Light at top of Stairs won't switch off - HELP

[wooly]

I have changed various lights around my house (and all work fine!!)but have encountered problems with my latest - the light at the top of my stairs.

I removed the basic pendant and copied down where the wires go and also marked the wires. Reconnected new light and it lit up beautifully! But it would not switch off

I then reconnected the old light exactly as before and guess what, the same thing, it won't turn off
What have I done wrong??
Am I an idiot?

The details (as far as I am cocerned) - 2 earth green/yellow 1 black neutral 2 red loop and 1 red live


All help appreciated.

 

[andy]

does the switch work properly? test with multimeter

 

[sparkybird]

If you are 100% sure that you reconnected it the same way, maybe the problem is the switch - ie it is not breaking the circuit - try replacing it with another switch maybe - one you know that works.

If you are not 100% sure that you reconnected in the same way, it sounds like you've connected the light to the supply, which is permanently live and this is why you can't switch it off. If you have a multimeter you could verify which is the switch line to check it. The switch line (at the light) is the one that has a red conductor in the permanent live (middle section of the ceiling rose) and the black conductor (hopefully marked with red) going to the live side of the load (the light).

 

[Lectrician]

Would be odd for a switch to decide to give up just as you change the light fitting.....

I think you have possibly done the old-age art of parallel the switch to the supply, switching the switch, and frazzling it.

Describe which cores of the cables go where in the light fitting.....

Getting the black and sw live(black) muddled on an end loop (as your sounds, as only two cables), will not make much odds (other than the polarity being incorrect), this is why I think you have done something very wrong.

 

[wooly]

Thanks for replys.

2 wires feeding light - 1 has black and red - these I have connected 1 to neutral (black to blue) and the other (red to live). I have then connected the other 2 red wires into the loop section.
The switch at the top of the stairs is single.
There is also a switch at the bottom of the stairs - a double which correctly turns the downstairs light on and off but has no effect at the top of the stairs.

Do you folks still think I should change the switch?

Sparkybird, there is no black wire with red on (I have seen this on my other lights).
I do have a multi meter if this helps.

 

[Lectrician]

Ok, one of the two core cables is the feed - a constant live and a neutral.

The other is the switch drop.

You need to connect both the reds to to the 'loop' terminal.

You will be left with two blacks. One is neutral, one is sw-live. (should be marked red).

Use your multimeter on ohms to see when the red and black are continous (low ohms). Turn the light switch ON, test between both reds together and the two blacks. The black with low ohms is the sw-live, and needs connecting to the brown of the light. The other black is neutral, and needs connecting to the blue of the light.

Use the multimeter witht he lecky OFF!!!

 

[andy]

2 wires feeding light - 1 has black and red - these I have connected 1 to neutral (black to blue) and the other (red to live). I have then connected the other 2 red wires into the loop section.

so you wired the switch to loop and the mains in directly to the lamp....?

 

[wooly]

Lectrician, many thanks.
I only have 1 black wire and not the 2 that you say.

I think the core cable has a black and red (the constant live and neutral).

The other has 2 red wires which I presumed to be the loop wires.

There is definitely not a black wire marked with red.

Does this help your diagnosis

 

[wooly]

Andy,

thanks, that doesn't sound good.

I have obviously messed up, is it something as simple as I have got the red wires mixed up and completely missed the switch out of the circuit?

 

[andy]

Andy,

thanks, that doesn't sound good.

I have obviously messed up, is it something as simple as I have got the red wires mixed up and completely missed the switch out of the circuit?

the cable with the 2 reds is your switch cable. the other cable is the feed in. go look in for reference for how it should be wired

 

[Lectrician]

easy then - one red from red/red cable to brown of light. Black to blue of light. Join other two reds in the loop.

 

[wooly]

LECTRICIAN - YOU'RE A GENIUS - THANK YOU.

I am not!! I got 2 red wires mixed up - what an utter BLEEP!

You think your being clever and careful and what a tatey I am.

Can I buy you a pint or a shandy or a tomato juice?

Many thanks and if you wanna know about hearts I'm your man!!!!