DIY help required for newby - pull cord LED light fitting to old wiring ?

[Monty101]

Hi there ?,

Apols in advance if this has been done to death?!!! (I know it has but I can't seem to fathom out a similar set-up having searched through this forum and others).

I have an old wiring system in my house and wanted to fit a new LED light in the downstairs loo. I have attached pics (x2) of the existing wiring:

(two gray cables each with; 1 x Red Wire, 1 x Black Wire and 1 x Bare Copper Wire). The other pic shows the inside of the new light connection block. The terminal connector block (or whatever the correct terminology may be, sorry) has three terminals; Live - Earth - Neutral). I've tried connecting up but it just trips the circuit so have disconnected it and wondered if you guys could help out please! Or will this set-up simply just not work i.e. LED dimmable light to old fashioned wiring???

Thanks in advance ???
Monty

 

[Spoon]

Welcome to the forum mate.
Without being there and testing the cables it's hard to actually tell you what cable does what.
At a guess, I would say that one of the cables is a power to the light and the other is the switch live cable and goes to the light switch.
You should not be putting all like colours together, as it will blow the breaker.

This is what is should be wired up like, if the above is the case.

 

[Monty101]

Cheers Spoon and thanks for welcome and taking the time to reply much appreciated,

I'm a little confused (situation normal) the connection block is just 3 way inline; E-N-L I've attahed a pic? Sorry to be so dense

 

[Spoon]

Cheers Spoon and thanks for welcome and taking the time to reply much appreciated,

I'm a little confused (situation normal) the connection block is just 3 way inline; E-N-L I've attahed a pic? Sorry to be so dense

View attachment 52760

No worries mate. No need to apologise.
You will have to add another terminal block. Something like this would do.
Your N would then be the terminal on the right (in my pic), E is the earth terminal, Wago terminal the middle terminal and the L the left hand terminal.
Put some red sleeving/tape round the black wire in the Switch Live cable.

What type of circuit your existing light is wired up as still needs to be tested.

 

[Monty101]

Hi again,

Just read the forum SOPs regarding DIYers trying to circumvent getting pro electricians in to do jobs. Apols all round, I shall wind my neck in and get a qual electrician in. peace out thanks for your help ATB. Monty

 

[Pete999]

Welcome to the forum mate.
Without being there and testing the cables it's hard to actually tell you what cable does what.
At a guess, I would say that one of the cables is a power to the light and the other is the switch live cable and goes to the light switch.
You should not be putting all like colours together, as it will blow the breaker.

This is what is should be wired up like, if the above is the case.
View attachment 52759

What he said above

 

[Spoon]

Hi again,

Just read the forum SOPs regarding DIYers trying to circumvent getting pro electricians in to do jobs. Apols all round, I shall wind my neck in and get a qual electrician in. peace out thanks for your help ATB. Monty

You are swapping a light. I class that as a DIY job.
Unfortunately you removed the existing light without taking a pic of the existing wiring and marking up the cables.
It is best to get an electrician in to see what cable does what, if you are not comfortable doing the tests yourself.

 

[telectrix]

the 2 reds connect together, but do not connect to the light. the 2 blacks connect to the light. 1 is L and the other is N, but without testing it's not possible to determine which is which. light will work either way round (with the blacks) but getting it right would be better.
[automerge]1569939287[/automerge]

Hi again,

Just read the forum SOPs regarding DIYers trying to circumvent getting pro electricians in to do jobs. Apols all round, I shall wind my neck in and get a qual electrician in. peace out thanks for your help ATB. Monty

it's OK for forum to advise on simple DIY jobs. what is frowned upon is advising someone without a clue doing work that is beyond their capabilities. changing a light/switch/socket should be within the criteria for advising. end of the day, if we think someone is out of their depth, we advise calling in a sparks.

 

[Monty101]

Thanks all for the help, I think I've got my noggin round it now cheers. ATB Monty

 

[Monty101]

Spoon & Telectrix: Cheeers tvm all sorted now and lesson learnt re label existing wiring and taking a pic. ATB

 

[telectrix]

thanks for the feedback.