Lights only come on when main light is off..

[the glory years]

Hi
I'm new here so be gentle. I have a reasonable knowledge of electrics and did an essential electrics course and my 17th Ed a few years ago. I have just tried to add 2 new lights from a feed from a bedroom lighting rose to 2 extra LED mains voltage lights off a seperate switch. After carefully locking off the mcb etc and wiring as per loop in, switch and loop out to 2nd light etc, they would only come on (via the pull switch )when the main bedroom light was turned off...? I can't work out why..? I know it must be obvious but it's been a while since I did any work (I'm looking to get some shadowing or trainee work as well) Anyone help ?

p.s the main light did have a low voltage lamp in it if that helps...

 

[telectrix]

sounds as if you,ve taken the N from a switched L, instead of a N.

 

[the glory years]

Oh right thanks....in the ceiling rose I've fed from ? So basically swap them round...? I was in a rush and couldn#t get me head round it etc..
Are there any other diagrams on here I can quickly refer to....with regard to what I was doing ?
Thanks

 

[telectrix]

just check your connections in the fitting you've taken the feed from. should be obvious once you look.

 

[the glory years]

I know...just one of those I expect that the longer I looked the less I could see !!! That's all it's likely to be I guess ? Thanks for your help though.

 

[Edd]

The bedroom light you came off from was it last on the circuit? (old colours, forget earths) IE. two reds, two blacks?
if so you may have picked up off the perment feed "Reds", and switch line black. as telectrix says check the conections, it will be ovious when you see it

 

[the glory years]

Yes it was the last in the circuit..ie 2 reds 2 blacks. I fed from the red live and then the neutral off the neutral bar and earth to connector etc....?

 

[Edd]

My bet is the neutral is really the bedroom switch line, try swopping the neutral across over to the other black...

 

[mickys86]

Is it really wise to be just 'swapping cables round' ??

 

[the glory years]

My bet is the neutral is really the bedroom switch line, try swopping the neutral across over to the other black...

Yeah could be..didn't think of that...Going back Saturday so I'll test them and give that a try. That's really all it can be I guess....?:crazy:
:crazy:

 

[Edd]

Is it really wise to be just 'swapping cables round' ??

Sry Glory years, should have made a complete list.
Isolate supply
using an aproprate Ohm Meter, test between Reds (third plate) and one black
operate the switch and see if you get continuity. (lamp removed)
then do the same on the other black.
one of the blacks will show continuity when the switch is operated..
this is the switch line for that light and is not the neutral

Joking aside you are right mickys86 sometimes what you would just do on site really needs a thought or two when typing here..

 

[mickys86]

what you would just do on site really needs a thought or two when typing here..

My thoughts exactly lol

 

[the glory years]

Thanks I'll do that.....should be just the same as what you first suggested anyhow...:tongue3:

 

[telectrix]

swapping wires round will have one of three results:-

1. it works. 2. it don't work. 3. it goes bang.

i vote for no.3.

 

[sedgy34]

Hi
I'm new here so be gentle. I have a reasonable knowledge of electrics and did an essential electrics course and my 17th Ed a few years ago. I have just tried to add 2 new lights from a feed from a bedroom lighting rose to 2 extra LED mains voltage lights off a seperate switch. After carefully locking off the mcb etc and wiring as per loop in, switch and loop out to 2nd light etc, they would only come on (via the pull switch )when the main bedroom light was turned off...? I can't work out why..? I know it must be obvious but it's been a while since I did any work (I'm looking to get some shadowing or trainee work as well) Anyone help ?

p.s the main light did have a low voltage lamp in it if that helps...

your switching a feed