Ceiling Light Wiring Problem

booty40uk

IMHO a multimeter is more dangerous in the wrong hands

No...............electricity is dangerous in the wrong hands.

The_Mighty_Gusset

Keystone's drawing cunningly altered for clarity !



As he says, only two red wires indicates that light is at the end of the run.
My suspicion is still that, despite appearances, it's wired wrongly.
My gut feeling is that the switch wires are transposed
But without tracing through the wiring and finding out what is actually connecting to where, you aren't going to find it.
I wouldn't advise just swapping things around and hoping for the best.

Can you wire the old fitting back up temporarily ?
That should verify the wiring - or confirm the fault.

tommytadge

By way of an update, i replaced the light fitting with another fitting and still gave the same dim light. So the problem is not due to a faulty light.

I also tried a bigger terminal block with the same result. So problem is not due to insecure connections.

Can't understand it. Think it's time to call an electrician.

Thanks to all who took the time to assist.

andrew-b

Stop messing about with it and get someone in! And for god's sake don't go poking neon screwdrivers at it ...a faulty/damaged neon tester could kill you as Zax says. Most of these neon screwdrivers cost a quid or two if that yet many people seem totally happy putting their life in it's hands! Total madness!! Electrical testing shouldn't be a game of russian roulette! The only time i'd ever use one of them is when i'm sure the wire isn't live - as a screwdriver!

Many of us could probably fix this for you in no time but don't want to be responsible for your death!

p.s. Not an electrician...just a DIYer with electrical knowledge!

booty40uk

Well said.
Im an electrician but wont give advice on here other than "call an electrician"

Alias_Omega

tommytadge wrote: »

Hi, hope someone can help me.

Tried fitting a new light to my hallway, which has 2 lights and 3 separate switches.

Removed the ceiling rose from the first light point. There were 2 cables coming out of the ceiling each with 1 red, 1 black and 1 earth wire.

If both lights are switched on & off together, then i would put

Both Blacks in the N with the Blue Flex of the Lamp Holder
Both Reds in the L with the Brown Flex of the Lamp Holder

Sounds to me like its fed from the switch, maybe from a JB into the light fitting, then to the other light fitting.

By putting the light as it is now, the light you are using is acting light a resistor in series.

The power is going past the first light via the red cables, then through the 2nd bulb, then back down the neutral (black) line to first light. Making both dim.

I bet, as it is now...

If you took the 2nd light bulb out, then the first light would go out,

and

Removing the first bulbs first, would make the 2nd not work...



Regards,

Alias (Ex- Domestic Electrician, Now Aircraft Electrician :P)

The_Mighty_Gusset

Since it's not immediately obvious what's amiss, and you're not a qualified electrician (mind you, it looks like the original wiring, which presumably was done by an electrician, is wrong !) I wouldn't muck about.
I agree with andrew-b and booty40uk, and yourself - it's now time to get someone in to have a look at it.

tommytadge

Thanks Alias,

Think you may just have solved the mystery.

Removing the 2nd bulb, puts the new light fitting out and removing the new light bulbs puts the 2nd bulb out.

Will try your wiring suggestion tomorrow and hope all's well.

I assume that this arrangement is not normal - does it present any problems or dangers. Do I need to get it re-wired (by an expert!)

Many thanks.

jrrowleyws

Normal or not, I have to agree that at this stage I'd get an electrician in to check whats going on. Better safe than sorry. You don't want an electrical fault as things can turn nasty.

Alias_Omega

tommytadge wrote: »

Thanks Alias,

Think you may just have solved the mystery.

Removing the 2nd bulb, puts the new light fitting out and removing the new light bulbs puts the 2nd bulb out.

Will try your wiring suggestion tomorrow and hope all's well.

I assume that this arrangement is not normal - does it present any problems or dangers. Do I need to get it re-wired (by an expert!)

Many thanks.

If you can wait 10 mins, ill draw you a picture..