Wiring a ceiling light (with 4 cables )

[mark Black]

But I'm still curious to see how this work.

I took down a ceiling light, forgot to take a picture of how it was wired and messed it up, I now have three rooms without light's

When I took it down there were four cables running into the rose.

What I have is:
A neutral wire (marked with tape) so I assume that's the switch cable.
5 red wires (two if these goes to the switch)
3 neutral wires
5 earth wires

Unless someone on here can tell me it's a simple job, like a said I'll get an electrician in. But again as I said I'm just curios to know how it all works.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[EFLImpudence]

Firstly, is there another light which is also controled by the same switch?

 

[mark Black]

@EFLImpudence thanks for the reply. sorry put those pics up as I was running out the door. Just one light in the room - just one switch. Some better pics attached.

\

The only wire with power shown above.

(yes I do have the power off if I'm doing anything with electricity)

 

[mikeyd]

Mi Mark, welcome.

Can you first confirm that your original post, with super pictures BTW was after you had put up a new ceiling rose?
And your second post was as it was before the first post?

If your reply to EFL is accurate, and there is just one switch cable in there, and feed and supplies to other lights it shouldn't be hard to work it out.

Q1. Do you have a multimeter, or any way of proving continuity?
Q2. Do you understand why your voltfinder pen lit up while you have power off? (A2. I don't)

 

[terryplumb]

I suspect he had the power on when using the volt stick ,just letting us know he would switch power off when working on the cables.
Mark ,do you also have an outside light that isn't working ? The metal switch plate should have an earth conductor fitted to its earth terminal.
I suspect the black conductor with blue tape is a neutral ,and the switch line is the t&e with two red conductors, but as Mikeyd asked above ,do you have a multimeter or continuity tester to test the switch line ? By the way ,I only see 4 earth conductors not 5

 

[mark Black]

I suspect he had the power on when using the volt stick ,just letting us know he would switch power off when working on the cables.
Mark ,do you also have an outside light that isn't working ? The metal switch plate should have an earth conductor fitted to its earth terminal.
I suspect the black conductor with blue tape is a neutral ,and the switch line is the t&e with two red conductors, but as Mikeyd asked above ,do you have a multimeter or continuity tester to test the switch line ? By the way ,I only see 4 earth conductors not 5

Hello,

Yes, the power was on just to test with the volt pen.

There are two lights (one in the hall, one in the bathroom) that don't work

Sorry yes, 4 earth not 5 - my mistake.

I do have a multi meter - but I think I may of reached my ability. Changing a celling rose is no problem - but this is making my head hurt

 

[mark Black]

The above is what I am looking at.

 

[terryplumb]

If you want to do a continuity test ,you turn the power off and do it on a dead circuit. One probe on each of the two red conductors ( that are together in the t&e cable marked 1). Get someone to operate the switch .When switch is on you should have continuity. When switch is off you should not. This will prove the switch line is cable number 1.

 

[flameport]

The grey with the twin reds in is the switch cable - as can be seen in the photo of the switch.
ONE of those reds is the switched line, connecting to L
The other red in the grey cable and all of the other red wires connect to the Loop terminal
All of the black wires connect to the neutral terminal
The bare wires with green/yellow sleeving connect to the earth terminal.

 

[mikeyd]

I do have a multi meter - but I think I may of reached my ability. Changing a celling rose is no problem - but this is making my head hurt

Ha, it's even harder to work out abilities than you think. Ditch the Volt pen. Then get your multimeter and work out which setting makes a 'beep' when you touch the probes together. Then sleep on it and when it's light enough in the morning (WITH POWER OFF) figure it out. You are nearly there (but impossible to say from here).