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Wiring of ceiling light-help please!

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  • Sorry, misread the first post.

    If there are only 2 cables, the light is either at the end of the lighting loop and hence there is no loop out or it's being feed as a spur from another light (same difference) or it's feeding another light as a spur or it's non-standard wiring.

    The same advice as earlier still applies. You need to find out which is the switch cable using a continuity tester. If you don't have one, you can buy one very cheaply (say £1). Better still, a multimeter.

    Randomly connecting wires and applying the power really is not an option. You need to establish exactly how the fitting is wired before you continue. If you cause a short circuit you are at the very least putting strain on the insulation which is potentially dangerous. You are also relying on the safety systems (fuses/MCB's/RCD's) built into the electrical supply to protect you which may not be installed properly or may be of the wrong rating or faulty. Faulty wiring can lead to electric shocks (including lethal ones) or fires.

    If you don't know what your doing you really should call an electrician for peace of mind.
  • tomstickland
    tomstickland Posts: 19,538 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Yeah, if you can't work it out then you shouldn't be doing it, that's what my friend always says.
    Happy chappy
  • zincoxide
    zincoxide Posts: 1,135 Forumite
    Where are you in the UK?
    Treat others as you would like to be treated :A
  • Hi guys

    Thanks for all the advice.

    I've put red to red & a black in live & one in neutral & earth to earth.

    It still isn't working but I have turned the light off at the dimmer switch.

    Is this OK safety-wise until I get a continuity tester/electrician in a couple of days?

    Cheers
  • tomstickland
    tomstickland Posts: 19,538 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Can you draw a diagram or take some photos and post them up here? I'm sure it's actually probably pretty simple.
    Happy chappy
  • I've got photos but don't know how to post them!

    You're probably getting a fair idea how handy I am by now!!

    I have digital photos of the wires/fitting etc & can put them on my laptop but don't know how to post them in a response.

    Any clues?
  • zincoxide
    zincoxide Posts: 1,135 Forumite
    Post them on https://www.photobucket.com then put the link up here
    Treat others as you would like to be treated :A
  • Hi guys

    I'm learning stuff all the time!

    if I've done it right the photos of the wires & the fitting can be seen by clicking on the links below;

    http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d119/simonhgreen/Wires.jpg
    http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d119/simonhgreen/Fitting.jpg

    Again, any help as to how I wire it up will be most appreciated.
    Cheers
  • catkins
    catkins Posts: 5,703 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    Do both lights work from 1 switch or does each have it's own switch?
    The world is over 4 billion years old and yet you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie
  • mx-3
    mx-3 Posts: 195 Forumite
    Hiya,

    unless somebodys used a junction box somewhere...........
    its still reds in a connector ( not conected to the light) one black to the blue & the other to brown...........earth to earth.

    Or........blacks to neutral (blue) reds to brown.
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