Fittling A Ceiling Light

[johnb010]

I am trying to fit a ceiling light. The new light has a power block with markings N L and E, my problem is I cant understand the main cabling structure to the lght. I have 3 red wires twisted together, 2 black twisted together and 1 single black.

Can you advise what set of caables goes where.

[finex]

I would advise you to get an electrician in to do it. Seriously. Fitting a ceiling light might cost you as little as a tenner and you know it's not going to blow the house up!

 

It sounds like you have a light that's either controlled by multiple switches, or it's part of a series of lights on the same circuit. This may help:

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/lights_and_switches.htm

 

But bear in mind the warning on the page. Failure to have electrical work checked by a qualified electrician may invalidate your home insurance. And if you've got to get a sparky to check it, you might as well ask him tto fit it in the first place!

 

Sorry if I sound like a killjoy. I love DIY, but electrics are the one area I always get a professional in for. I don't like the idea of something that I can't see, smell or touch being able to kill me if I get it wrong!

Good luck!

[peanut]

well said FINEX. it does seem like a three way switch on that light. and also where is the white wire?

[Tweed]

I'm guessing that the single black is being used as a switchwire, something that a lot of electricians used to do, though they're supposed to indicate this by taping a piece of red insulation tape onto it. If that is the case, then this goes to the L on the block, the two black connects to N, and earth to E. Use a seperate connector block to connect the three reds together.

[Tweed]

Check the switch and if there is a black there, then wire it as I suggested.

[drbsparks]

All of the previous answers are pretty close to the mark although, peanut a WHITE wire? I've been in the electrics game now for 15 years and never seen a white wire. Basically Tweed is right. The single black will be the switch wire and should be connected into the L terminal. The collection of black wires go to the N and the reds all need to go into either a seperate connector which is not connected to anything or on some light fittings you may find a connector marked LOOP this is used for this purpose of interconnecting permanent live cables together. PLEASE make sure if the fitting is a metal cased fitting that you connect an earth wire for obvious reasons. However, after telling you all of this, please consider getting a qualified sparky to come and test it for you, electrics is more dangerous than gas in the home at least you can smell gas!!!!!

[peanut]

sorry drbsparks i should have specified. about the white wire, i live in the us here we use white (neutral), black (hot), and then earth (ground).