dodgy bathroom spotlight

[someonelse]

It's an E27 Edison screw cap. For a while it's been erratic but a quick fiddle with the bulb always got it to work again.
Now it's pretty permanantly off, but twisting/pushing it makes it flash. But I can't find a position where it stays on anymore.
Clearly the bulb has not died so I can only presume a connection somewhere.
I've had the bulb out and cleaned the connectors in case it was dirt/rust affection the connection.
And I've adjusted the connectors within the bulb holder in case they'd been pushed flat and weren't connecting properly.
But no luck.
What else could it be?
I'm inclining towards replacing the light fitting, but before I do (and break my shielding by going out to a shop), is there anything else I can try?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It might be a loose terminal, where the flex enters the fitting, or the lamp has poor soldering.

 

[someonelse]

Cheers.
Will check tomorrow in daylight (obv with power off...!)

 

[someonelse]

Yes-loose wires.
So loose that the whole lamp came away in my hand and now I don't know which wire goes back where....

 

[Taylortwocities]

I would expect two reds in the L (brown) terminal. Two blues in the N (blue) terminal.

there should be an earth connection to the central (earth) terminal too.

 

[ericmark]

I would test the terminal with no wires in it, if screws are in then @Taylortwocities is correct, it would seem simple live feed. If screws are slack enough to fit wires in that unused terminal, then it may be wired different.

 

[aptsys]

I would test the terminal with no wires in it, if screws are in then @Taylortwocities is correct, it would seem simple live feed. If screws are slack enough to fit wires in that unused terminal, then it may be wired different.

Which terminal with no wires in it?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I would expect two reds in the L (brown) terminal. Two blues in the N (blue) terminal.

there should be an earth connection to the central (earth) terminal too.

Two red in the term with brown in it (L), two BLACKS into the term with blue in it (N). The earth term seems to be just a place to park an earth wire, if there is one.

 

[aptsys]

Two red in the term with brown in it (L), two BLACKS into the term with blue in it (N). The earth term seems to be just a place to park an earth wire, if there is one.

Looks like there may be a folded piece of metal in the earth terminal, but difficult to tell from the photo.

 

[ericmark]

Which terminal with no wires in it?

Sorry my error I can now see was for earth wires not loop.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Isn't this the metal tab that should be in the earth terminal?

 

[someonelse]

Thanks everyone.

Two red in the term with brown in it (L), two BLACKS into the term with blue in it (N).

Sorted.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

What is that item on th

Thanks everyone.

Two red in the term with brown in it (L), two BLACKS into the term with blue in it (N).

Sorted.

Apart from the complete lack of an earth, where one seems to be required..

 

[someonelse]

Ha! Too good to be true!

Now the shaving socket below is dead. I assume that's why there are 2 pairsof wires in the lamp? One feeds on down to the shaver?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Now the shaving socket below is dead. I assume that's why there are 2 pairsof wires in the lamp? One feeds on down to the shaver?

Probably, but are you sure you know what you are doing? Electrics in bathrooms can be quite deadly if not done properly.

Looking again at your photo of the wires emerging through the ceiling, it looks as if there might actually be an earth wire there - cut short, hidden by the other cables, but covered with some green/yellow sleeving.