Old light switches wiring

[MalcolmS]

It's unusual not to have a black neutral wire at a ceiling rose, or rather, unusual to have the neutral as red. Are you sure there aren't any other wires that might have escaped from that ceiling rose?

I said it wrong. It's not a ceiling rose in the bathroom but just a pull cord switch but I was wondering if there is anything in one of those ceiling roses that can trip. I haven't been touching them. I reckon to access roses I need to go to the loft.

 

[nicebutdim]

I said it wrong. It's not a ceiling rose in the bathroom but just a pull cord switch but I was wondering if there is anything in one of those ceiling roses that can trip. I haven't been touching them. I reckon to access roses I need to go to the loft.

If the tripping is a new development, it's more than likely going to be related to recent tinkering.

 

[ipf]

I checked all the exposed wires upstairs and none of them are live.

I admit at the time I was messing around with a ceiling rose in the bathroom but this one is only 3 wire (green-yellow one grounding the ceiling rose and two red ones that are not live)

Sorry to say it but this sums things up nicely.

 

[MalcolmS]

If the tripping is a new development, it's more than likely going to be related to recent tinkering.

I know tripping would relate to that but MCB hasn't tripped once while I was doing my thing.

 

[MalcolmS]

Sorry to say it but this sums things up nicely.

I just unscrewed the pull cord switch to find out which of the two red wires is live.

 

[nicebutdim]

I know tripping would relate to that but MCB hasn't tripped once while I was doing my thing.

This was a switch change which started on May 27th and has progressed to a number of other problems during the course of almost two weeks. Forum rules prohibit step by step instructions and this thread is a prime example of why. Looking in previously untouched places isn't likely to yield a solution, but may well compound current issues.

 

[MalcolmS]

This was a switch change which started on May 27th and has progressed to a number of other problems during the course of almost two weeks. Forum rules prohibit step by step instructions and this thread is a prime example of why. Looking in previously untouched places isn't likely to yield a solution, but may well compound current issues.

I understand however the number of problems is only 2:
1. understanding 2-ways switch
(I don't need step by step instructions since I worked it out with the help of Avo Mk8 and probably I don't need this to work 2-way since I can control it electronically).

2. loss of power on upstairs lights

I agree re compounding the current issue by looking into untouched places.

Since any of the existing exposed wires is live even if put everything back together as it was originally (like on the pictures) I don't think this will just come back up. MCB haven't tripped so it must be something else or it's faulty. I cannot understand the loss of current on the use to live wire.

I understand you assume I am a noob who just messed something else up and didn't tell you but I didn't touch anything else apart from that pull cord switch which I don't need an electrician to replace it. I have done that at least 5 times in the past.

 

[nicebutdim]

I understand you assume I am a noob who just messed something else up and didn't tell you but I didn't touch anything else apart from that pull cord switch which I don't need an electrician to replace it. I have done that at least 5 times in the past.

My comments are not about whether or not you're a 'noob', but whether or not it is advisable for people to provide further instruction.

There are electricians out there who struggle with certain types of lighting circuit, but the key is developing an understanding of how a circuit is wired and not randomly guessing which accessory to look inside next.

The likelihood of a random fault developing here is infintesimally low and the likelihood of something not having being put back as it was is exceptionally high. Somewhere a conductor hasn't been secured back into its terminal, has been placed in the wrong terminal or has broken after being disturbed.

These are simply my thoughts and others may disagree.

 

[westward10]

Return the wiring to the switches as it was before and if it still doesn't function then get an electrician involved. @Avo Mk8 has been incredibly helpful but from a distance we cannot suggest what is happening.

 

[MalcolmS]

Thanks everyone

 

[MalcolmS]

I have put everything together as it was. The ones with black insulation tape are the ones that use to be live I labelled them days before the problem occurred.
I checked each wire individually and they are holding firm, not loose. The downstairs light works, the upstairs one does not.
With a torch I checked for any extra wires in the boxes and pull cord switch (a hole where the single 1.5mil wire comes out) but there isn't anything else.

 

[westward10]

Time to get an electrician.