replace light fitting

[BAGGIES1]

have two sets of lights i am replacing...one bottom of stairs and one top...the bottom ones are a straight replacement...red to live and black to neutral andf earth to earth...perfect works no problem...
however the upstairs lights have a light swight at bottom and top of stairs and their are four wires at light fitting...2 pairs of erd and black...i fitted the two red to live and two blacks to neutral and blew a fuse...is one of the wires a earth wire in disguise???...somebody suggested wiring red/black to live and red/black to neutral...is theis right?

 

[AnonymousImport]

Switch the mains off first,the two reds should be connected together but not to the light , the light should then be connected to the two backs. (one back in each terminal of your new light)

One of the blacks is what is known as switched live (becomes live when the switch is on) so when you turned the mains on you connected live directly to neutral that's why the fuse went.
________________
D.J

 

[AnonymousImport]

what do you mean connected to the two backs

 

[AnonymousImport]

by jove old chap you've done it!!
cheers D.J.
works perfectly!!!

 

[AnonymousImport]

Glad to help

____________
D.J

 

[AnonymousImport]

that wasnt baggie you fool

 

[AnonymousImport]

it may have been, perhaps he /she didn't log in.
Please note: If you wish to proceed with name calling that is fine, because that is obviously what you get off on, but please when refering to others at least spell their name right, it should be "BAGGIES1" not "baggie" as you said. I know we all make spelling mistakes, but you would appear to have been concentrating elsewhere

 

[AnonymousImport]

it should be FAREWELL but you would appear to be concentrating elsewhere...

 

[BAGGIES1]

ok guys its fine ....i just forgot to log in at that particular time but it was me however your information helped me greatly thanks very much.
phew i didnt know DIY was such a competitive business!!
push come to shove, you guys are more clued up about this stuff than me anyway....