Wire colours - Black & Yellow - which is live??

[CTSW2004]

Hi

I'm trying to wire in a light, but it's old wire colours and I've got a black, yellow and yellow/green.

I know the yellow/green is earth, but what are the other two?

Thanks

Craig

 

[breezer]

where did you get the light from?

 

[kendor]

is the lampholder a screw or bayonet type?
if screw then the wire which goes to the centre terminal will be your live.
Just make sure the light is mains rated though.

 

[CTSW2004]

Hi

It's the house wires that are black and yellow, the light I bought has brown & blue wires.

I just dont know which goes to which.

Thanks

Craig

 

[kendor]

Ah as the wiring is non standard presuming you have yellow AND black in the same sheath of the cable then a bit of a rewire is in order i'd check with a local sparks first

 

[CTSW2004]

I wont need to rewire the house will I??

I just need to find out if the black wire or the yellow wire is live?

Any ideas??

Craig

 

[kendor]

wouldn't know if a whole rewire was necessary without inspecting, thats why i advised seeing a local sparks, it may be that wire is a flex (for instance) that someone has chucked in? and the rest of the house is ok, worth finding out for peace of mind.

 

[dingbat]

I wont need to rewire the house will I??
I just need to find out if the black wire or the yellow wire is live?

Craig, if you can't work out which is live then you're not equipped to do the job safely. And if you're in the UK, with that wiring colour scheme then I'd be concerned.

Call in an electrician and get his opinion. You should get this for free, but only a full inspection and test will verify if your installation is safe and is worth the cost for peace of mind.

 

[securespark]

Agree with dingbat, but have suggestion. Is supply cable a cut down three core and earth? You may have yellow as switched live....

 

[ZenStalinist]

Just a thought... Yellow couldn't have been a way of indicating on what part of a three phase install that circuit is, could it? Unlikely, I know, but just a thought. Sounds dodgy either way.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

...I just dont know which goes to which.

Which went to which in the old light?

 

[securespark]

Now, Ban, don't be utterly unreasonable - to have made a note of the original connections.......................

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I know - what am I like?

 

[kendor]

Agree with dingbat, but have suggestion. Is supply cable a cut down three core and earth? You may have yellow as switched live....

I thought of that at first but the black suggests not

 

[Lectrician]

I feel a photo appearing