Fluorescent Light Fitting Wiring Conundrum

[PeterAstle]

I have a fluorescent light fitting in my garage operated by two way switches at each end of the garage. I wanted to install a second light on a separate switched circuit and before calling in my local electrician, I wanted to see if it was feasible to take a feed from the existing fitting to a new light otherwise I would have to change all my plans. When I opened up the existing fitting, I couldn’t figure out how it was wired. There are two twin and earth cables and one three core and earth, all old colours (the house was built in 2002.) I can’t identify a neutral. Can anybody figure out what is what here and where the neutral is? Two photos attached as I couldn’t get all wires in focus in one shot.

 

[Badged01]

At a total guess I'd go for the black/blue being your 'neutral', red your 'live' and the yellow your 'switched live' --- but that depends on whoever did it following a conventional'ish wiring system?!?!.

Time to get the tester out and find what wires are connected to where I fear ........

 

[markc123]

Well the connected reds are obviouslly the perm live. Thus making the rest quite self explanatory despite the colours.

So what badged has said.

 

[PeterAstle]

So why does the three core and earth cable have a neutral connection and what is it connected to? I have only ever seen three core and earth cables used to connect two way switches together. I have never seen them connected to the light fitting like this. What I would have expected to find in the light fitting were: (i) a power feed (ii) feed out to next light in circuit (possibly not present) (iii) twin and earth drop to the first two way switch with switched live coming back to light (in old colours this would be black with a red sleeve attached.) The two way switches would then be connected with a three core and earth cable and this would not appear at the light fitting. Hence my confusion with the way this fitting is wired.

 

[Octopus]

So why don't you call "your" electrician?

 

[Des 56]

You are likely bringing a live, switch live, and neutral into the fitting from one of your 2 way switches in order to have a permqanent live available to extend on to some other lights

 

[GMES]

Peter it is not a wise idea to start trying to guess what goes where, unless you are comfortable with a tester. It is even worse for us to try and guess at what you have got, different people wire lights in different colours and different ways, it would be safer and wiser to get in touch with your electrician it cant be an expensive job to sort and at least you can sleep easy knowing it as been done right.

 

[PeterAstle]

Many thanks for all your comments. My main reason for asking is that I don't like mysteries! I may not be a qualified electrician but I like to know what is what and what goes where just in case. Yes I will call in my electrician (who is a friend that I don't see that often) so I was wanting to be in the position to tell him exactly what I wanted to achieve and if what I wanted cannot be achieved simply I didn't want to be wasting his time with impossible to solve problems!

 

[Octopus]

Many thanks for all your comments. My main reason for asking is that I don't like mysteries! I may not be a qualified electrician but I like to know what is what and what goes where just in case. Yes I will call in my electrician (who is a friend that I don't see that often) so I was wanting to be in the position to tell him exactly what I wanted to achieve and if what I wanted cannot be achieved simply I didn't want to be wasting his time with impossible to solve problems!

Which is complete tosh, ANY competent spark could connect a 2nd light in a matter of a few minutes - then do some tests.

 

[Paul.M]

Yes I will call in my electrician (who is a friend that I don't see that often) so I was wanting to be in the position to tell him exactly what I wanted to achieve and if what I wanted cannot be achieved simply I didn't want to be wasting his time with impossible to solve problems!

"Impossible to solve problems." .......... He is an electrician, he will be used to it lol. Thats is what we do on a daily basis. Going be the photo's and your description, it will be a walk in the park for him.

 

[PeterAstle]

Unfortunately I have employed "competent" and "qualified" sparks in the past who have not always been gifted with intelligence and common sense. A walk in the park has been seen to turn into floundering through a forest. For example when instructed to install a socket in a bedroom, the spark drilled through the wall and straight through the bath, but that was my fault for not informing him that there was a bath in the bathroom. Anyway to get back on track, I was merely wanting to know if anyone in their experience has seen a two way light circuit wired as in the photos I posted because in my limited experience, I haven't. I would simply like to educate myself in this respect if that's ok.

 

[Marvo]

It's not possible to give a certain answer without testing the wiring. I'd suggest if you want to keep costs down you install your new light and switch then install two cables, one from the existing light in the photo to the new light and one from the new light to the new switch. Use the same cable type and installation method that's been used for the existing lighting. Then get your electrician to pop in any prove the wiring, connect up accordingly and do the necessary tests on the new installation.

 

[PeterAstle]

Many thanks, Marvo. That's precisely what I intend to do, but I was naturally curious as to how this light had been connected.

 

[PeterAstle]

Just to say thanks for advice received and that I have solved my conundrum. The reason for the three core & earth from the light fitting is that it takes a neutral to the switch (as well as live and switched live) where a wall light is looped in.

 

[GMES]

Glad you resolved the puzzle mate, it wasn't that people were being evasive or funny bout it , it is just not a good idea to try and encourage people to paly around with electricity if they are unsure, but glad you got there