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slquoue

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I am connecting a new IKEA pendant light in place of an existing light fitting. I have connected the red wire in the ceiling to the brown 'live' terminal in the IKEA fitting, and the black wire in the ceiling to the blue 'neutral' terminal in the IKEA fitting. However, there is an extra exposed red 'live' wire. Should I connect this to the second available 'live' terminal in the IKEA fitting, or leave it loose as I found it?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Second red 'live' wire in light fitting - what to do?
 
There are two spots in the IKEA connection. I could either put both red wires into one spot (see the red circle on this picture) or put one red wire into one spot and one red wire into the other spot (shown by the black circle)?
 

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Would you get this replaced in the future? I must admit we've got no idea how old the wiring in the house is - we bought the place this time last year but the previous owner did very little work to it too...
 
Would you get this replaced in the future? I must admit we've got no idea how old the wiring in the house is - we bought the place this time last year but the previous owner did very little work to it too...
It’s probably serviceable. But nobody can tell by just looking. You could have the installation inspected and get a report on what needs updating.
If the rest of the house is the same age as the cables in your picture, then I would guess there’s quite a bit that needs work.
 
If the lamp is working (and switching) properly without the mystery red connected, and everything else in the house does as well, then I'd leave it disconnected and insulated, although I'd leave all earths connected together, including the one that is part of this cable, if it's this strange singles + earth stuff.
Connecting the red could be leaving an exposed live cable somewhere.
 

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