I am attempting to fit a new light fitting, expecting it to be straight forward. But the light either remains permanently on or permanently off - ie. the switch isn't working.
At the switch I have one red, one black and one earth wire. Coming from the ceiling I have two reds, one black and one earth.
I'd assumed that I should connect both red wires to the live terminal on the new light fitting and the black wire to the neutral. But, as I said, this results in the light being constantly on.
Did the light work with the old fitting as it looks as though there will be another junction box somewhere .
A useful bit of kit is a Mains Neon Test Screwdriver which lights up if the tip touches a live wire or connector..
This will mean that the wires at the ceiling and also the switch can be checked to see which is the live , the switched live and the neutral.
Basically the live is fed from a common point (ceiling rose OR a junction box in the ceiling void) to the switch . The other side of the switch then goes to the ceiling rose as a "switched live " (marked with a red band )and connects to one side of the light fitting/bulb. The other side is the common neutral.
If this doesn`t make any sense to you then seek professional help as electricity is very dangerous.
Don`t guess where the wires go !
sparky man
November 2008
Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light
Himself. It struck him dead: And serve him right!
It is the business of the wealthy man
To give employment to the artisan.
The ususal arrangement in the UK is that a cable with black and red wires goes from the ceiling to the switch - power goes out on the red wire and comes back on a BLACK wire (when the switch is on) - this must have an identifying red (brown) sleeve on it to show that it's switched live - i.e Dangerous and NOT a Neutral wire - this wire connects to the pendant flex Brown wire.
What you describe is very scary - you are missing a black wire in the ceiling (probably the switched live) and could easily have a nasty accident - get an electrician in.
Peccavi
November 2008
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