Strange (incorrect) outdoor light wiring

Sunny · Aug 14, 2018

Hi,

I'm no sparky and have very little wiring knowledge, however I know incorrect wiring when I see it.

This is the wiring to some front and rear (grey cables lower right) external lights. The black cable is the power in from a 3 pin socket. The white cable I believe is to an outdoor dusk/dawn sensor which does not work, i.e. the lights are always on if the power socket is on.

What I do not understand is why the Earth from the white cable switch is wired to the Live of the outdoor lights. Even more confused as to how the external lights are getting a Live feed if they're only connected to the earth from the dusk/dawn switch.

Can anyway explain what is happening here?

Thanks,
Sunny

[ElectriciansForums.net] Strange (incorrect) outdoor light wiring

telectrix · Aug 14, 2018

complete mess.the sensor should be 4 core.L,N, sw/L and E. he's use the cpc as a sw/L. wants rewiring properly.

Sunny · Aug 14, 2018

Thanks I'm not experience and even I knew it was a mess. It's probably why the sensor doesn't work either, I think I'm just going to unwire the sensor then tidy up it up.

However any idea how the grey wired lights are getting their Live feed?

Pete999 · Aug 14, 2018

telectrix said:
complete mess.the sensor should be 4 core.L,N, sw/L and E. he's use the cpc as a sw/L. wants rewiring properly.

Yes a round thing (ball) with an s on the end up, needs doing properly as Tel said

westward10 · Aug 14, 2018

Aside from the fact it needs redoing completely that white flex actually looks four core unless the black unconnected in the junction box is an anti-strain core but it looks like a conductor.

telectrix · Aug 14, 2018

westward10 said:
Aside from the fact it needs redoing completely that white flex actually looks four core unless the black unconnected in the junction box is an anti-strain core but it looks like a conductor.

i'd not have much confidence in that :

Andy78 · Aug 14, 2018

westward10 said:
Aside from the fact it needs redoing completely that white flex actually looks four core unless the black unconnected in the junction box is an anti-strain core but it looks like a conductor.

I'm seeing 5 core, with black and grey unused and un terminated in the JB.

westward10 · Aug 14, 2018

Oh yes I didn't spot the grey, seems odd to use the green/yellow as a switch return.

Rpa07 · Aug 14, 2018

I didnt see that grey initially! Unless there is damage to the black and grey i have no idea why these wouldn't have been used for switch live from the sensor - another conundrum, probably harder to explain than why planets are round!

telectrix · Aug 14, 2018

Rpa07 said:
I didnt see that grey initially! Unless there is damage to the black and grey i have no idea why these wouldn't have been used for switch live from the sensor - another conundrum, probably harder to explain than why planets are round!

and maybe this thread will lead to discussing square cables when all others are round.

Strange (incorrect) outdoor light wiring

Sunny

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telectrix

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Sunny

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Pete999

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westward10

telectrix

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Andy78

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westward10

Rpa07

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telectrix

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