Lighting Problem

[Paulsprob]

Hi Can anyone help me with a lighting problem please.
I am putting up a small chandelier type light fitting, it is double insulated so I have terminated the earth cables into a chock block and the lives and neutrals are nice and tight into the light fitting as per instructions. The problem is its the breaker straight away whether switched on or not. The only thing I can think of is that there is a spur coming to a light in the hallway, could this be the problem? Please help not much hair left already!!!

 

[EFLImpudence]

//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting:lighting_circuit_layouts

 

[Paulsprob]

Thanks for that, looks like I have a dead short then, unfortunately I have three reds and three blacks, cant see any markers. Presumably the cable i took to be a spur will be the switched live. If i can find it do I just terminate it or is it more complicated than that. I have installed plenty of light fittings but never had a problem like this.

 

[EFLImpudence]

looks like I have a dead short then,

Yep.

unfortunately I have three reds and three blacks,

Put the three reds in a separate block (like the earths).

cant see any markers. Presumably the cable i took to be a spur will be the switched live. If i can find it do I just terminate it

Not sure what you mean.
The black returning for the switch should be sleeved or taped to indicate this and connected to the live of the light.
The other two blacks should be connected to the neutral of the light.

To determine which is the switch cable
With the power off -
test for continuity between one of the blacks and the reds.
Open and close the switch to verify you have the right one.

 

[Paulsprob]

Fantastic, brilliant that worked a treat.
Thank you VERY VERY MUCH.

 

[EFLImpudence]

 

[Taylortwocities]

Paul,
Don't feel too bad. At least once, every weekend somebody posts with exactly the same problem that you have had.

This weekend it was your turn.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yup - the world is full of fools who don't see why they shouldn't fiddle with things they don't understand, and think that nothing could go wrong or even change if they connect wires together which were not connected together before.