Trying to find neutral for bathroom extractor

[Calto83]

Hi, looking for some advice, from the attached pictures can anyone tell me how these spotlights are wired? I'm trying to connect a loft extractor fan to the lighting circuit. It seems like both sides are live and when wired up the extractor fan ran loudly, tested multimeter live to neutral to check voltage going into fab and the voltmeter short-circuited and blew the trip switch. I them turned electricity back on and tested L to E 110v and N to E 90v

 

[pete01]

It looks like the left block is neutral and right is live.

It also looks like the bottom left twin is the feed and the bottom right twin is the switch wire (black going into switched live terminal)

You've got a lot of bare wires on show and unconnected earth wires, it should all be inside an enclosure, its rough as our soles.

Unless its all fed via a transformer and it's all extra low voltage even so its stil rubbish.

 

[endecotp]

when wired up the extractor fan ran loudly,

You’ve bought a loud fan then…

tested multimeter live to neutral to check voltage going into fab and the voltmeter short-circuited and blew the trip switch.

What setting was the multimeter on? What exactly tripped - post a photo.

I them turned electricity back on and tested L to E 110v and N to E 90v

Those numbers make me think that the earth is not connected to anything. What exactly were you using as your earth for those measurements? In the photos, I can see earths for the incoming supply and for the wire to the switch which should be connected together. The fact that they aren’t makes me wonder what else is wrong. Maybe this is an ancient installation with no earths in the lighting circuit? Do the wires going to the downlights not have earths?

 

[Murdochcat]

Wow that’s rough. My advice to you is get it sorted out properly sooner rather than later

 

[securespark]

Yes, I agree with the others, you must have an open circuit on the cpcs there and that is why you are not getting a decent voltage to earth.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but that lot needs to be picked apart and redone with proper junction boxes or terminals and enclosures.

If those flexes don't have cpcs, they are best rewired with cables that do.

 

[endecotp]

If those flexes don't have cpcs, they are best rewired with cables that do.

I was wondering if they may be integral to the downlighters, in which case I guess no earth is required.

 

[morqthana]

tested multimeter live to neutral to check voltage going into fab and the voltmeter short-circuited and blew the trip switch.

I don't think this has anything to do with no earths.....