Problem light fittings

Tysernans2018 · Mar 27, 2021

Hi I have an upstairs light fitting and a downstairs light fitting, hall and landing. Upstairs fitting switched on and off by landing switch and downstairs switch. Both fittings were removed for decorating. When upstairs fitting reconnected, only live neutral and earth, and downstairs fitting reconnected, only live and neutral, the upstairs fitting will not now switch on from upstairs switch unless downstairs light is on. Nether switches have been tampered with, I'm baffled? Any ideas please?

pc1966 · Mar 28, 2021

I guess you made the novice mistake of no photographs before disconnecting?

If they really are only two wires at each light, and that is all you disconnected, then possibly there is some junction box nearby that has been disturbed by the movement of the cables.

I suspect your most sensible option is to get someone in to take a look at it.

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

Hi, thanks for reply, here is a photo of the downstairs fitting, upstairs is the same but with an earth

Timbo · Mar 28, 2021

Are you absolutely certain that the switches haven't been touched? Or unscrewed from wall for papering or painting?
This is a classic case of two wires being swapped in a switch, or a wire broken.

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

Yes the switches were unscrewed to paint behind but no wires were touched.

Deleted account · Mar 28, 2021

Tysernans2018 said:
Nether switches have been tampered with,

Tysernans2018 said:

Yes the switches were unscrewed to paint behind but no wires were touched.

Click to expand...

So they have been tampered with, @Timbo has the most probable answer.

loz2754 · Mar 28, 2021

Even if the switch wires were not deliberately disconnected, it's not at all uncommon for a wire to pop out when you pull the switch away from the wall.

Timbo · Mar 28, 2021

Suggest you switch off the power to the lighting circuits, unscrew the switches, check for loose wires in the back.

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

No loose wires in either switch, bizarre ?

Dave OCD · Mar 28, 2021

Tysernans2018 said:
Hi, thanks for reply, here is a photo of the downstairs fitting, upstairs is the same but with an earth

As an aside, the connector block where the CPC [earth wire] is terminated on the downstairs light should be connected to the small metal tab on your light fitting to earth it.

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

Dave OCD said:
As an aside, the connector block where the CPC [earth wire] is terminated on the downstairs light should be connected to the small metal tab on your light fitting to earth it.

Hi Dave OCD, their is no earth on the downstairs light fitting only live and neutral

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

Tysernans2018 said:
Hi Dave OCD, their is no earth on the downstairs light fitting only live and neutral

Their is an earth from the mains going into the connector block but no earth from the fitting, the mains wiring has not been touched

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

Tysernans2018 said:
Their is an earth from the mains going into the connector block but no earth from the fitting, the mains wiring has not been touched

It all worked fine before

brianmoooore · Mar 28, 2021

Tysernans2018 said:
It all worked fine before

We don't install electrics to 'work'. We install them to fail (safely).
Your light may have worked, but it is dangerous.

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

brianmoooore said:
We don't install electrics to 'work'. We install them to fail (safely).
Your light may have worked, but it is dangerous.

brianmoooore what do you mean?

Dave OCD · Mar 28, 2021

What he and I both mean is that the earth in the connector block should be connected to the fitting, you can see the little metal tab on the fitting designed to be connected to the spare half of the block that the earth conductor is terminated in.

brianmoooore · Mar 28, 2021

What I mean is any half competent DIYer can install a light, socket or appliance so that it 'works'.
That's the easy bit. What we have to do is install it so that whatever goes wrong, or whatever combination of things go wrong in the future, the electrics remain safe, with no danger of electrocution or fire, and that if the fault warrants it, the circuit disconnects itself from the power in the required time, preferably without affecting the rest of the installation.

Grant1987 · Mar 28, 2021

Tysernans2018 said:
brianmoooore what do you mean?

The thing is Brian is trying to say that “DIY DAVE” should not be potching about with electrics and then coming on here asking for answers. The work should have been carried out by a qualified and competent electrician would have saved you the hassle of coming on here and asking what “DAVE” done wrong

loz2754 · Mar 28, 2021

Dave OCD said:
As an aside, the connector block where the CPC [earth wire] is terminated on the downstairs light should be connected to the small metal tab on your light fitting to earth it.

Agreed. The connector block middle connector will have been connected to the tab at the bottom of the cover of the light fitting. This should be reconnected, otherwise you have an unearthed Class I fitting.

Tysernans2018 · Mar 28, 2021

Dave OCD said:
What he and I both mean is that the earth in the connector block should be connected to the fitting, you can see the little metal tab on the fitting designed to be connected to the spare half of the block that the earth conductor is terminated in.

I understand that, and appreciate what your saying but my point is the lights were working perfectly before I removed the fittings, I haven't touched any of the mains wiring so moving the earth out of the connector block and putting it where you suggest won't remedy the situation will it?

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