Conservatory Light Issue!

[Harvey1234]

Hello all, I have recently removed our conservatory light which incorporated a fan - with both the light and fan activated by a pull string cord. There is a switch on the wall which I believe (only recently moved in) provided power to this unit.

I have replaced the fan unit with a light only, which in theory should turn off and on using the switch on the wall. However - although I can get the light to come on I cannot get the switch to turn it on or off..

I have two red wires - one live joining the brown on the light and one unused.

Two black wires one joining the blue on the light and one unused

earth to earth

light comes on but will not be controlled by switch on wall, I have tried swapping in and out the other red and other black cable but it does not seem to make any difference or complete the circuit.

Any obvious errors??

I am of course killing the circuit prior to touching any wires..

Thank you in anticipation.

 

[Harvey1234]

Photo

 

[sparkwright]

Were the 'unused' wires at the light position joined together or completely separate?

Can you do a picture of the wiring at the switch?

 

[Harvey1234]

I believe they were all used, presumably some powered the fan unit, some powered the light..

 

[333rocky333]

You may find the pair of wires not connected actually go to the switch and the reason it does not switch on/off
Likely you have connected the new light to the permanent L and N which is quite normal to find at a ceiling rose.

 

[sparkwright]

I believe they were all used, presumably some powered the fan unit, some powered the light..

Did one of the blacks at light position have a small red sleeve over it?

 

[EFLImpudence]

There isn't much point having two switches in parallel.

As you don't appear to know what the switch did before, what is wrong with the arrangement you now have?
That is - the light operated by the pull switch.

 

[sparkwright]

There isn't much point having two switches in parallel.

As you don't appear to know what the switch did before, what is wrong with the arrangement you now have?
That is - the light operated by the pull switch.

Because, as I understand it, the pull switch was on the old fan-light which has now gone.

 

[sparkwright]

I would have expected the two reds to be connected in a separate connector block.

The black from the switch (sleeved red) to go to the LIVE of the light.

The remaining black to go to the NEUTRAL of the light.

The two earths to go to the earth terminal.

DO NOT TRY THIS YET UNTIL WE HAVE GAINED A BIT MORE INFO FIRST.

It may be that the fan-light was put up by an amateur, and the incorrect wiring was not a problem as the fan-light was operated by it's pull switch.



Ideally you need a multimeter to confirm the wiring before you do any more guesswork.

(BTW, where you have started to connect your new light, you shouldn't have the wires running through that metal bracket in that manner - you risk damaging the wires and causing a short circuit.)

 

[Harvey1234]

Thank you for all your contributions.

The longest black cable had a blue sleeve on it. I have tried using this black to the neutral and other black to the live (leaving the two red spare) but with no joy. To be honest I’ve tried nearly every combination possible after growing increasingly frustrated but the only one that actually activates light is the one pictured.

Also sparkright you are correct in saying the pull string switches were on the fan/light fixing previously fitted.

Are multimeters expensive? and likely to solve my issue with no need for additional wire - like most people trying to save the cost of an electrician for what seems like it could be just a case of swapping one wire for another..

 

[TimboTwo]

"The longest black cable had a blue sleeve on it. I have tried using this black to the neutral and other black to the live (leaving the two red spare)"

Did you join the two reds together when you did this?

 

[Harvey1234]

No I didn’t, would this be required?

 

[Harvey1234]

Legend! That’s solved it!