Is there any reason why my light fitting has 5 cables...

[Kether]

instead of 3 in the usual Rose fitting?

I've bought a new pendant lightshade to fit and removed the original rose fitting to discover 5 cables wired to the fitting.

Is it a case of getting a 5 cable connector instead of the 3 and following the usual procedure to wire up the new fitting?

Picture attached.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

What type of fitting are you replacing the old one for?
Looks like you have an addition two feeds for other lights but at least your switch cables are identifiable, being the pair with the one that has the red sleeving.

 

[riveralt]

Normally you have loop in and loop out and switch wire at a ceiling rose.
However your ceiling rose could also contain a switch link to another lamp controlled by the same switch and a link to a smoke detector.

There are other alternatives.

Looks like you have the switch & switch live (black with red sleeving) cable identified, you just need to identify the loop cables to get this pendant working. You will then need to identify where the other two cables go.

You did of course photograph or make a note of where the cables went in the ceiling rose your replaced - didn't you?

Do you have a multimeter that you know how to use, because you might need one?

 

[xr4x4]

The switch for this light fitting, does it work any other lights?

Someone may have used this lighting loop to feed another light or circuit.

 

[sparkwright]

It's just a case of connecting the new light up in the same way the old light was wired. You may need an additional connector block for the wires that were connected to the centre 'loop' terminal of the old ceiling rose.

 

[Kether]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm fitting an aluminium pendant light fitting from habitat and the new fitting has a plastic box at the end of the flex with connections for the blue, brown and earth wires.

I've actually put the old rose connector back in place before I order the connectors to be able to cap the loop.

Am I correct in thinking I need:

a 5-way connector to connect all the red wires.

a 3-way connector to connect 3 of the blacks together.

The black with the red sleeve and another black will complete the lighting circuit.

All 5 earths to be connected and then wired to the earth terminal.

I live in a Victorian Terrace but the fusebox seems pretty new (under 5 years old) - is it likely that the Earth wires are not actually Earthed and it would be dangerous to fit a metal fitting?

 

[aptsys]

Am I correct in thinking I need:

a 5-way connector to connect all the red wires.

a 3-way connector to connect 3 of the blacks together.

The black with the red sleeve and another black will complete the lighting circuit.

It depends how it was connected originally. Do you know which cable does what, or did you take a note of where they were connected?

 

[Kether]

Am I correct in thinking I need:

a 5-way connector to connect all the red wires.

a 3-way connector to connect 3 of the blacks together.

The black with the red sleeve and another black will complete the lighting circuit.

It depends how it was connected originally. Do you know which cable does what, or did you take a note of where they were connected?

The 5 red went into the Loop in
The switch live went into the L side
All the other blacks went into the N side
Earth cables were attached to the Earth point as best as possible, it was pretty crammed.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You'll need to replicate that, or (I assume) a bunch of lights will stop working.

I suggest you use something like this

rather than trying to cram that many cables into the new light fitting.

 

[Kether]

You'll need to replicate that, or (I assume) a bunch of lights will stop working.

I suggest you use something like this

rather than trying to cram that many cables into the new light fitting.

That device looks like a more sophisticated version than the one that comes with the light shade. Can you pick them up in Maplin?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Why on earth would you use Mapljn for electrical accessories?

 

[Kether]

Why on earth would you use Mapljn for electrical accessories?

They sell random electrical stuff and there's one near my work.

 

[Kether]

It's ok, turns out there's a TLC about 5 mins walk from my house. Will pick up a junction box on the way to work tomorrow.

 

[sparkwright]

Is the light going upstairs or downstairs?

If downstairs, how are you going to fit the junction box? Assuming you have old lath and plaster ceilings you don't want to be cutting large holes in that as it crumbles away.