HELP! stuck on this wiring problem.

[craggy46]

I want to replace the light in my bathroom which is one of those single swivel ball spotlights and turns on with a pull down switch, to a metal 4 spotlight and metal dimmer switch.

There are 2 black wires and 1 red going into the spot light, both black to neutral , red to live, the pull down switch has one red going to the spot light , and the other end in the pull down switch i believe is connected to my lads rooms.

How and what would be the best way to connect these wires. when i remove both reds from the pull down switch , can i join it as one or do i still keep them separate from each other or use a junction box which i want to do, do i still keep both black neutral together ?


The new light has your standard live neutral and earth connections, how do I connect to the dimmer switch, which goes to l1, L2 and (~), earths not a problem , and i've already cut out the recess for wiring and the box on my landing, but this wiring is stumping me.

Any suggestions on how to go about it and wire it correctly would be a fantastic help , thanks

 

[ColJack]

bit late at night to be doing bathroom lights isn't it?

the 2 reds in the switch are the live feed and the switch wire..

these go into ~ and L1 in the order listed above.. ( ie live to ~, switch to L1 )

you'll need to find which is which..

at the light, yes keep the 2 neutrals together and connect to the neutral.
the switch wire connect to the live and the earth to the earth..

the light and the switch both need earthing..

please look up "suplimentary bonding" in the wiki, or do a search for it.. there are many useful discussions about it in the forum..

also, while you're at it look up "part-P".. it's definitely in the wiki.. ( button at the top of the site. )

electrical work in a bathroom is notifiable under part P..

 

[Steve]

You have two cores at your pullswitch. You need to export these 2 cores to the new switch. WHY WOULD YOU CONNECT THEM TOGETHER???? How do you think a lightswitch works??? It is a simple mechanical break between the live supply, and an appliance (light). Theres no magic here.

When you've exported the two cores for the new switch, connect them to L1 and ~, as the instructions will say.

Why do you want a switch outside the room? You KNOW the kids are gonna mess with it. And why a dimmer in a bathroom?

 

[sparkydude]

Have you made sure the light your putting up is suitable for use in bathrooms? by the soind of it , metal and four spots i suspect it is not. You need to check out the zones in bathrooms and make sure your fitting is really suitable.

Nick

 

[JonoPashley]

Have you made sure the light your putting up is suitable for use in bathrooms? by the soind of it , metal and four spots i suspect it is not. You need to check out the zones in bathrooms and make sure your fitting is really suitable.

Nick

If you dont the fittings will crackle and pop everytime you use the shower/the bath due to steam getting into the contacts and with a metal fitting potentially making the case live. Will also cause the lamps to flicker and die costing you a small fortune in lamps.

 

[craggy46]

hi , thanks for all your advice , it helped a great deal , changed the light fitting to 3 dimmer spot lights , wired it all up as suggested, and everything is working great , thanks again , sometimes the simple things can confuse you, (sparkydude , your name not victor meldrew is it)

 

[JonoPashley]

hi , thanks for all your advice , it helped a great deal , changed the light fitting to 3 dimmer spot lights , wired it all up as suggested, and everything is working great , thanks again , sometimes the simple things can confuse you, (sparkydude , your name not victor meldrew is it)

Not being funny but his advise is as good as anyone elses here. Using unsuitable lighting in a bathroom is a potential hazard for more reasons than just the potential for electrocution. You also get other hazards introduced when the steam inevitably shorts the lights and it trips leaving you in the bath/shower in the dark.

Always amazes me how people are sarcastic when people are trying to help them.

Are the lights on a rcd? did you notify this work to labc? no? good luck in court if someone gets hurt.

 

[ColJack]

I believe that he was refering to the spelling of sound...

it reads very victor meldrew-ish with the i instead of the u....

 

[sparkydude]

simple typing error with my big fingers sorry . Anyways you have checked that its suitable for a bathroom havent you ?? if not then ..........






I dont belieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeve it LOL

Nick