Second red 'live' wire in light fitting - what to do?

[slquoue]

I am connecting a new IKEA pendant light in place of an existing light fitting. I have connected the red wire in the ceiling to the brown 'live' terminal in the IKEA fitting, and the black wire in the ceiling to the blue 'neutral' terminal in the IKEA fitting. However, there is an extra exposed red 'live' wire. Should I connect this to the second available 'live' terminal in the IKEA fitting, or leave it loose as I found it?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Here we go again....
How was it connected at the old light? Did you take a picture/make a note?

 

[slquoue]

Here we go again....
How was it connected at the old light? Did you take a picture/make a note?

Sorry if my question is inconveniencing you. I know I'm not an expert - quite the opposite - but I assumed that this forum was a good place to ask a question, even if it is a beginner question.

The red live weird was loose with the old light. However I wasn't convinced this necessarily meant it was the way it was supposed to be.

 

[Taylortwocities]

No inconvenience, but there's lots of these every day...

Its hard to know exactly as there are many ways to cable up lighting circuits, and your wiring is somewhat older than many!

There's several choices

One is guess work. If you think that the second red is not used, then insulate it. Then test the IKEA light and also every other light in your house.
You may find that one or more lights in your house do not work now.
There's two options:
put the second red together with the first red and see if all is now working.
call an electrician or someone who has a test meter and knows how to use it

 

[slquoue]

No inconvenience, but there's lots of these every day...

Its hard to know exactly as there are many ways to cable up lighting circuits, and your wiring is somewhat older than many!

There's several choices

One is guess work. If you think that the second red is not used, then insulate it. Then test the IKEA light and also every other light in your house.
You may find that one or more lights in your house do not work now.
There's two options:
put the second red together with the first red and see if all is now working.
call an electrician or someone who has a test meter and knows how to use it

Thanks for the reply.

So either insulate the exposed red wire with electrical tape, or try connecting it into the IKEA fitting? As the light seems to be working fine perhaps covering the exposed part of the wire with electrical tape is the best course of action?

 

[westward10]

That red looks like it was connected as it appears to have a screw terminal mark.

 

[slquoue]

That red looks like it was connected as it appears to have a screw terminal mark.

Would you connect it to the second available live slot in the IKEA fitting? Or would you put both red live wires into the same slot in the IKEA fitting?

 

[westward10]

What sort of fitting was originally there a ceiling rose and if so I assume this red was connected. What is the green tube concealing, twisted earth wires?

 

[brianmoooore]

What's the green coloured tubular bit in the pic?

Edit: Beaten to it by seconds again!

 

[slquoue]

What sort of fitting was originally there a ceiling rose and if so I assume this red was connected. What is the green tube concealing, twisted earth wires?

Yes it was a ceiling circle fitting with 3 lights. Green tube concealing twisted earth wires yes I believe so.

 

[brianmoooore]

Are those grey cables singles, twin or twin and earth?

 

[slquoue]

Are those grey cables singles, twin or twin and earth?

I really don't know.

 

[westward10]

They are singles with reds having the cpcs. You can connect the red in with the other one a see what happens and the earths should be correctly sleeves and terminated, not twisted together.

 

[slquoue]

They are singles with reds having the cpcs. You can connect the red in with the other one a see what happens and the earths should be correctly sleeves and terminated, not twisted together.

Would you put both red wires into the same slot, or use both of the two slots provided (the IKEA fitting has two slots for live and two for neutral, but it only mentions connecting one for each)

View attachment 63666

 

[brianmoooore]

They are singles with reds having the cpcs.

???? What do you mean exactly? I can't make it out from the pic.

 

[slquoue]

There are two spots in the IKEA connection. I could either put both red wires into one spot (see the red circle on this picture) or put one red wire into one spot and one red wire into the other spot (shown by the black circle)?

 

[ipf]

Would you put both red wires into the same slot, or use both of the two slots provided (the IKEA fitting has two slots for live and two for neutral, but it only mentions connecting one for each)

View attachment 63666

Separate....use both, they are each one connection for two cables.

 

[westward10]

???? What do you mean exactly? I can't make it out from the pic.

The earths (cpcs) are with the red wires and these are likely to be twisted together in the green tube.

 

[brianmoooore]

The earths (cpcs) are with the red wires and these are likely to be twisted together in the green tube.

You mean it's a twin cable consisting of a red insulated conductor and a uninsulated earth?

 

[ipf]

The earths (cpcs) are with the red wires and these are likely to be twisted together in the green tube.

Yep, proper connection required....and if they're twisted they're weakened. Strip the cable back for more length......carefully.

 

[slquoue]

Update - I connected the second live wire into the second slot. All works, nothing has blown up

 

[westward10]

The earths in that green tube require correct sleeving and connection but I suspect you do not have equipment to do this.

 

[ipf]

You mean it's a twin cable consisting of a red insulated conductor and a uninsulated earth?

Single and earth, you mean.

 

[westward10]

You mean it's a twin cable consisting of a red insulated conductor and a uninsulated earth?

Like this.

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/6241y-1-5mm-brown-50m/cable-6241y-brown-1-50mm-grey/dp/CB15280

 

[brianmoooore]

https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power/6241y-1-5mm-brown-50m/cable-6241y-brown-1-50mm-grey/dp/CB15280

Never come across anything like that in half a century of being in the business!

 

[ipf]

Never come across anything like that in half a century of being in the business!

Aye, and you introduced 'The Big Match' on ITV in the seventies.

 

[slquoue]

Would you get this replaced in the future? I must admit we've got no idea how old the wiring in the house is - we bought the place this time last year but the previous owner did very little work to it too...

 

[Taylortwocities]

Would you get this replaced in the future? I must admit we've got no idea how old the wiring in the house is - we bought the place this time last year but the previous owner did very little work to it too...

It’s probably serviceable. But nobody can tell by just looking. You could have the installation inspected and get a report on what needs updating.
If the rest of the house is the same age as the cables in your picture, then I would guess there’s quite a bit that needs work.

 

[goasis]

Peoples "have a go" attitudes to electrics never cease to amaze me....
Would you claim to be no expert but decide to have a go at fixing the brakes on your car for example? And just keep experimenting with it until you found a way on making it work?!

 

[brianmoooore]

If the lamp is working (and switching) properly without the mystery red connected, and everything else in the house does as well, then I'd leave it disconnected and insulated, although I'd leave all earths connected together, including the one that is part of this cable, if it's this strange singles + earth stuff.
Connecting the red could be leaving an exposed live cable somewhere.