Fitting a new light with fan

[Dr Pete]

Hi people

I tried replacing my light fitting in my living room however instead of the expected 9 wires, there are 10.

I've done the following with the cables as described in the manual:

3 Green/Yellow that I've put in Earth.
2 Black that I've put in N
1 Red that I've put in L
3 Red which I've put in a spare block and covered in insulating tape.

However, there is one more cable! It is BLUE!

There is no mention of an additional or any blue cables in the instructions. What shall I do with it?

I don't know if it helps but there are two switches in the room that control the light.

Help, anyone!

Thanks

 

[nstreet]

Where was the blue wire connected to in the original installation. Could be for two way switching or a switched live for a fan with timer etc etc.

 

[Dr Pete]

I didn't check the original wiring, I know, big mistake!

I think it must be for the two way switching?

If that is true, do you know what I should connect it to?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

2-way switching does not result in any extra wires at the ceiling rose.

What have you got at the switches? From your description of the rose your switch cable is red/red - were you able to identify it OK?

Have you tried it to see if everything works OK?

 

[securespark]

2-way switching does not result in any extra wires at the ceiling rose.

Not normally, Ban, but isn't there someone who has posted a method where you join a switchwire up in the rose to another conductor?

Maybe the blue one attaches to another of the cores the Dr has already terminated elsewhere.

 

[Dr Pete]

Thanks peeps,

Well I insulated the blue cable and have found that there is no electricity to that circuit so I'm guessing it does have to be connected to one of the other cables.

I really should have looked more closely at the connections before I removed them *makes note for future reference*

any ideas?

 

[mapj1]

Have a look at the switches, and then try and identify which wires go where, or post us a picture of ceiling rose and light switch details.
normally, if there is a blue, and no brown then a red and yellow will not be far away. It is always possible that it is a variation of loop through rose 2way switching - se the diagrams of common 2 way switches in the reference section, and then imagine looping the 3 core to the rose, rather than just the 2 core. Would that fit what you see?
If not you will need a meter and/or a test lamp and battery, a notepad, and a LOT of patience to work out from first principles what is there.

 

[securespark]

3 Green/Yellow that I've put in Earth.
2 Black that I've put in N
1 Red that I've put in L
3 Red which I've put in a spare block and covered in insulating tape.

However, there is one more cable! It is BLUE!

Just a quick thought - did you power up and see what happened?

Did the light switch on with switch, come on regardless of switch position, or maybe come on with switch off, then trip with switch on?

Are all the earths coming from t & e cables or are they singles?

IE, have you got three twin & earth cables, plus one blue on its own at the rose?

Have you got another light that comes on with the one you have taken down?

Have you got a twin red cable at the switch, plus a three core & earth linking the other one, or is it different?

The blue may be a switchwire or neutral for another fitting. Has it any marking on the blue?


We need answers to these Q's before we can proceed.

 

[securespark]

There is no mention of an additional or any blue cables in the instructions. What shall I do with it?

Hold on.......

Is the blue wire in the new fan fitting, or coming out of the ceiling?

I suspect it is attached to the fan light fitting. In which case, it may be an extra terminal to operate the fan independently of the light, but I'm not sure. If the blue wire you query is in the fitting, and there is no mention of it at all in the instructions, you need to get in touch with the manufacturer.

What is it labelled as?

 

[Dr Pete]

have you got two or more switches controlling this light?

Yep,. there are two switches controlling the light.

Just a quick thought - did you power up and see what happened?

With the blue disconnected, the light did not switch on or off, neither did any of the other lights on the circuit work.

Are all the earths coming from t & e cables or are they singles?

t&e? There are three "thick" (excuse my poor terminology!) cables coming out of the celin, each earth is from one of those.

IE, have you got three twin & earth cables, plus one blue on its own at the rose?

ahh, twin & earth Blue is coming out of one of the three "thick" cables.

Have you got another light that comes on with the one you have taken down?

No, it's just the one light.

Have you got a twin red cable at the switch?

I'm going to go check it out now and report back.

The blue may be a switchwire or neutral for another fitting. Has it any marking on the blue?

There are no markings on the blue cable.

Should I try connecting the blue to two black wires, or shall I wait until I've provided you with which cables are at the switch?

Thanks for your time

 

[securespark]

What other colours are in the cable along with the blue?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

ahh, twin & earth Blue is coming out of one of the three "thick" cables.

What are the other cores in that same cable?

Should I try connecting the blue to two black wires, or shall I wait until I've provided you with which cables are at the switch?

Don't do that - it might be live.

Get the switch info, but I also suggest you get a multimeter - you may well end up having to identify live and switched live conductors...

 

[Dr Pete]

Heres the diagrams!

Both switches are doubles and switch other lights in the circuit.

I hope this is of some help! Thanks

 

[Dr Pete]

There is no mention of an additional or any blue cables in the instructions. What shall I do with it?

Hold on.......

Is the blue wire in the new fan fitting, or coming out of the ceiling?

Its coming from the ceiling - I've not even got as far as connecting the fan wires up yet!

I hope the diagram makes it more clear

 

[jtaunton]

What are you doing with the Yellow wire that comes out of the ceiling ?

Can you be a bit clearer on what you mean by 'Blue (with Red)' and 'Yellow (with Red)'