3 plain grey wires!

[rick24]

my out side light has been knocked off the wall, there are 3 plain grey wires coming out of the wall but none of them are marked to which is live neutral or earth, how can I test which is which? I can borrow a multi meter

 

[chivers67]

A photo might help of where the connections are broken/ Yes a multimeter will help for sure. How is the light fed?

 

[rick24]

the connection of the wires was with a 3 connector plastic block, the block is still attached to the light fitting, 3 normal coloured wires. the 3 wires from the wall are plain grey, with no signs of where they came from out of the block.

 

[conny]

What colour are the wires still attached to the light? Are they marked as L N and Earth?
Does the light have a label which contains a picture of a square inside another square or say it is Class I or Class II?
Can you post a picture of the light fitting showing the cables and a picture of the grey cables?

 

[rick24]

the colour/wires from the light are earth neutral and live, there still attached to the block, that's the easy side. the wires that went into the other side of the block are 3 plain grey that are unmarked. I just need to know how to test each grey wire to find out which is earth, neutral and live.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Is there a switch?

 

[rick24]

yes it's a 3 way switch, one for the hallway, one for upstair landing and the last one for the outside light.

 

[plugwash]

"3 grey wires" is very weird.

Having a look in the box for the switch is probablly the next step, finding out if you see the same "3 grey wires" there.

 

[sparkwright]

By three grey wires, I can only think it's
a) sheathed and insulated one core cables.
b) faded wires.
c) flex with wires all the same colour, with numbers printed on them.

 

[rick24]

there is a red sheath under the grey outer sheath if that's any use to you all. but they are all the same, no markings on them though.

 

[sparkwright]

there is a red sheath under the grey outer sheath if that's any use to you all. but they are all the same, no markings on them though.

Are you certain some of them don't have a black 'sheath' under them as well?

 

[rick24]

yes, all red

 

[sparkwright]

And we are talking about an outside light, and not a switch?

 

[rick24]

Yes,the light itself

 

[terryplumb]

As asked by previous contributor,pictures of wiring would be useful.
If you have 3 insulated terminal blocks ,put one wire in each terminal block, and do some testing with your multimeter.