Wiring Problem Please Help?

pink.1970

Hi all,

Ok here goes, I will describe prob as best I can.

We recently took down a 3 spotlight fitting from DD's bedroom, only thing wrong was 2 lots of wires in ceiling probably had 2 switches in bedroom but can see no evidence of this, OH tried to wire normal light fitment back but now we have no lights upstairs in bedrooms, landing light still works and have tried many different wiring possibilities.

Anyone who may be able to help?

danm

sounds like your lights are on a ring.

as you have only wired back in one set of wires you have broken the ring.

im not an expert, but im sure someone more informed than me can help further

jimbo_the_jetset

Again not a spark, but you have only wired in the lighting main to the single light, the second set of wires will then go to the next light and so on in a chain.

See below, picture may help explain.

http://www.diydata.com/planning/electric_lights/electric_lights.php

If in doubt don't mess around, get someone in who knows what to do

WestonDave

Bit of a punt this but have you checked the fuse/trip switch. My last house had the landing light wired strangely onto the downstairs circuit - if that's the case for you it might be that you've blown/tripped your upstairs circuit especially if you got it wrong at least once!

You should have two lots of wires anyway - one power and one from the switch, and unless you are on the end of the run, there should be a third taking the power on to the next light in the chain.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but I think you lack the basic understanding of electrics to be able to solve this problem and either need to do a fair amount of background reading, or call in a qualified electrician - preferably the latter for your own safety.

pink.1970

Thanks for all replies.
We did agree that maybe an electrician should take a look, seeing as the house is rented and most of the electrics are botched anyway, (not by OH by the way) I just thought it was worth a try on here.
The landlords are a waste of time they have already refused to do anything about another problem and when we complained to the authourities they gave us notice to quit. If we could afford somewhere else we would do.

ormus

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

these typical lighting circuit diagrams should help you.

pink.1970

Hi all just to let you know OH will try fixing lighting with the diagrams that have been given, will post results after weekend.

steve-o_3

The diagrams posted by others on here should help you if you can understand them.

As an electrician, it sound like you've just split the lighting loop when you've put your new light up.

As said, the wires going into any ceiling rose or light fitting, genereally have 2 or 3 pairs of wires. There will typically be a supply in from the consumer unit (fuse box), a supply out to the next ceiling rose / light fitting, then there is usually one set of switch wires. On the switch wires, the red is typically taken from the live supply loop to the switch, the black is then the return from the switch (or the switch live) and comes back to the ceiling rose and will connect into your lights live side. You then connect the other side of the light to the neutral of the supply wires from the consumer unit.

It sounds to me like you've managed to split the link from the supply to the next light fitting.

I don't recommend messing with electrics if you're not qualified, but this is what I would do if I had no test equipment (with test meters its alot easier and safer). Always do any connecting / disconnecting of wires with the power off.

You should start (with power off) by connecting all your red wires together. If you have only 2 sets of wires, then one of the blacks is a neutral, the other is a switch live from your light switch, if you have 3 sets of wires, 2 blacks will be neutrals and one is your switch live from the switch. If you don't have any test leads its harder (but not impossible) to find the neutrals and switch live.

Once you've put all your reds together, (again with power still off) temporarlily connect the live of the light to the terminal with all the reds in. Separate all the blacks into their own terminals and switch the light switch on. Put the neutral of the light fitting to each of the black wires in turn (switch power off after each test before reconnecting to another black). The light should light up on the wire which is your neutral from supply. Now you know the supply neutral, connect this to the neutral of the light. (Still with me?)

You now need to do a similar test with the live wire from the light fitting. Take the live from the light fitting out of the terminal with all the reds and (with the light switch still on) connect it to the remaining black wire(s), the light will light up again when you find the "switch live"wire from your light switch. Connect the live of your light to this black wire. If you have any more black wires, these "should" be neutrals from the rest of the lighting circuit. Connect any remaining blacks to the terminal you know are neutrals (from the previous test).

With any luck, I think all your lights should now work???

Good luck.

By the way, do not mess with the electrics if you are not competant or qualified, get someone in instead.

pink.1970

UPDATE AS PROMISED.

We now have lights upstairs, many thanks to jimbo the jetset for link to pics.