Advice

[jbh1488]

Hi,

Looking for advice any UK based electricians.

I am wanting to fit a new ceiling fan light. The wiring is 3 blacks, 3 reds and 1 earth. The live switch black wire obviously hasn't been marked with a red sleeve.

What route do i take with this? The ceiling fan light fitting has 3 terminals, a live, a neutral and one for the earth i assume.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[littlespark]

All the reds together, not connected to the light at all...
Single black will be switch, two blacks together will be neutral.

however, 99% of the time this is true, but as lights can be wired in any number of different ways, best to get a pro in with the proper test equipment to clarify.
A neon screwdriver is not considered proper equipment as it can easily give a false reading

*Get this wrong, and you could end up with a live and neutral together which will be a short circuit and WILL go out with a bang. *

 

[Strima]

Please ensure you isolate the circuit at the distribution board, either by turning off the circuit breaker, removing the fuse or even the at the main switch if you're unsure.

Do you have a multimeter of any description?

 

[plugsandsparks]

If the fan has a separate switch on the fitting you will need a perm live to operate the fan with the light off.

 

[Spoon]

Welcome to the forum mate.

I am wanting to fit a new ceiling fan light. The wiring is 3 blacks, 3 reds and 1 earth.

I'm presuming you mean 3 earth wires bunged into 1 sleeving???
If you have 3 cables and one 1 earth wire then I'd be concerned, as someone has snipped off the other 2 earth wires.

 

[jbh1488]

Welcome to the forum mate.



I'm presuming you mean 3 earth wires bunged into 1 sleeving???
If you have 3 cables and one 1 earth wire then I'd be concerned, as someone has snipped off the other 2 earth wires.

Yeah they're twisted together in one sleeve.

 

[telectrix]

Welcome to the forum mate.




Yeah they're twisted together in one sleeve.

that adds a tenner to the job... untwisting. straightening, individually sleeving, and a hammer blow to the head of whoever done it.

 

[Spoon]

Yeah they're twisted together in one sleeve.

This is common in DIY jobs but frowned upon by electricians, as it makes testing a pain.
As above, individually sleeve the earths.

 

[jbh1488]

All the reds together, not connected to the light at all...
Single black will be switch, two blacks together will be neutral.

however, 99% of the time this is true, but as lights can be wired in any number of different ways, best to get a pro in with the proper test equipment to clarify.
A neon screwdriver is not considered proper equipment as it can easily give a false reading

*Get this wrong, and you could end up with a live and neutral together which will be a short circuit and WILL go out with a bang. *

Just tape the reds together and not put it any terminal on the light?

 

[Strima]

Just tape the reds together and not put it any terminal on the light?

Tape is not suitable for jointing cables. Please use a suitable connector such as a WAGO or even a choc block.

TBH with that comment I would suggest you get an electrician in just to be safe.

 

[jbh1488]

Tape is not suitable for jointing cables. Please use a suitable connector such as a WAGO or even a choc block.

TBH with that comment I would suggest you get an electrician in just to be safe.

Oh i won't be attempting it myself, i was just wanting to get an idea of whether or not it would of been doable myself.

Thanks for the replies.