Replacing ceiling lights

[blueagle78]

I am replacing 2 ceiling lights which are controlled by the same light switch. I had standard bulb holders but replacing them with a ceiling fitted lights. These lights are in the hallway and there are 2 switches, one on either side of the hallway. I've replaced first light as it was straight forward. However, the second one is a bit more complicated as it has 3 set of wires and I don't know what's the best way of arranging the cables.
I have attached a picture of how they were fitted in the bulb holder and the connector that I've in the new ceiling light.
Should I get some sorts of other fitting to arrange wires and then connect them to the new ceiling light connector? Any guidance would be really appreciated.

 

[endecotp]

I assume that you cannot simply fit the new fitting over the existing rose.

Yes, you need an additional connector of some kind. As in the existing rose, you need a total of 4 connectors:

- One for the earth wires, which you have in the new fitting, in the middle.

- One each for live and neutral going into the lamp. You have these in the new fitting.

- One additional connector, to replace the “loop” connector in the middle of the rose that didn’t connect to a wire to the pendant lamp. Use a screw terminal block, wago connector, or similar.

 

[Taylortwocities]

@blueagle78
Aah, it’s the weekend. We get exactly the same question every weekend.

important: you have a lot of wires there. They all do different things. If you mix them up you are in a World of pain.
It’s great you’ve taken a photo, but - before you disconnect anything - indelibly mark the red wire that is connected to the yellow on the right hand side. That is the “switched live”.. if you lose sight of that wire you will need a test meter, or an electrician, and other lights in the house will not work!

Secondly - pedantic point on terminology.

These lights are in the hallway and there are 2 sockets

Sockets are things that you put a plug into. Eg on a kettle, vacuum cleaner, etc.
in some houses there are special light sockets. But I think that you mean light switches?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Secondly - pedantic point on terminology.



Sockets are things that you put a plug into. Eg on a kettle, vacuum cleaner, etc.
in some houses there are special light sockets. But I think that you mean light switches?

That's not pedantic.

 

[blueagle78]

Thank you @endecotp and @Taylortwocities for your detailed replies.
I've found a picture online and if I've understood it correctly, this is exactly what you've advised with the usage of 4 connectors?
I've already disconnected the wires and didn't mark them so I guess I'll have to get the test meter out and figure out the right wires. As of now I've got 2 reds in one connector, black/blue in one another connector and all the lights downstairs are working apart from the 2 in the hallway. I'm assuming out of those 2 red wires, 1 is live?
You're right, I meant light switches and not sockets.

 

[terryplumb]

If every other light on the circuit is working ( including any external light) with the wires connected as you outline above , you would be left with one red,one black and one yellow wire not currently connected to anything ( and of course all the earth wires), is that so ?

 

[blueagle78]

@terryplumb Yes that's exactly what I've got right now. One red, one black and one yellow along with earth wires are not connected to anything.

 

[terryplumb]

Looking at your original picture of the wiring as it was ,it would appear that the red and yellow wires connect together in the new light fittings live terminal and the black wire connects together with the other black and blue wires,and they connect to the neutral terminal of the new fitting.
All earth conductors go together in the earth terminal.
The two reds currently connected together in an insulated terminal block stay that way and do not connect to the light fitting in any way.

 

[blueagle78]

@terryplumb Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I followed what you had advised and the new light is working now.