light fitting help

mrscb

today we put up a new light fitting in bedroom...after a few hiccupps like not getting switch wire right first time and eventually sorted it(went on and off etc) however when we went to put the bathroon light on it affected the other bedroom lights and different switches affecting ther lights(makingthem dimmer or brighter)...completely confused.its a halogen fitting with terminal block marked L N and Earth and a blank one.......what should be where? according to instructions black N switch in block N and the other 2 black in the blank one!!!!! when we took off old fitting all 3reds were taped together not in block so we left it that way......Help please

Pssst

first things first.
DO NOT tape all the reds together,and all the blacks together. It doesnt work like that.

Hanging out of your ceiling,do you have 3 cables each having a red/black and earth?

If so,one cable will be switch,the other two will form the lighting ring main.
It helps at this point if you have a test meter and know how to use it.

mrscb

sorted out the black switch wire (after getting wrong one first time and tripping circuit).that is conected into L on block the other two black into N.the reds were already together so we left them. we didnt think other lights would be affected as the new light worked fine.
Yes have 3 lots from ceiling each with 3 in....
Dont have test meter

amarg

This explains it pretty well-

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


if you can't suss it out from that, then you might have to go down this route-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.org/videos/223/ceiling-rose-wiring

mrscb

yip checked those out before and mine are just like that........what if the 3 reds or the 2 blacks(not switch one)were not tightly enough connected to each other would that make the other lights go funny.......(by the way dont mean i have put red and blacks together as one!!!!!) of for a quick bath by candlelight as switched off the circuit .....:D

mrscb

just tried them all........if they are all switched on they get dimmer but if i switch some off they do get a bit brighter.....,however some are still working from different switches....is it likely to be an easy fix as it is not tripping the circuit

sparky883

Really you should not have started something you did not know how to do,Your senario is very common and now you will need an Electrician who will charge you more than they would of to simply put up a light fitting.
With limited knoledge and no testers all you can do is keep swapping the wires until you get it right.

mrscb

All i wanted was some advice as to wether my wires were in correct place which is why i came on here first rather than call an electrician (i have changed lights in the past)...Surely that is what a lot of people do.:beer:

sparky883

Ignoring the earths (green/yellow) or just copper,as these all join together-You have three sets of two wires (3 times twin and earth) and you have said that you have identified the switch wire,So put that to one side,And start connecting up in your junction box (regs issue) which we can later put into the ceiling void.
You should now have 2 grey twin and earth cables (we have put aside the other one) so connect these to the junction box matching the colours BLACK and RED, These are your live feeds looping in and out to the next light in the chain.
Now get the switch wire and connect the RED wire to all the other REDS and put the BLACK one on its own.
This is now complete.
Now to wire in your light,Using a piece of spare Twin and Earth connect one end to your new light fitting RED is LIVE,BLACK is NEUTRAL,And the EARTH (use earth sleeve)
Now connect up the other end into your junction box,Put the BLACK wire with the BLACK wire that is on its own in your junction box(the one from the switch wire)and then connect the RED wire with the 2 NEUTRALS in your junction box,Put the junction box out of harms way and secure the Light Fitting.
Points To Remember:Put some tape around the switch wire to mark it
If the Light requires an earth i.e. its metal make sure it is
And yes i know we use new colours now BLUE/BROWN but this will not help the OP,Hope this helps and hope it goes O.K. It should do as you have said you have done it before so dont know how you went wrong here really,maybe you forgot how to do it???

mrscb

No junction box....
The light fitting has terminal block which is what i am connecting the wires from the ceiling to.:beer:

jonnysparks

just out of intrest your bedroom light switch is it a single one or a 2 or 3 gang switch. ie can you switch other lights on from the same switch plate