didnt look at the wires when i disconnected ceiling rose

[smccorry]

I brought a new light fitting because in the reviews it said it was easy to fit and i am having nothing but problems with it. I didnt look at the wires when i disconected the old ceiling rose, when i connected the new terminal block the light is on but i can not control it by the light switch, if i change the wire around it does not come on at all. I have 2 red wires 2 black wires and 2 earth wires, please help as i am having to control it by the trip switch and i don't know if it is safe.

 

[securespark]

I think you need to do the following:

Try the two reds together in their own terminal, then put one each of the blacks to live & neutral of the fitting (One should be marked with red tape as it is a switched live).

HOWEVER!!! You need to confirm which each wire does first.

WITH THE POWER OFF:

Sort the wires so that you have 2 groups of 3 wires belonging to the same cable.

Put each wire into a terminal block.

With the power back on, use a multimeter or two-pole tester to check you have a voltage at one group of wires:

216-252 between red and black.

216-252 between red & earth (bare copper)

0V (or as near as) between black & copper. If you have an audible warning on your voltage tester, it may buzz on this test.

When you get these readings, you have the feed cable.

The other cable should be a switch cable. This can be confirmed (with power OFF again) by putting a meter across red/black and with the setting to continuity, you get continuity with the switch on & none with it off. Mark the black with red sleeving.

If you get this result, then you can proceed with my wiring suggestion above.

 

[JohnD]

You have made a common mistake. Once you have dealt with it, you will never make that mistake again, and will always identify, mark and sketch all the wires in a light fitting before disconnecting them.

you will need to start by buying a Multimeter (about £10) in your local DIY or Electrical shop, and a small and a medium insulated screwdriver.

I recommend you also buy a roll of white PVC tape, and a permanent marker pen with a fine tip (you are going to write on the wires as you identify each one). Also buy a short length of green and Yellow sleeving as you may need it for the bare eartgh wires. I recommend you get some chock-block connector strips (5A size) as it is far safer to test wires when they are each screwed into a terminal then when they are flapping about and perhaps brushing your hand.

Then you can do as Mr Secure says.

 

[oharaf]

Oh dear the most common occurence.

Strangly have just been to my mates house to solve the same problem.

He spent 3 hrs yesterday trying to workout where he had gone wrong, I turned up today 10 mins and lights were on

He will not hear the end of this for a few months