Ceiling light wiring query

[rossy70]

Hoping someone can advise on this please.

I'm replacing two ceiling light fixtures in a loft bedroom. The first was easy- 3 wires, live, neutral, earth.

The second is not! It has a few wires already 'tied off on strip connectors, but has 4 neutral black wires.

I can't recall how they went into the previous fixing. They won't all go into the new light fixing, but does one go in and three into a strip connector?

Not sure if it's a simple fix or sparky to check if any are switch or return wires....?

 

[securespark]

You didn't make a note of what went where?

You will need to invest in a multimeter as those black wires are not all neutrals.

 

[Wayners]

You need to test which are permanent live.
One of those will goto switch and come back as a black. That should have a red sleeve over to mark as a live. That's the live switch wire.
Other blacks will be neutrals.

You can't go by colours with lighting because of the return switch wire being the wrong colour for live

 

[rossy70]

ok thanks. sounds like I need a sparky then...!

 

[terryplumb]

A simple continuity test with a ten quid multimeter would easily determine which is the switched live.

 

[Adam_151]

How many reds into that connector block? Was the red on its own separate from all the others, It does sound like in this situation, all your blacks may well be neutrals as the switch drop looks like its been wired in twin red

 

[terryplumb]

How many reds into that connector block? Was the red on its own separate from all the others, It does sound like in this situation, all your blacks may well be neutrals as the switch drop looks like its been wired in twin red

There only appears to be 3 reds in the terminal block ,and one of the black wires would be a switched live.

 

[pete01]

Is one of the twins a twin red?

Check in the switch if theres two reds or a red and black.

 

[terryplumb]

Is one of the twins a twin red?

Check in the switch if theres two reds or a red and black.

If it was ,there wouldn't be 4 black.

 

[pete01]

If it was ,there wouldn't be 4 black.

Good point.
Still worth a look.

 

[terryplumb]

Good point.
Still worth a look.

Can't see why Pete ,but wouldn't do any harm.....as long as the powers off!!!

 

[pete01]

Can't see why Pete ,but wouldn't do any harm.....as long as the powers off!!!

Yes I see what you mean 4 reds 4 blacks it's not gonna be 2 reds.
But why is that 1 red floating.

Edit, 2 lights in the room maybe?

 

[rossy70]

there are 3 reds going into the connector block, plus 1 'open' red. There are 4 open black wires.
I have a connector block, but not sure whether I can just 'tie off' 3 of the black wires in it?

 

[terryplumb]

Yes I see what you mean 4 reds 4 blacks it's not gonna be 2 reds.
But why is that 1 red floating.

Edit, 2 lights in the room maybe?

That's what we were told.

 

[pete01]

there are 3 reds going into the connector block, plus 1 'open' red. There are 4 open black wires.
I have a connector block, but not sure whether I can just 'tie off' 3 of the black wires in it?

Is there 2 lights in this room that come on together?