Wiring query for external light

[BeeDee]

Evening all, I have a (hopefully) quick question about wiring up an external porch light. We moved in to a new property recently and outside the back door there are a bunch of wires (see photo) where clearly an external light existed but has been removed. Inside there is a switch which I'm assuming controls this light as it doesn't seem to do anything else.

I intended to quickly put up a new external light (I'm not a sparky) thinking I would find in the existing wiring has basically a live and a neutral wire. Upon unwrapping the electrical tape that these cable ends were all wrapped up in the photo is what I found i.e. 3 red and two black wires.

There is an external flood light that doesn't work, it could be that is on the switch instead of this porch light. Or they both could be. I'd just assumed the bulb had gone in the flood light (it's old, the screw I need to remove to check/replace the bulb is rusted over and the glass panel frosted up) but it could be it's fine it's just the wiring has a break in it.

My question is how do I wire this up? Is there any easy way other than trial and error to find out which cables if any lead back to the switch and/or floodlight? And why all the wires, is it (potentially) one for the floodlight, one for the porch light and one for permanently live (a new concept to me)?

Thanks for your help

 

[brianmoooore]

This may not be as simple as you are hoping.
First question is why is there three reds, but only two blacks?
Second question is why are all the cpcs chopped off?
Third question is, is the incoming cpc actually connected to earth at the other end?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Is there a second light?
To sort this out you will need a two- probe voltage tester and the knowledge to use it.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

As above, this needs checking out as it has not been installed properly. My expectation would be that the two reds together are the line loop to the switch, the red and black together are the switched line and the line to the other light, and the single black should have another black with it, being the neutral loop to the other light.

But with those CPC chopped off, if the same has been done elsewhere, you could end up with unseen hazards unless you are able to properly test the continuity before connecting up.

 

[freddo]

That looks like a disaster area, I would definitely recommend calling in an electrician. I assume there are more wires folded back into the hole that has been roughly hacked into the cladding? Proper rough all round.

 

[telectrix]

That looks like a disaster area, I would definitely recommend calling in an electrician. I assume there are more wires folded back into the hole that has been roughly hacked into the cladding? Proper rough all round.

top advice there.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Looks like they used a pick axe to make that hole in the pvc cladding

 

[BeeDee]

Looks like they used a pick axe to make that hole in the pvc cladding

Agreed, it really does. Lots of examples of this in this place lol!

 

[BeeDee]

Evening all, I have a (hopefully) quick question about wiring up an external porch light. We moved in to a new property recently and outside the back door there are a bunch of wires (see photo) where clearly an external light existed but has been removed. Inside there is a switch which I'm assuming controls this light as it doesn't seem to do anything else.

I intended to quickly put up a new external light (I'm not a sparky) thinking I would find in the existing wiring has basically a live and a neutral wire. Upon unwrapping the electrical tape that these cable ends were all wrapped up in the photo is what I found i.e. 3 red and two black wires.

There is an external flood light that doesn't work, it could be that is on the switch instead of this porch light. Or they both could be. I'd just assumed the bulb had gone in the flood light (it's old, the screw I need to remove to check/replace the bulb is rusted over and the glass panel frosted up) but it could be it's fine it's just the wiring has a break in it.

My question is how do I wire this up? Is there any easy way other than trial and error to find out which cables if any lead back to the switch and/or floodlight? And why all the wires, is it (potentially) one for the floodlight, one for the porch light and one for permanently live (a netw concept to me)?

Thanks for your help

Thank you all for your speedy replies, especially over the Christmas break.

A common theme is that what currently is in place is a bit of a hack job and to unpick it involves tools and knowledge I don't have. Easily I could make it worse.

Time to get a professional in to sort it I think.

Thanks again

 

[telectrix]

Thank you all for your speedy replies, especially over the Christmas break.

A common theme is that what currently is in place is a bit of a hack job and to unpick it involves tools and knowledge I don't have. Easily I could make it worse.

Time to get a professional in to sort it I think.

Thanks again

one or two members in your area. just make sure you have a bottle of single malt handy.