Switch wire. 2 of 3 are live!

[ianniann]

That is not a neutral.

Neutral is not a name for any black wire.

Hence the double quotes and my explanation of the real name. Thank you for repeating this important point.

 

[ianniann]

If you really have tried every permutation and nothing blew up then it seems like there is no live at all to that rose. There are several permutations that would cause a short-circuit. This should be trivial to check with the right equipment. If two of the black wires really were live then connecting either of them to the other black wire would be bad. Time to start again and follow the instructions more carefully.

 

[Riki]

If you really have tried every permutation and nothing blew up then it seems like there is no live at all to that rose. There are several permutations that would cause a short-circuit. This should be trivial to check with the right equipment. If two of the black wires really were live then connecting either of them to the other black wire would be bad. Time to start again and follow the instructions more carefully.

No. 2, as No. 1, 3 red wires and the switched live have juice. The two neutrals are together and the three earth as well. Beats me that it doesn't work.

 

[ianniann]

No. 2, as No. 1, 3 red wires and the switched live have juice. Beats me that it doesn't work.

If so and now properly tested, there are still all sorts of reasons why no light. The obvious one being that there is a loose, broken, or disconnected wire in the fitting (or possibly elsewhere). Or the light bulb has blown Test continuity on those wires.

There is one obvious difference between the two fittings. It shouldn't prevent operation but should probably be corrected anyway.

 

[Riki]

If so and now properly tested, there are still all sorts of reasons why no light. The obvious one being that there is a loose, broken, or disconnected wire in the fitting (or possibly elsewhere). Or the light bulb has blown Test continuity on those wires.

There is one obvious difference between the two fittings. It shouldn't prevent operation but should probably be corrected anyway.

The bulb is OK. The connections on the rose are sound but, as you say, the problem could be elsewhere. It looks as if I will have to succumb and call an electrician. Thanks for coming in.

 

[Taylortwocities]

You suggest a way to find a solution and still he ignores the advice.
I give up…

 

[Riki]

You suggest a way to find a solution and still he ignores the advice.
I give up…

I don't possess an instrument to test continuity of all wires, hence my reply. I didn't ignore the advice, on the contrary.

 

[endecotp]

have now tried everything in the book

Have you thrown away your neon screwdriver yet?
Let us know when you've done that and we'll tell you what to do next.

 

[Riki]

Have you thrown away your neon screwdriver yet?
Let us know when you've done that and we'll tell you what to do next.

Thanks for the advice. Thrown one that didn't work but kept the one that does. The repair is now beyond my capability in electrics but I've learnt quite a lot posting here. Thank you.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If you are so convinced that you have tried "everything in the book", and will not try Plan A, then all that is left is Plan B - get an electrician.

Nobody here can help you, and a dwindling number will want to if you aren't prepared to follow advice.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Thrown one that didn't work but kept the one that does.

Throw that out too. They are unreliable and can be dangerous and of no practical use because of that, and your unwillingness to use the right tools, and to put some effort into understanding how things work, mean that you don't need it anyway, as you really shouldn't be doing electrical work.

The repair is now beyond my capability in electrics

But not, I am almost certain, beyond the capability you could acquire had you the right attitude.

 

[Riki]

If you are so convinced that you have tried "everything in the book", and will not try Plan A, then all that is left is Plan B - get an electrician.

Nobody here can help you, and a dwindling number will want to if you aren't prepared to follow advice.

Your Plan A suggests that I should become a professional electrician before tackling the problem and at my age I am not prepared to do that. Thanks anyway. I've learnt a few things I didn't know so I am improving!

 

[Riki]

Throw that out too. They are unreliable and can be dangerous and of no practical use because of that, and your unwillingness to use the right tools, and to put some effort into understanding how things work, mean that you don't need it anyway, as you really shouldn't be doing electrical work.



But not, I am almost certain, beyond the capability you could acquire had you the right attitude.

Stop throwing punches!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Your Plan A suggests that I should become a professional electrician before tackling the problem

No - just learn how something pretty simple works IF you want to fiddle with it. It's a domestic lighting circuit, not the control system for a nuclear reactor.

 

[endecotp]

kept the one that does.

None of them work reliably enough to be useful

The repair is now beyond my capability in electrics

I doubt that. It should be quite easy to fix once you take the right approach.
Idealy you'd buy or borrow a multimeter. Failing that, you could improvise a continuity tester by dismantling a torch or something else with batteries in it. If you can't do that then it gets more complicated, but it's still possible if you have patience.