Light fitting 4 cores to light unit

[ferkh10]

Changing some light fittings at my folks new house today and came across this set up on a very very old light fitting.

It has 4 cores going into the old fitting, so obviously part of a loop.

I want to fit them to a single Live/Earth/Neutral fitting. Can anybody help?

 

[Aragorn84]

that drawing cant be right, as if it was exactly as you've drawn it, the light would be permanently on.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

It has 4 cables going to it, they are actually 12 cores not including the flex of lamp.

I would assume that you have a looped in live and neutral at the fitting, normally you would come across 3 cables (9 cores) or 2 cables (6 cores) if last light on loop.
So again I would expect the additional cable is taking a live to a fitting that had been installed at a later date than the original setup.
I doubt your diagram actually replicates what you have.
A picture would be more helpful

 

[EFLImpudence]

that drawing cant be right, as if it was exactly as you've drawn it, the light would be permanently on.

Only when switched off.

When switched on there would be a bang.

 

[Aragorn84]

oh ye

Thats even more impressive than just staying on

 

[ferkh10]

OK, took an actual photo and updated the wiring diagram.

I've connected it to the new light unit and it connects without blowing the fuse but the light doesnt work.

 

[sparkwright]

It won't work because you have altered the wiring.

The cable you have connected the light to looks like the switch wire, and needs to be incorporated into the rest of the wiring.

You need to connect the wires like they were before you started - as how else do you expect it to work.

Have you made a note of exactly how it was connected before? - and I mean how it actually was connected, and not how you think it should be connected.

Please be aware a black wire sleeved with red normally indicates a live, not a neutral.

 

[ferkh10]

I didnt make a note of how it was connected before

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Why don't these people state the truth and say they have firking been tampering and made an arse of it!

 

[sparkwright]

Ah.

First things first, is there just the one light in this room?

 

[ferkh10]

Ah.

First things first, is there just the one light in this room?

thanks. There is only one light in this room. The other 2 are in the hall and in the bedroom next door, all working fine.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

*Red (not sleeved) to loop with rest of reds.
*Black sleeved red to brown flex (switch live) terminal of lamp
*The blacks (within neutral loop) should be connected to the blue flex (neutral) terminal of lamp
* and most important of all, all earth/CPCs must be connected together!

 

[ferkh10]

*Red (not sleeved) to loop with rest of reds.
*Black sleeved red to brown flex (switch live) terminal of lamp
*The blacks (within neutral loop) should be connected to the blue flex (neutral) terminal of lamp

cheers. Will drop by their house tomorrow and try this and report back.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Don't forget to terminate all earth/CPCs together!
There must be full continuity of these conductors!

 

[sparkwright]

Ok.

Turn the power off. And take down the light fitting.

Connect all the reds together in a connector block, and tape up with insulation tape.

Get the black wire with the red sleeve. Connect this to the L of the light fitting (brown).

Connect all the remaining blacks to the N of the light (blue).

Connect all the earths (green and yellow) to the E of the light fitting (green and yellow).

Again, best tape up the connector blocks, since all sorts of dust and rubbish can emerge from old ceilings.