Lighting problem

pizzaboy

There were only 2 cables connected to original fitting,both reds in a separate block not connected to anything with (im pretty sure)both blacks connected to live and nutral.Ive a reasonably good idea how to install light fightings as ive changed every other one in the house as well as all switches and sockets bar one in kitchen which i got an electrician to fix,i asked him about changing the fluorescent light and he said they are quite simple to replace .

There is another light in kitchen in a sort of hall leading to back door,and a downstairs bathroom right next to kitchen and both those work ok.none of 2 living room or hall lights work now.

There is a black connected to live and nutral ,tried switching them round but no joy.

shandypants5

Sorry mate then I cant help...
It seems to be wired correctly.. and you have only replaced like for like.
maybe the new light is faulty?
what happens if you just disconnect the 2 blacks and then replace the fuse?
Do the other lights start working again??

I think you should maybe start looking for a freindly sparky to actually measure the wires with a multimeter and see whats what..

pizzaboy

Ive disconnected the whole thing and my living room lights still dont work,thanks for your help anyway mate much appreciated.

pizzaboy

Something i just noticed looking at the old which worked fine but is looking dirty an old,is that it has 2 brown and 2 blue wires and no nutral and is slightly bigger in size and has a bigger bulb,should that make a difference?

shandypants5

bulb size shouldnt make a difference. and its just a light fitting so as long as you connect a live and nutral it should come on..?

ssedd

Are your fuses trip fuses or wired? If they are trip fuses you may have actually broken the fuse (happened to me once). The switch will reset but not actually reset internally, they sometimes have a little indicator on the fuse red=tripped white=reset. The fact that the other lights have been affected does sound like it is a fuse problem. As someone has said earlier if it isnt a fuse the way to check it would be to keep the connections out of the new fitting, possibly tape up the ends to stop then shorting and then reset the fuse and see if the other lights work.
Other than this a think you may need an electrician, would be better than getting a shock:eek:

Incisor

ssedd wrote: »

... Other than this a think you may need an electrician, would be better than getting a shock:eek:

I have come to the conclusion that this is the only good advice for this poster. He took no care to understand how it worked before he took it apart, ignored my questions, which would have set him on the right path, and effectively ignored shandypants advice too.

Please, nobody advise this guy other than to get an electrician. He doesn't want to understand what he is doing, he just wants to be told which wires. But that is too risky to do on an internet forum.

andrew-b

Agree...get an electrician in. When i've replaced light fittings i always make a point of labelling each wire using anything from pieces of string, cotton, sellotape, labels, felttip pen on the insulation etc plus i draw a diagram to avoid any confusion. Never skimp on preparation as it always comes back to bite you otherwise ...maybe that should be shock though.

Andy

weekendwarrior

You need some earth sleeving on the bare earth wire whilst you are there.

This might help you find the switched live-

http://www.ultimatehandyman.org/videos/223/ceiling-rose-wiring

Make sure the electric is switched off first!

pizzaboy

ssedd wrote: »

Are your fuses trip fuses or wired? If they are trip fuses you may have actually broken the fuse (happened to me once). The switch will reset but not actually reset internally, they sometimes have a little indicator on the fuse red=tripped white=reset. The fact that the other lights have been affected does sound like it is a fuse problem. As someone has said earlier if it isnt a fuse the way to check it would be to keep the connections out of the new fitting, possibly tape up the ends to stop then shorting and then reset the fuse and see if the other lights work.
Other than this a think you may need an electrician, would be better than getting a shock:eek:

Its a wired box,its an old house,ive checked all the fuses,i take them all out every time i attempt anything like this and i managed to change every other light fitting ,switch and socket it in the house and only got a shock once:eek::D it would be obvious to get a guy in which i did when i got a shock,i like to try and learn these things thats why i came on here and asked,it is a money saving site after all.

I have always taped up any loose wires while waiting for help,thanks for the video ill watch it now.