The simple job of a new ceiling light

S

screechyboy79

Has me in a state of confusion...

We live in an early 80's house so the wires coming from the ceiling are 3 red, 3 black (one with blue tape, assuming they ran out of red) and 1 earth. Our new ceiling light has 3 blue, 3 brown and 1 earth.

I have tried a multitude of combinations and have failed to get the light to work at the same time as the switch i.e if the light does come on the switch does nothing. Other attempts have stopped other lights downstairs working correctly.

Could you possible advise how you would deal with this situation? I feel like i have tried nearly every combination.

Thanks in advance
 
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screechyboy79 said:
@ibf I'm really not sure how asking for advise on this forum is bringing it on myself, I have done what I can with the knowledge and tools that I have and was asking if anyone here felt that I had made a glaringly obvious mistake.

Clearly I have not as thus far nobody has been able to identify the problem.
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The old common sense thing again. Use it.

Are we supposed to be magicians. You HAVE made a glaringly obvious mistake but YOU and you only, are the one in a position to deduce what it is.
 
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how you have it wired in the pic looks right. all i can think of is that you may have screwed 1 ( or more) terminals onto the insulation, or something similar.
 
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Hi Pete999, no they are not double insulated posted a photo a few posts back if that is any use to you.

@ipf I was expecting electricians but if you can do magic I'm also interested.
 
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thank you teletrix, I will get an electrician in in the new year see if he can see what i cannot. I cannot get my head around why this one light is causing me so much trouble when i have successfully fitted others without any problems.
 
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Have you checked for voltage at the light fitting?

have you checked if the light fitting actually works?

why did you call this a simple job, when you have no way of finding any problems?
 
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It's not that we are being sarcastic, it's just that we see this type of thing quite a lot and it often ends with the op leaving saying that we are not helpful. You have to see it from our point of view, it's our job, our livelihood and our wages. The absolute best advise you could have been given, was given. Get an electrician in, just because it's not the answer that you wanted it doesn't mean that we are trying to sarcastic. And, for another thing, this forum is not just here to tell people how to carry out DIY jobs
 
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jimmymac said:
It's not that we are being sarcastic, it's just that we see this type of thing quite a lot and it often ends with the op leaving saying that we are not helpful. You have to see it from our point of view, it's our job, our livelihood and our wages. The absolute best advise you could have been given, was given. Get an electrician in, just because it's not the answer that you wanted it doesn't mean that we are trying to sarcastic. And, for another thing, this forum is not just here to tell people how to carry out DIY jobs
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yep...this is what winds me up no end...

folk just coming in here like its some sort of drop in centre...

i mean theres that DIY bucket isn`t there....why isn`t this in there?
 
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IMG_20131231_151444.jpg
I have attached it again to this post Pete hope you can open it.

@jimmymc, appreciate that I really do, I have worked in an around IT for 20 years but if you got a bad virus or some other fault you would have a go at fixing it yourself before you paid out for a computer repair shop i presume?

I haven't intended to be disrespectful to anyone on here and I came here because you guys are the experts in this subject and I will absolutely get an electrician in as this now appears to be beyond my capabilities.

For your information if you type in 'UK DIY Electrical forum' this site is top so not at all unsurprising you should get people asking DIY questions here is it?
 
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screechyboy79 said:
View attachment 21993
I have attached it again to this post Pete hope you can open it.

@jimmymc, appreciate that I really do, I have worked in an around IT for 20 years but if you got a bad virus or some other fault you would have a go at fixing it yourself before you paid out for a computer repair shop i presume?

I haven't intended to be disrespectful to anyone on here and I came here because you guys are the experts in this subject and I will absolutely get an electrician in as this now appears to be beyond my capabilities.

For your information if you type in 'UK DIY Electrical forum' this site is top so not at all unsurprising you should get people asking DIY questions here is it?
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OK..

so do you have a voltage indicator?

it looks OK from the pic....but now its time to get the prods on it...and start proving whats what...

- - - Updated - - -

screechyboy79 said:
@glenspark as a new member I wasn't able to post in that particular forum perhaps something for the admins to look at!?!
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i would say so...

mind you i wont go in it...
 
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screechyboy79 said:
View attachment 21993
I have attached it again to this post Pete hope you can open it.

@jimmymc, appreciate that I really do, I have worked in an around IT for 20 years but if you got a bad virus or some other fault you would have a go at fixing it yourself before you paid out for a computer repair shop i presume?

I haven't intended to be disrespectful to anyone on here and I came here because you guys are the experts in this subject and I will absolutely get an electrician in as this now appears to be beyond my capabilities.

For your information if you type in 'UK DIY Electrical forum' this site is top so not at all unsurprising you should get people asking DIY questions here is it?
Click to expand...

Not so sure that could knock you off your ladders or much, much worse.
 
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Right easy, what confused me was you aid 1 earth, there is in fact 3 all 3 in one sleeve must have been a plumber who wired it up in the first place ; black with blue tape = switched live, 3 reds (live) 2 blacks (neutrals) But as said best you get an Electrician in to do it for you, not a job for someone who has little or no knowledge of electric happy new year
 
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seperate all that lot and start proving it....you should have one of those cables with a voltage sitting on it...then its just a case of finding which is the switch and the last one will be feeding other lighting around the house...
 
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I think that when you were trying all possible combinations of joining the wires
you have possibly blown the switch contacts and that even when you have
found the RIGHT ones it will not pass current through the switch , Ken .
 
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OP have you checked for voltage at the fitting?

Have you proved the lamps are OK?

Could be be a simple fault, but you need to check the basics too
 
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thing is , now, without even a simple voltage indicat or multimeter, you're pi$$ing into the wind trying to find the problem. a local spark should ony charge you a £30 - £40 call-out fee to fix. surprised there's not a member close to you could call and sort it. maybe when we all sobered up on thursday, you might get an offer. :54:
 
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Newark is only half a hour drive for me, although may want a bit more than normal for this late on a NYE, already had 2 call outs today from friends want lights changing, still it's paid for tonight's beer.
 
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Thanks Dillb for the offer and all for some sensible things to consider, I have an electrician coming on Thursday to take a look. Enjoy your New Years Eve!

I'll post back on Thursday.
 
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screechyboy79 said:
I'm merely pointing out i asked for help not sarcasm, if you cant/don't want to help then why reply?
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You need to find out FOR SURE which one of those wires is the Switched Live - NOT just assume it's the one with the blue tape wrapped around it.

To to this, you will need at least a test lamp.

There you are - some help with no sarcasm. Are you happy with that??

You would not believe how many times we have had people like yourself coming on here asking for help with this exact problem. ( It's just a few wires innit ... you just shove all the reds together on one hole and all the blacks together in another .... Piece of pi$$ ... why bother getting a sparky to rip us off )
 
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The simple job of a new ceiling light
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UK Electrical Forum
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