Electrics

WorkHealth

We live in a very old house, passed electric check couple of years ago but no idea how old electrics are. 

Mickey666

If husband had any clue he would have noted which terminals the existing light fitting was connected to and used the same ones for the new light fitting.  As it sounds like he doesn’t have a clue then I’d share your nervousness about him doing any electrical work.  

For a start, the colours you describe suggest that there is a mixture of old and new wiring.  This is not a problem as such but it adds to the complexity and makes it almost impossible to give definitive advice about which wires to connect to the new light fitting.  I’m also guessing that husband does not know how to use test equipment that would help identify the correct wires to use.
I’d strongly suggest you encourage husband to call an electrician, or at the very least a friend who does know what they are doing.

Browntoa

Existing connection would have given the clues he needed but if he's totally removed the old fitting then you need an electrician

Ebe_Scrooge

WorkHealth said:

I suggested an electrician but he's adamant he's doing it himself but admits he doesn't know how it works.

This surely answers the question?  Really, replacing a light fitting is usually a simple job, and DIY electrical work is not necessarily something to be afraid of.

BUT - and this is a massive BUT - all this assumes you know what you're doing.  When you run into something more complex than you can deal with, as seems to be the case in your situation, then it really is time to call in someone who knows what they're doing.

Hasbeen

Op post a picture. Someone may be able to help. 

But it looks like he has just taken it all apart and not taken any note of the wires /connections that fed the old light.

Time for sparky!

TELLIT01

He is being a bullheaded idiot and needs to be told that.  His pride could lead to a major fire and the loss of your home.  Is that what he wants.  I would go ahead and contact an electrician before he does any more damage.

Mickey666

More proof that an electrician is needed!  Turning off a light switch DOES NOT isolate the ceiling rose from mains power, as husband has now discovered.  Playing around with electrics he clearly doesn’t understand in a thatched property is playing with fire - possibly quite literally. £100 or so for an electrician will be a sound investment.

As for having a PhD, I once knew a PhD scientist who worked for the Ministry of Defence . . . knew the theory of everything but had zero common sense at all.  Just saying

[Deleted User]

WorkHealth said:

Thanks very much - I'm not sure if he knows how to test - he'll certainly claim he does but he just turned off the light switch before he started and then got a small electrical shock. 

  

It sounds like you're married to Mr Bean!

FreeBear

There will be one pair of wires that is live feed in, another pair for live feed out to the next light fitting. A third pair of wires will go to the light switch, and finally, one pair to drop down to the lamp. On top of that, there will be three bare wires sleeved in green or green/yellow depending on the age of the installation. Unless one makes notes of which wires are which, guessing is not good enough. If a badly installed light fitting causes a fire, you can be sure your insurance company will refuse to pay out if (when) they find out the work was done by an unqualified person.

Any electrical work must be carried out by a competent person.

It is not enough to turn the power off at the light switch as the wires in the light fitting remain live. Flicking the breaker in the consumer unit (fuse board) does not fully isolate the lighting circuit either - The neutral will still be "hot" and there is still a risk of an electrical shock.

molerat

Mickey666 said:

 Turning off a light switch DOES NOT isolate the ceiling rose from mains power, as husband has now discovered. 

Are you sure about that ?

Homer_home

Still waiting for a pic to see if this can be sorted .....