Old wall light wiring

[foamcow]

I've just moved into a very old house and need to replace a wall light fitting. I've done this before and am comfortable doing so (although I wouldn't attempt to fit any new light circuits). The existing light is wired to 2 switches.

After turning off the power, I removed the light from the wall to see what the wiring looked like.
As expected there are 2 cables, each running to a switch. Both cables are 2 core. Each with a red wire which were connected to the terminals for the lamp. The other wires were bare copper and wrapped up "neatly" out of the way (can't see them in the photo).

I've no idea why they would have been stripped and I can't see any insulation on them at all which made me think perhaps they were earths. But I'm unsure that 2 core cables with live and earth is a thing so I guess they are Neutrals, right? In which case, surely they shouldn't have been stripped and wrapped up out of the way.

Now the new light fitting, despite not being metal, has an earth terminal. If those bare wires are earth then I guess they should be wired in there with the 2 live wires being connected to the Live and Neutral connectors on the lamp. But I'm really not sure

How should I deal with this?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Now the new light fitting, despite not being metal, has an earth terminal. If those bare wires are earth then I guess they should be wired in there with the 2 live wires being connected to the Live and Neutral connectors on the lamp. But I'm really not sure

Likely, but not definitely, the bare wires will be earth wires, but you need to find a way to be certain of that, before connecting them to the earth terminal of the light, plus ensure the earth wires are actually earthed.

Is that a metal box, I spy hiding in that plaster?

 

[foamcow]

Is that a metal box, I spy hiding in that plaster?

No metal box. The wires come down behind a metal shield which is behind the plaster to the left.

So is 2 core cable with a live and an earth a thing?

 

[endecotp]

Both cables are 2 core. Each with a red wire which were connected to the terminals for the lamp. The other wires were bare copper and wrapped up "neatly" out of the way (can't see them in the photo).

I've no idea why they would have been stripped and I can't see any insulation on them at all which made me think perhaps they were earths. But I'm unsure that 2 core cables with live and earth is a thing

“Single plus earth” is a thing:

https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/2326306-6241y-1-5mm-single-core-cable-brown-grey-100m-drum

The earths should have been joined together in a terminal of some sort, not just twisted.

Now the new light fitting, despite not being metal, has an earth terminal. If those bare wires are earth then I guess they should be wired in there with the 2 live wires being connected to the Live and Neutral connectors on the lamp.

Yes.

Don’t loose track of which red wire is actually neutral. Put some blue sleeving, or tape, on it.

 

[davelx]

Its available

 

[foamcow]

Yep I think replacing that terminal block with a Wago connector would be a good idea

 

[EFLImpudence]

The existing light is wired to 2 switches

After turning off the power, I removed the light from the wall to see what the wiring looked like.
As expected there are 2 cables, each running to a switch. Both cables are 2 core. Each with a red wire which were connected to the terminals for the lamp.

Yep I think replacing that terminal block with a Wago connector would be a good idea

Why?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Why?

I agree. There's a perfectly serviceable terminal block, in the photo. I dont understand why the first choice for terminals always seems to be Wago. They have their uses, but its not mandatory!