New Pendant Light - Installation Advice

[Cvm123]

Hi all, looking for some info on best approach. I've fitted several lights before but they’ve been straightforward single Live, Neutral, Earth (from both ceiling and new fitting).

When I removed this fitting I can see 3 red, 3 black, and 3 earths. The current light that’s up has a blue and brown (see attached in 1st pic), but the new light we want to fit has blue, brown and earth. There’s only one light in the room but we seem to have this setup throughout the house.

At first we thought we could just leave old the junction box in place (ie not use the one the light came with) and switch new wires with old, like for like - but we have an earth in the new and not in the old. Not sure where this should be going, or if there’s a better way we should be doing this? It’s all still attached so we know which wire is which. Also thinking about marking the wires and using an wago connector instead. Any ideas on best way to do this, apologies if overlooking something obvious! Thanks

 

[Jurassicspark]

Get an extra 5amp connector, for all 3 (live) reds to go into. The 2 black wires on the left along with the blue wire close to it (neutral) go to the N terminal of your fitting. (The black which is connected near the brown, on the right) connects to L in your new fitting. (Make sure you add sleeving to this wire) All earth wires (green/yellow) go to the E on your fitting.

 

[Taylortwocities]

@Cvm123

There’s only one light in the room but we seem to have this setup throughout the house.

Yes, that is the most common way for light circuits to be wired. It is called "Loop In" wiring. This can be done at the switch or, as in your case, at the light fitting.
@Jurassicspark has given you the how to do it. But, BEFORE YOU DISCONNECT ANYTHING, you must mark that single black that is connected to the brown flex wire to the lamp. It should be a bit of brown or red sleeving, but anything will do. That black is a key conductor and is known as the switched live.
If you get that black mixed up with the other two blacks then you'll have a day, or two of pain, and no lights in much of the house before you have to pay to get an electrician in.

 

[Cvm123]

Thanks! Definitely going to label it! Do you mean a 3 way connector like the attached pic for the reds? And it just sits in the fitting? Assuming with the others (there will be 2 x N black and 3 x earth) we just put multiple wires together into the relevant space in the connector?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Thanks! Definitely going to label it! Do you mean a 3 way connector like the attached pic for the reds? And it just sits in the fitting? Assuming with the others (there will be 2 x N black and 3 x earth) we just put multiple wires together into the relevant space in the connector?

View attachment 368043

Yes, or a simple choc block. You should only need a connector for the three reds. The other wires, as @Jurassicspark has said should fit in the terminal block provided with the light.

 

[SUNRAY]

Get an extra 5amp connector, for all 3 (live) reds to go into. The 2 black wires on the left along with the blue wire close to it (neutral) go to the N terminal of your fitting. (The black which is connected near the brown, on the right) connects to L in your new fitting. (Make sure you add sleeving to this wire) All earth wires (green/yellow) go to the E on your fitting.

As said the single black should be marked as it is a live wire with red (or brown) sleeve or tape. Far from being sexist (as it was a tip from a male friend) but it's also far from uncommon to be done with red paint or nail varnish.
The existing blue and brown wires are the flex and will be discarded

 

[Cvm123]

As said the single black should be marked as it is a live wire with red (or brown) sleeve or tape. Far from being sexist (as it was a tip from a male friend) but it's also far from uncommon to be done with red paint or nail varnish.
The existing blue and brown wires are the flex and will be discarded

Thanks, yep blue is from the old fitting. Think we’ll get some tape as will have to do every light in the house… but not a bad idea!

 

[blup]

You can use a wago box in the loft to replace the rose, and run the switched live and neutral to the fitting. Its sometimes less fiddly when you have a heavy fitting and run out of hands.

 

[Taylortwocities]

You can use a wago box in the loft to replace the rose

Many other types and makes of junction box are also available, and may be suitable.

 

[blup]

Many other types and makes of junction box are also available, and may be suitable.

yes, hager is better