UNEXPECTED WIRING TO CEILING LIGHT:

[RONCHAM]

I have a ceiling mounted light which has the red and black wires from a single T&E cable into its connector block (which is not what I expected!). Would I be correct in assuming this must be from the switch, and somewhere along the way the red (or black?) wire has been tapped into a live feed? In any event, I wish to replace this light with several downlights, so should I not worry but simply extend on from this cable? Also, in this situation is a junction box needed at the first downlight, or is a click connector adequate here and at subsequent downlights?

Regards.

 

[bhm1712]

If there really are only two wires into the ceiling rose then it's likely the red is live and the black neutral. You will need to measure this using a suitable meter to confirm this. Is there also an earth connection?

 

[Iggifer]

If you only have one cable at the light, you either have your neutrals looped at the switch, or there's a junction box somewhere. If you check behind the switch it should be immediately obvious. If its looped at the switch, there'll be 2 or three lots of cables there (assuming a single switch) and if it's a junction box, there'll likely only be one cable.

You can use click flows if you want, but a decent downlight should be able to take 2x1.0mm/1.5mm and thus negate the need to use any form of JB

 

[bhm1712]

Just to add, does the switch which turns this lamp on and off also turn another or other lamps on and off as well?

 

[RONCHAM]

Thanks for all the info. Sorry, my mistake, the earth wire IS also connected to the block. Also, the switch is 2-gang - the second switch is for an adjacent room, the other only turns on the light in question (so the live feed could be off this second switch as lggifer suggested? - I'll check). If not, I would hope it's via a junction box and not some lash-up. My main concern is should I be worried by this arrangement? I've been here 15 years and there's been no problems - so I'm thinking not? I assume I can check live/switch return with a multimeter (and power on).

 

[RONCHAM]

Thanks for all the info. Sorry, the earth wire IS connected to the block. The switch is 2-gang and the second switch is to an adjacent room, the other switch only turns on the light in question (so the live feed could be here as Iggifer suggested? - I'll check). My main concern is should I be worried by this arrangement? - I've lived here 15 years without any problems so I'm thinking not? Presumably I can check live/switch return wires with a multimeter (and power on)?
PS I haven't been on this site for a couple of years - am I thick, it's not obvious to me how I give "thanks" to you all??!

 

[RONCHAM]

I'm reading elsewhere that people are getting peed off with downlights - my fault for being behind the times! But at least I'm thinking LEDs!

 

[Taylortwocities]

Downlights? that's so last century