upstairs ceiling light

[tubs70]

i have 4 black leads & 4 red leads. am trying to fit the new light but keep losing either the bedroom lights or the bathroom lights.this new light is for my hall way. have the light on now, but carn't turn it on or off with the switch. help

 

[ColJack]

more info is needed...
a photo might prove helpful also..

is this light part of a 2 way lighting circuit?

are there any more lights that cone on with this light?

does the fuse / breaker trip when you operate the switch?

one of the black wires is probably the switch wire..

you need to identify this..

do you have a multimeter?

if you do,with the power off, connect the 4 reds together, then separate out the blacks into individual terminal blocks, and switch the switch on..
check for continuity between the reds and the blacks..
the black that shows continuity is the switched live.

you connect the other 3 blacks back together and mark the one you found with red sleeving and connect the light across the 3 blacks and the black sleeved with red..

 

[Taylortwocities]

All of this stuff is explained in the reference section. Its designed so that the common queries can be answered without waking up sleeping sparkies.

Try here http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=38148#38148

the third one down will show you where you've gone wrong

 

[17thman]

I think coljack was helping him to identify the swith wire

 

[ban-all-sheds]

All of this stuff is explained in the reference section. Its designed so that the common queries can be answered without waking up sleeping sparkies.

It is an Ancient Sparky,
And he worketh one of three.
The other days he stayeth in bed,
too drunk to stand or see.

Try here http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=38148#38148

the third one down will show you where you've gone wrong

Or here: http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:lighting

i have 4 black leads & 4 red leads.

I hope you've got 4 earths as well...

Anyway - 4 is 1 more than one would normally expect - are there two lights worked by the same switch?

if you do,with the power off, connect the 4 reds together, then separate out the blacks into individual terminal blocks, and switch the switch on..
check for continuity between the reds and the blacks..
the black that shows continuity is the switched live.

Unless it was fiddled with by a doofus who didn't realise you could use the black as a switched live and has used 2 x T/E as the switch drop, with only the red core in each doing anything.

 

[tubs70]

many thanks to all for there help. the wiring was all over the place. but its sorted & working after 2 days of study & process of illimination.

 

[ColJack]

no problem at all..

and thank you for coming back and taking the time to say thanks.. many just use us for a quick fix and then dissapear leaving us feeling dirty and ashamed... and wondering if they licked the wrong wire and electrocuted themselves..

feel free to drop by for your next quandry..