existing cables

[drem]

I am installing a new downlight and would like to connect to an existing cable which previously connected to a wall light via a dimmer switch. The transformer on my new light has a live and neutral connection but the existing cable has a live red wire plus 2 neutral? black wires. I'm not sure why i have two black wires or how i should wire up my new light. Can you anyone help.

 

[securespark]

Pics and or more detailed description will help a great deal.

 

[Damocles]

Not an earth which someone has sleeved with a piece of cut off black instead of green? Should be the central uninsulated wire with red one side and black the other of a standard cable.

 

[bathjobby]

Or if it is from another sheath it may well be a 'switched live'. With this level of information, impossible to tell. If you can't further your understanding from this, suggest you get someone in.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

a dimmer switch.....transformer

You should also check if this is an acceptable combination....

 

[drem]

Thanks all. It turns out the second black was the earth with a black sleeve placed over it.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

It was the unsleeved middle core of the twin and earth.

Are you absolutely sure it was being used as an earth?

 

[drem]

I'm not absolutely sure it was being used as an earth but I wired the new light up and it seems to work fine. The dimmer switch however does make a faint buzzing noise which makes me a bit nurvous so I may get someone in to have a look at it.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The dimmer switch however does make a faint buzzing noise

Ahem:

a dimmer switch.....transformer

You should also check if this is an acceptable combination....