Ceiling rose problem

[snaw]

Hi Guys,

Wonder if anyone can help me with a problem I have with a ceiling rose/light.

All seems straightforward, I have a light in my living room and attempting to put a new light up.

Red/black/earth at switch, quadruple chekced (with two diff switches) and wired as per instructions.

2 * Red/black earth on ceiling rose. not sure which goes to switch so tried each combination possible (Cabling as per instructions). Two brown cables from light fitting (tried both as well).

Nothing ever works, no load bangs or anything, just no light. Bulbs I've tested and they work fine.

Is it possible the mains cable isn't working (How to test?), or a problem with my light fitting?

Pointers appreciated, spent hours trying every combination I can see possible and no joy - I don't claim to be knowledgable but I'm pretty comfortable doing this kind of thing - done all the other lights/socket covers in house with no real issues..

Cheers.

John

 

[fireman22]

what are you saying you have at ceiling. coming out of ceiling two reds and two blacks forget about earths for the moment

 

[snaw]

Correct, yes.

Two pairs of red / black. (Two pairs in white shielding, if that makes sense)

 

[fireman22]

well if you haven't got any testers you should be able put both red's together in a connector block then one black goes to the blue cables of your light and the other black goes to the brown cables of your light it will work you should mark one of the blacks with red tape to show it is the switched live but you will need a tester to prove this. if the fitting takes es lamps the centre pin should be the live. try this then get back

 

[snaw]

OK Just finished trying that, and no joy.

The light is an imported one my wife bought - has no blue/borwn. Just two browns (Seems to form a loop - actually three lights in in)

I've got an electric test screwdriver, just not sure how to use it so not tried, if that's any use

 

[fireman22]

right open the red and blacks so they are all seperate with power off. then switch on power one of the red's should glow on your tester screwdriver if it is that type. if you find this, switch off and mark cable 1 so you know which is live in, then connect this red to other red with a connector block then power back up with the wall switch on the black of the second cable 2 should become live then go off when you switch the walls witch off. let me know how you get on so far

 

[snaw]

Guess my screwdriver isn't working - get nothing, tried on another light which I know is working and same.

 

[johnny_t]

fireman22's description of how to wire it should work.

Though there were no loud bangs, are you sure there isn't a circuit breaker back in your fusebox needs resetting, or a fuse rewiring or something ?

 

[fireman22]

is it the case you have changed other lights and there may be a problem with a previous light which is now not sending a feed to this light, you really need some form of tester neon screwdriver or multimeter so we can help you

 

[snaw]

Hi,

I have changed the light switches on all my downstairs lights, and one other light downstairs also (Two circuits, upstairs and down - apologies if my terminology isn't right). All been working ok.

Not sure if the change affected this one as I had taken the old light down quite a while ago, while we were waiting for the new one to arrive and were redecorating, been making do with a lamp.

No circuit breaker needin resetting (Cheked that and got it wrong before so know what happens). No fuse rewiring I can see anywhere (Used differmt switches also).

Just to verify - testing with the tester screwdriver, just have to touch the live wire with the screwdriver end and the light should come on inside if it's mains?

 

[fireman22]

yes be careful tho

 

[RF Lighting]

Just to verify - testing with the tester screwdriver, just have to touch the live wire with the screwdriver end and the light should come on inside if it's mains?

You need to make sure that you are touching the little metal bit on the end of the handle to complete the circuit. You also need to make sure you are not too insulated from earth either or it will not work. Also you need to make sure you are insulated enough from earth to make sure you dont receive an electric shock.

Even if the screwdriver doesn't light this is NOT confirmation that the circuit is dead. Neon screwdrivers are notoriusly unreliable, and can put a user in real danger.

Do your self a favour and buy a multimeter. Even a cheap one will be far far more reliable and accurate, and will come in useful for all sorts of electrical projects.

 

[plugwash]

a multimeter is only as good as the grounding of the other lead and the interpretation of the results.

 

[snaw]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the week long dealy - my wife's waters broke and we(She) had a baby - lighting came sort of bottom of my priorities for the last week.

Anyway, I've tested the live wires with the screwdriver and none of them have any current it appears (tested with the screwdriver on another light fitting and the screwdriver works fine).

As I mentioned I've redone the lights switches on all of my downstairs ring, and one other light. All others are working ok. Any ideas?

 

[fireman22]

if you have only done one other light i suspect fault may be here. cable may be broken in the connector or not tight in the connector open this light and tug each cable in turn.