

Can't see the photo

The black on its own is switch live and should have a red sleeve and connects to the L terminal.
All the reds go together and to nothing else, you'll need an extra piece of block for this.
The two blacks go to the N terminal.
All 3 earths go to the earth terminal.

 

[zockie]

Thanks Spark123, that's very helpful.

We don't have any earth cables in the ceiling, so presumably we just don't connect anything to the eachrth terminal in the new light fitting?

thanks

 

[flameport]

We don't have any earth cables in the ceiling,

If the new light fitting has an earth terminal, then you CANNOT install it.

Your options are
- put the old light fitting back
- get another fitting which doesn't require an earth
- rewire the circuit so that it has an earth.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

OMG.

Untitled

• zockie
• 12 Aug 2011
• 1

put the old light fitting back

No.

Some idiot has connected the lives to an earth terminal. Who knows what other idiocy he's done.

zockie - your life could be at risk - please get an electrician to inspect your installation asap.

 

[sparkwright]

I'm quite certain that is not an earth terminal, and that is the loop terminal. I think that's how the old battenholders were.

Often a circular pattress was available, though not always used, which had an earth terminal.

Check in the ceiling void for earth wires; sometimes the bare earth wires were twisted together and shoved up in the ceiling void.

If you can't see any earth wires inspect the cables to see if they have been chopped off.

 

[bernardgreen]

I'm quite certain that is not an earth terminal, and that is the loop terminal. I think that's how the old battenholders were..

You are correct. it is a loop terminal and was ( maybe still is ) quite common on batten holders.

 

[securespark]

I'll second that. Many older (and some newer) battens have a loop terminal in the lampholder.

EDIT: Just looked at it close-up.

It looks like it could be an earth terminal as it is wholly exposed.

Loop terminals are usually shrouded by insulating material, like the switched live & neutral terminals.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Got to say that was my thinking - all exposed like that makes it an earth teminal...

 

[sparkticus]

IF it is a loop terminal then it is still not safe by any definition.