Require new lighting help

chalky_bertie

Every room in the house so far there has been a looped system with 3 red, 2 black and 1 black / red sleeve plus earth wires, which have been simple to change.

However in the last room I am decorating it is the same system BUT there is 4 red, 3 black and 1 balck / red sleeve plus earth wire, aswell as a bare solid but flexible piece of caopper wire.

What the hell do I do with the extra wires as the instructions I got off the 'net only include the first wiring scenario.


Any help much appreciated.

hesmy

It won't be very helpful,but it could be almost anything.No electrician (I am one) could tell you without seeing what's there.The others sound like a "loop-in" system with the red/black taking current down to and back from the switch.This one could be a "spur"(feed) to another light,or could be some horrible botch job that needs attention.Frankly,it needs an electrician to look at it

rygon

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/lights_and_switches.htm
this is how a normal single switch is installed. With the amount of wires you have it could be a 2 way switch (ie 2 switches controlling the same light) or somebody could have made a spur to something else (i had a 13A socket running off my lighting circuit!!!!!!!!!). If you are competant enough trace the wires to see where they go and then make a decision based on that..if not then get a electrician in (may cost a bit but its better than having your house burn down or being electricuted)

fatnbald

The lighting wiring issue could be a few different scenario's, two lights on the same switch, an extra feed taken to a light added after the original installation or some weird and wonderful DIY (or spark) odd ball.
I am a spark and the calls for help I get from friends and family in the majority are when they are dabbling with lighting circuits.
To be certain you need someone who knows what they are doing, with a meter or two to bell out the wiring and see the installation to sort it out.

Phil_L_2

Look around for external security lights or the transformer for the doorbell.