Dodgy wall lights..someone help please!

[irishruth]

We have a serious problem! Having taken down 2 existing wall lights to replace with modern dual lamp fittings, we have discovered some interesting wiring! We have 1 twin cable with an earth from left hand side and the same again on the right hand side and a random loose red wire on the left hand side fitting. On the right hand side fitting we have 1 red, 2 black and 2 earth. How does the left hand side fitting get wired up as we seem to either have permanent power or none at all whatever combinations we try!!!!!

PLEASE HELP! We have guests coming round Saturday lol and wallpapering to finish

Thanks

 

[colport27]

Is it me, or does that description sound as clear as mud?

 

[andy]

1: no need to post in big text. your not gonna get a reply any faster

2: how was it wired before you took it apart

3: use a multimeter to determine what cable does what

failing that, call a sparky

 

[irishruth]

thanks andy for your help, my dad recommended that we get a phase tester to see what the 2 red wires in the left fitting were as the one coming from the right makes the lights permanently on. Surely one of the other reds must be a switch one to make it turn on and off! Will let you know what happens

 

[Steve]

my dad recommended that we get a phase tester

a £8 auto ranging multimeter would do fine.

 

[irishruth]

does it sound like the wiring has been done wrong or what? 2 twin cables with a black, red and earth from each no problem but then this one loose in the middle! annoying me now

 

[colport27]

How are/were the wall lights switched beofre?
From a single wall switch that switched both at the same time?, or was the switch arrangement a switch for each wall light?
Did the old lights have integral switches?

 

[Pensdown]

Just to clarify

You have 2 cables (twin & Earth) each with 1 red, 1 black and 1 earth which total 2 reds, 2 blacks and 2 earths

You then have another red on its own which does not go into a cable sheath like the others?

 

[irishruth]

correct pensdown, one red wire not boxed of or anything! and 2 twin cables that seem ok. Went and bought a tester thingy, the twin cable from the right has a live red wire..no problems but the twin cable from the left the red is not beeping when you hold the tester thing near it. Is there a fault somewhere???

 

[irishruth]

colport , there is a single wall switch as you go in the room that switches both wall lights on at the same time..husband can't remember how they were when he took them down (typical bloke). The wiring on the far wall light looks different to the first wall light, husband says it looks straight forward. Called an electrician to come and have a look at it, he says he will have to trace the red dodgy wire upstairs as it comes from above!

 

[Al-Glasgow]

Ruth,

If you dont know what you are doing leave it alone, Your tester thingy ?, are we looking for voltage here or what ?.

Cant you call someone with electrical background. ?

Al

 

[Pensdown]

Ruth, getting a sparks in as you are doing is your best option by far. If you have a single red at the light this not only breaks loads of regs, its un-safe.

I hope you get it sorted before your party....you could always try inviting a sparks as one of your guests. Never meet one yet who turned down a free drink