Fitting ceiling light

avisccs

Hi all

I took off my old ceiling light recently and attempted to install a new ceiling light. My new light fitting is a set of 3 spotlight.

There are 3 big wires from the ceiling (I always thought there was only 1!!!). In total there are 4 brown ones (live), 2 blue ones (neutral) and 2 earths. One of the brown ones was blue, but has a brown sticker on it. Can anyone tell me why is it? My house is newly re-wired.

So I connect all the 4 brown ones from the ceiling with the brown wires of the new light; the 2 blue ones with the blue and 2 earths with the earths.

When I turn the main on, the light comes on. The main is ok, but the light should be off. I didn't touch the switch after I turn the main on. Then I try to turn the switch the other way and found that it doesn't turn off.

Can anyone tell me what I did wrong?

ormus

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

this should explain it all.
the wire with the brown tape on is called a switched live. thats the wire from the switch that becomes live when the switch is on. that needs to goto one side of your lamp/s.

hence beware of wire colors, if you think only reds (or browns) are live!

avisccs

I understand how this blue wire with brown tape works now.

My light doesn't have the third hole to put this wire in. Does it mean the light will have to come from a ceiling rose? The ceiling rose is too big for my light.

ormus

i dont understand your third hole?
see above for modern wiring color code.

avisccs

The system in my house is diagram 1 in your link.
My light only have 3 holes, 1: live, 2: earth, 3: neutral.

I think I can create my own live connection, which is the middle (3 brown wires) in your diagram. Then connect the rest to the light. In this way, i won't need to use a ceiling rose.

Thank you for your help, your information is very useful.

ormus

all the earths are not shown, for clarity.
they can all be simply joined together with a block.