Which is live?

taffj

I am installing a ceiling fan in the bedroom and naturally it requires a live neutral and earth connection. My problem is that the original light was connected to black wires and no earth. I can sort the earth out but how do I find out which of the two black wires is the live one?

molerat

One of the blacks should have red tape on it. Failing that get a multimeter and test. If you don't know what you are doing get a sparks in

sickparrot

A multimeter set on AC compare the connections to earth. Even better would be one of those AC detector probes which lights up if it goes near something live, no contact necessary.

basmic

If you feel a tingling when you touch it, you know it's live.

McKneff

it'll be a blumming big tingle :rotfl::rotfl:

Zazen999

If you have to ask the question you should be nowhere near a light fitting.

AdrianW2

basmic wrote: »

If you feel a tingling when you touch it, you know it's live.

I posted something similar, and then deleted it!

In my experience, you'll get a tingle from the neutral and a much bigger jolt from the live!

taffj

ZZZZZZZZZZ Found it, thanks to all.

derrick

andrew-b wrote: »

You do realise that your fan will only work when the light is turned on?

Andy

Usually have separate switches at the fitting, our lounge light/fan has two pull chords, switch on light at wall, then switch on fan, or light or both using the pull chords.

taffj

There is an earth connection in the rose. The fan/light has a permanent live which means that the light switch has to be on all the time but the unit is fully controlled remotely so that any combination of light/fan can be chosen.

amarg

Identifying the switched live wire is much safer than testing for the live wire as it can be done with the electric switched off-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MLshqOmltU&feature=channel