Advice on how to rewire spotlights as lights are either off or on all the time

[simsum]

I'd be grateful if anyone could give me some advice.
I removed a single light and found three cables attached - they were old colours. The cables also fed the lounge lights where there is a two way switching.
I've connected the new four spot light in the study in exaxctly the same way as the previous single light was wired ( three reds into one terminal, three earths into one terminal and two neutrals into into one terminal and one neutral on its own). The problem i have is that the lights will either stay on in the study, trip the rcd if the switch is turned on, the lights in the lounge wont work or nothing will work.
I'm assuming that for some reason the original configuration will not work with the four spots on a single bar.
The spots came with a four terminal block with live going to one side, neutral the other and earth in another.
Any advice would really be great and get me out of the dark ages.

 

[Des 56]

Allthough it is a very simple and very basic task even for a fairly new apprentice ,if you are unsure of this basic task,then the advice should be to get someone who is in the trade

I will give you this tip only,because you should get an electrician in to do these jobs


You refer to a single neutral,this is probably a switched live,when you are closing the switch there is a dead short,it seems you have not identified this wire or you are connecting it to the wrong terminal,the "lives" you refer to are not actually connected to the fitting but just grouped together

 

[electricians]

boring answer des ,

the three reds are joined together - not to the light , single black to brown of light ( live ), green to green yellow of light ( earth ) and the 2 black to the blue of the light ( neutral ) , light should work

des is right though , you should get it checked by a pro

 

[jpmiff]

I don't find Des answer boring, what he said is correct, but not to the depth of your answer

 

[electricians]

I was joking , I just meant it was boring because he didn't tell you the answer , and rightly so , electrics are not to be messed with , you could have switched the neutral - one of the biggest causes of house fires .

 

[simsum]

I appreciate the replies, but if it should work are there any suggestions as to why it might not please.

 

[electricians]

If you do what I have said it will work , you have not connected the light correctly in my opinion , the only thing that has been altered in the circuit . I think you should call an electrician , £30 well spent

 

[telectrix]

If you do what I have said it will work , you have not connected the light correctly in my opinion , the only thing that has been altered in the circuit . I think you should call an electrician , £30 well spent

excellent advice. cost op as much for a multimeter or voltage tester to check

 

[simsum]

Ok guys. Thanks for the advice. I'll give my local sparky a call am.
Many thanks.