changing a light fitting - wiring help please!

iwilldoitthistime

Hi

Im changing a light fitting from a ceiling rose to a fitted to the ceiling type of light. Problem is with the wiring. Ive got -

2 neutral
3 earth
3 switched live
1 switch return

i think!

Ive fitted them into the new terminal block of four terminals, but Im not sure where the switch return should go? there is no mention in the leaflet of where to put it?

When I put the electric back on, the light comes on, but the wall switch doesnt work.

can anyone help? Its probbly something VERY minor, but Im really struggling!

thanks in advance

andrew-b

Have a look here first:

http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/diy/electrics/light_fitting/ceiling_rose_wiring.htm

Your ceiling rose would appear be wired as in the first diagram.

The simple one is the earths - all go into terminal which should be marked earth. The earth wires should already be fitted with yellow/green earth sleeving rather than leaving as bare wires - if they aren't then get some fitted.

3 lives (red or brown) all go into one terminal (these are permanent lives rather than switched though) - the terminal will probably be marked "Loop" - if you look at the terminal block closely there should not be any wires connected between the terminal block and the light fitting to this terminal.

That leaves the 3 black or blue neutral wires - 2 of these are neutrals from/to other light fittings (or consumer unit) and the third is the switched live. If the ceiling rose was wired correctly then the switched live should have red or brown sleeving or insulation tape wrapped around the insulation to identify it (add such identification if it doesn't already exist. The switched live will go to the live terminal of the light fitting (brown live cable between terminal block and light fitting should link upto it) - this would appear to be what you are referring to as "switched return". The other two neutrals go to the neutral terminal of the light fitting.

This assumes you can actually identify the switched live...if not further testing is required (preferably with a multimeter).

As always with electrics, if in doubt get someone one in who knows!

Hope that helps

Andy

iwilldoitthistime

thanks for the reply Andy - can I just clarify?

the wiring is in a new house so Ive got 2 blue, 4 brown and 3 yellow/green. the yellow/green ones were all twisted together so I leave those alone in the earth terminal. The blue ones go into the neutral. the switched brown wire goes into the live, and the remaining three browns go into the last terminal which has nothing on the other side?ro

Is there a way of telling which brown wire is the switch one? Am I correct in asuuming its one of the ones which comes in a cable of two brown, one yellow/green? If I wire it with the wrong one, will it just trip the system?

thanks for the help

iwilldoitthistime

Andy

ignore my last post - I tried what you suggested and it worked!

Wowee - I almost gave up there!

thanks for the help - it was really appreciated!

andrew-b

Nice one..Glad you got it fixed and glad i could help!

The switch cable would be the cable containing the two brown wires i take it.

Andy

iwilldoitthistime

Andy

Yes - the switch one was the brown one. Just got to fill the hole in the ceiling now and everything will be fine (I didnt cause the hole, by the way - the old ceiling rose was just a bit bigger than the new fitting!)

thanks again for the help!