How to identify cables?

[lemonman]

I have spotlights in the ceiling.

at the switch there was three cables
however they have all been terminated before and I am now unable to id each cable.

is there a way of ID'ing each?

the lights are the only ones on this particular circuit, if that helps? ( 10 spots )

 

[EFLImpudence]

Have you a multimeter?

Do you know what each cable is likely to be?

 

[lemonman]

I do have a mult-meter

But as for what cables what. No idea

Old set up was two 2g switches

But as it was all terminated and not wired back up.

Again, 10 spots ,3 cables at switch.. These are all that is on the circuit

I presume one is from the CU?
but the other two...? Genuinely no idea.

That's even assuming one is from the cu

 

[Iggifer]

if it was two 2 way switches, then presumably you have 8 inner cores (excluding earths?)

That would indicate your 2 core + earth is the live + switched live

and then your two 3c+e are your strappers to the other switch.

BUT, this would require one of the other switches to have a 2 core + earth plus a 3-core and earth.

If you could clarify - photos! we can be more specific

 

[lemonman]

unfortunately, to complicate things farther, the three cables are just T&E

Give me an hour or so to sort stuff from work and I'll be able to switch the electric off and grab a few pics of the cables.

 

[Iggifer]

No worries it's easy enough to sort with a multimeter.

A photo of the wiring at the switch and maybe one of the old switch would help

 

[lemonman]

sorry just to clarify

the wiring is all currently terminated in a wago box and the circuit switched off at the CU.

I do not have the old switch or any ideas on how it was wired.

I can however take a photo of the cables, however that will literally depict
three T&E cables , and thats about all.

 

[Iggifer]

OK the no worries.

I'm assuming there is no sleeving on blacks?

How have the cables been terminated in Wagos? Individually or have some been grouped together?

 

[lemonman]

At the moment all cables are terminated together in a wago box

Ie.

Three live into a wago connector
Three neutral into a wago
Three earth into a wago

Then all connector blocks are inside a wago box

If you flick the switch on the CU
Lights come on but only 3 I think of the 10

Edit. No sadly no sleeving that may have helped ID a switched live

 

[Iggifer]

Very strange.

And you definitely had two 2-way light switches before? as in 2 switches you can operate from 2 places - sorry but I want to be clear

First thing I would do is identify your permanent live(s). Once you've got this you at least have a starting point.

With the power off, put each live cable into a separate piece of connector block or wago, then turn the power on and with your multimeter set to volts test between earth and each live cable until you get ~230v. Turn the power off again. (I suspect at least 2 will be live) make sure the blacks are still safe at this point - colour does not mean they're not live.

 

[lemonman]

The switch was two 2G switches
So 4 switches all in.

This was the only location that you could turn on the lights
So they weren't two way

 

[Iggifer]

OK so 4x1 way switches?

And you could turn the spots on in sections?

It's becoming a bit clearer now

 

[lemonman]

Correct.
But rather than a single back box it was just two single boxes with 2g switches

But the same end result as the item above.

 

[lemonman]

right, I have identified a permanent live from the CU.

meaning I have:

1 x T&E from the CU to the switch
2 X T&E are to the spotlights from the switch

I want ideally a 2g switch.
What would be the best way to connect this up?