Replacing Ceiling Light

[henryshep]

I am replacing a ceiling light, but never took a picture of the wiring before the original was taken down.

They are the old colour scheme.

I have two red wires (live), one yellow/green (ground) and two black (neutral) coming from the 'main' circuit', and two red wires, one yellow/green, one black, and one black with a brown sleeve (switch).

I have wired the grounds together and into the light, and the neutrals together and into the light, and I have the black with brown sleeve wire also going into the light.

I am not sure what to do with the four red wires. From what I've seen online they only show three red wires. I have tried some combinations I thought worked, but it either didn't turn on, or the switch wouldn't work.

It would be great if someone could point me in the right direction. Thank you.

 

[westward10]

Can you show a pic of the wiring, click on "attach files" below this box.

 

[henryshep]

Can you show a pic of the wiring, click on "attach files" below this box.

I have the three neutral wires in, two grounds in (one had just come out in the picture), and the black with brown sleeve in the live. I have connect the two red live wires from the main circuit together, so our other lights on the floor work, and have connected the two red live wires from the switch together (i may be wrong). Thanks

 

[westward10]

You should have four grounds (earths). Connect all the reds together.

 

[telectrix]

what he sed^^^^^. Unless 1 of those reds goes to a 2nd light.

 

[henryshep]

Thanks.
I think I tried that, and I got that light to work, however the light then could also be turned on from a switch in the neighbouring room. The light in the neighbouring room also couldn't be turned off.

Hope this makes some sense.

 

[telectrix]

think you may need to pay a sparks a call-out charge. without testing it's a hit and miss trial and error.also, looking at your pic, it could do with professional attention to dress it all in so there's no bare copper on show and a safety check on the circuit. up here yous looking about £50 -£60, but london????? maybe £500 if you call pimlico.

 

[henryshep]

Do you know if there's any reason why the other switches would be connected to that light when I rewired it?
Not too keen on spending £500!

 

[henryshep]

It was only one of the neighbouring lights that were affected. The other lights all worked as normal.

 

[SJD]

You need to work out what each of the 4 cables is connected to.
E.g. one is perhaps the feed to neighbouring light that was affected, one is the switch drop for this light, one might even be the switch drop from this neighbouring room, etc. Once you have that worked out, it should be obvious how to connect it. However, really you need some test equipment to do this, if you don't have any then call a spark.

And just to add, if you've accidentally connected L&N across a switch drop (and tripped/blown the MCB/fuse) then said switch may now no longer work.

 

[westward10]

Ignore the £500 jibe, unfortunately we cannot guess from afar how those cables should be connected. You are going to need a professional to ascertain what needs doing to rectify the situation.

 

[henryshep]

Thanks. What sort of test equipment would be required?

 

[westward10]

Unless you have knowledge of how to use an appropriate meter and how to interpret the results it would be inadvisable to give you further information.