Help - wiring new ceiling spot light!

stacybyrne

Hi, I have removed my old ceiling light spot light to replace with a new modern spot light. there are 3 grey cables coming from the ceiling with lots of wires, some of them not being used on old light. There is black and red coming from all 3 and there is a green/yellow coming from 2 (been joined together from 2 grey cables to create 1 green/yellow).

All the red is taped up and not being used. I am now left with 3 black and a green/yellow.

In my new spot light there is 2 green/yellow, 1 brown and 1 blue.

can you tell me what to do? Also they used a connector with 6 available slots in the last one which I guess I need to use to connect upto the new spot light?

keith969

This comes up so often there ought to be a sticky for it...

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

27col

I am sorry to have to say that you do not appear to have any idea about electricity, so you should leave it to an expert, or at least a competent person.
The fact that all the reds are taped up does not mean that they are not being used. They should be in a connector block under the tape, leave them as they are. The three black wires that you see are two neutrals and a switched live. One these cables goes to the switch and you need to identify which it is. Once you have established which is the black wire coming from the switch, you connect it to the brown wire on the light. The other two blacks are connected to the blue wire on the light.. Sometimes the black wire from the switch has a little red coloured marker on it. If yours does not then a meter should be used to identify it. If you cannot do this safely then I suggest that you leave it to someone who can.

phill99

Well said 27col!

Owain_Moneysaver

27col wrote: »

The three black wires that you see are two neutrals and a switched live. One these cables goes to the switch and you need to identify which it is. Once you have established which is the black wire coming from the switch, you connect it to the brown wire on the light. The other two blacks are connected to the blue wire on the light..

And if you get this bit wrong you get a dead short across the supply with fusenblowen poppenbangen things happening.

pimento

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

And if you get this bit wrong you get a dead short across the supply with fusenblowen poppenbangen things happening.

Quite! I'd call an electrician. I like my eyebrows!

NineTenJack

stacybyrne wrote: »

Hi, I have removed my old ceiling light spot light to replace with a new modern spot light. there are 3 grey cables coming from the ceiling with lots of wires, some of them not being used on old light. There is black and red coming from all 3 and there is a green/yellow coming from 2 (been joined together from 2 grey cables to create 1 green/yellow).

All the red is taped up and not being used. I am now left with 3 black and a green/yellow.

In my new spot light there is 2 green/yellow, 1 brown and 1 blue.

can you tell me what to do? Also they used a connector with 6 available slots in the last one which I guess I need to use to connect upto the new spot light?

There are excellent reasons why it is illegal to do this yourself
With your lack of knowledge you could electrocute someone now or in the future. Or you could jumble the wires in a non-standard fashion - a big problem for someone doing work later. There are good reasons for coloured tape on the wiring, and wires apparently not being used.
"Loop in" wiring is well understood by Electricians - get one in.
And they "love" jobs where all they see is a bunch of wires hanging out of the ceiling!!

zax47

NineTenJack wrote: »

There are excellent reasons why it is illegal to do this yourself

Except it isn't "illegal", and I'm an Electrician! Even under Part P of the building regs, like for like replacement (outside of kitchen, bathroom or special location) of things like light fittings, socket fronts, switches etc. is allowed and "none-notifiable" work.

With your lack of knowledge you could electrocute someone now or in the future. Or you could jumble the wires in a non-standard fashion - a big problem for someone doing work later. There are good reasons for coloured tape on the wiring, and wires apparently not being used.
"Loop in" wiring is well understood by Electricians - get one in.
And they "love" jobs where all they see is a bunch of wires hanging out of the ceiling!!

However, I agree with this bit!

My rates;

£25 per hour,
or £35/h if you want to watch,
or £45/h if you want to help,
or £75/h if you tried to fix it yourself and f'ked it up!