ceiling light

[ian1888ah]

Im trying to fit a new ceiling light, the previous occupants removed the light and left bare wires.
Coming out of the ceiling there are 3 x 2c wires red and black.
Ive tried to connect each of the wires to the new light and only one pair works but the dimmer switch on the wall wont dim or turn them off. The dimmer switch is wired correctly though.
Any ideas?

Thanks Ian

 

[breezer]

you need a multimeter to find which cable does what

the pair that "work" are the supply

one of those that dont work is your switch cable, the other id the feed to the next light

look in for refernce as to how it should be wired.

you also do not mention earth, please say you just didn't mention it for clarity

 

[ian1888ah]

Thanks breezer, yes i missed out the earth for clarity.
Im just looking at ur ceiling rose diagram, its a shame there wasnt a proper one up, instead there were just chop blocks.
I think the 1st thing to do will be to find the 2 wires from the switch using a multimeter. Then chop block the lighting circuit back together and run a new feed from there?

Thanks

 

[breezer]

why not put a ceiling rose up? or is your new light fitting a "chandelier" type that requires no rose?

also if you must use choc bloc it should go in a suitabl choc box (tlc supply them)

is there really is an earth ?

 

[ian1888ah]

Thats correct it is a chandelier type.
So iv got the 2 live wires, need to connect them to the other 2 that arent the switch, then the neutral from the feed in and the live from the switch to the light is that correct?

 

[breezer]

no its not quite right, (or the way you worded it) have a look again in for refernce

 

[ian1888ah]

ok, if the live and neutral coming in that will light up the light correct.
and im goin to find the switched wires by using a multimeter.
so connect up the live and neutral coming in to the live and neutral leading to the next light.
connect the live from the switch to the live coming in and the neutral from the switch to the other light as well as the live from the ring?

 

[breezer]

bingo! (oh and its not a ring)

but your words are wrong, the "neutral from the switch" is actually the switched live and should be connected to the brown or red wire of the light, and as its a black wire it should be markd with red tape to indicate it is a switched live.
(saves you going through this when you next change the light)

you still haven't said about the earths, these should be covered in green / yellow sleaving, if you havent got any earths please say so, its very important

 

[ian1888ah]

Thanks breezer
Got it all srted now, so i now understand how the lighting wireing works.
Oh and earths are all sorted.
Just one question wondered if you could help, the light iv fitted has a transformer in the top because it uses low voltage bulbs, but there is a buzzing noise coming from it, is this to do with the dimmer switch being used?

 

[breezer]

probably.

not all transformers are dimable, and also your dimmer may ne be cabable of dimming the transformer

 

[BR]

Oh and earths are all sorted.

Oh ya, all sorted, 100%. There is no more an earth wire there..............