Fitting a ceiling light to a bedroom

[billc]

On diconnecting the ceiling rose there are 8 cables. 2 x Green, 2 x Black and 4 x Red... one of which is a Black sheathed in Red.

Have tried several combinations but only succeeded in haveing light on all the time!

Joined all greens to green light/2 x blacks(not sheathed red) to black lights and 2 x red to red lights.

Light on all the time - other lights in hall and bedrooms working OK.

What am i doing wrong please?

 

[didthathurt]

Have a look at this post

//www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=60875&highlight=

If there is no red sheathed black wire (which is used to identify the switching cable) you'll need a small multimeter to identify the wires that lead to the switch. Then connect as per the post above.

 

[mdlyons]

You need to attach the black sheathed red cable to the live of the new light. This is the switch. By attaching the live of the new light to the other red lives you have by passed the switch, hense the light is on all the time.

If you are using connection blocks you should insulate the red lives seperately with insulating tape.

 

[billc]

You need to attach the black sheathed red cable to the live of the new light. This is the switch. By attaching the live of the new light to the other red lives you have by passed the switch, hense the light is on all the time.

If you are using connection blocks you should insulate the red lives seperately with insulating tape.

BillC... Have put 3 x reds into block. Sheathed black(red) connected to light (Red). Other 2 x Black and 2 x Green to light. Nothing!

Only getting constant light when connected to one of the Red mains.
[/quote]

 

[mdlyons]

The wiring providing it is a single switch should be the following.

2 neutral cables together and attached to the neutral cable of the new light.

All of the earth cable go together and attached to the new light earth.

The 3 red live cables together in a connection block and insulated.

and the switched live ( black usually with a red sheath or something to distinguish it as such) attached to the live of the new light.

If the light is constant then it sounds like it is attached to one of the live cables and not the switched live . If you have all of the above done then you will need to test the cables to ensure that you know which one is the switched live.

 

[punchjoshua]

Keep playing with the wires you can only set fire to your house or fix it.

 

[mdlyons]

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/replacelightfitting.htm

this may make it clearer.

 

[billc]

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/replacelightfitting.htm

this may make it clearer.

Thanks for all the advice. It appears i've got one of the blacks that is actually a live. I'm off to get it all metered. Again, thanks for all the help and advice.