tube installation problem with diagram

[rustynails]

Hello all,

I'm putting in two new tube's into my garage however one of the them was removed a long time ago but now I have replaced it. The garage has two switches, one on the LHS of the internal door and one on the LHS as you walk in to the garage. Both switches should operate both tubes. I've drawn an image of my setup in paint, hope it makes it clearer. The problem I have at the moment is not being be able to get everything working correctly. I have succeeded in keeping the furthest tube light nearest the garage door on permanently but nothing else. I can't figure out the correct configuration. Especially with the first tube nearest the internal door which has four cables coming into it so four black/neutral, four red/live and earth. Seems from the setup a different type of wire exists between the two switches which has red/blue/yellow wires. As per the diagram the yellow wires attach to the common terminals in both switches. It would seem that the power comes into switch one which is where the incoming power connects to the common. Both switches have three terminals on L1/L2/COMMON. I own a mains testing screwdriver and have found that one of the red wires coming into tube 1 has current. When testing the wires at switch 1 none of them light up which leads me to believe that the power does not come into that switch.

Here's the layout.

 

[stretchyboy]

we are all here to help, hope you managed to do it safely

cheers

 

[rustynails]

I had identified the wrong switch wire - still I was plagued with loose wires diconnecting from the tube's connection block when replacing the under-housing of the fitting. Pushing all the wires up had dislodged a couple. But all good now and I'm not dead!

 

[Mac]

Thks for your help. It's all working now and I've learnt some new things.

Did you have a cross connection somewhere

 

[sparks1234]

Chaps,

Whilst i understand your concerns with the OP, can we please keep on topic.

Its better that he asks for help, rather than not and then injure himself in the process.

Surely if he knows that little about electrical works he should be strongly advised to employ an electrician. If we are giving him help via text message this is easily misunderstood and who knows where it could end up (God forbid).
It almost seems as though he is being encouraged to carry on and flout the laws that were set in place to protect people like himself.
I do wonder if this forum is a little too open for anyone to join to get a quick fix.

 

[Mark.W]

I agree with you there mate, however if inexperienced people come on here and ask for help, we should definately try and help them. Like Jason said, he could injure himself, not only that but he is going to do it anyway, whether we give him advice or not, the least we can do is try and guide him somehow.

 

[sparks1234]

I agree with you there mate, however if inexperienced people come on here and ask for help, we should definately try and help them. Like Jason said, he could injure himself, not only that but he is going to do it anyway, whether we give him advice or not, the least we can do is try and guide him somehow.

We should advise them to get the correct help required, as it said somewhere previously, if and when it all goes pearshaped this could be open to all sorts of legal issues.

Anyway thats my 2 pennyworth, its difficult enough to show an apprentice when you are stood next to them let alone someone you do not know working from a text on a live circuit. If you guys are happy to advise under those circumstances then so be it.

 

[Notsosmart]

I agree with you there mate, however if inexperienced people come on here and ask for help, we should definately try and help them. Like Jason said, he could injure himself, not only that but he is going to do it anyway, whether we give him advice or not, the least we can do is try and guide him somehow.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment I have say that sparky is correct in that the best advice was to get a proffessional in, albeit a moot point now as the problem seems to be fixed, however it could have ended in tears.

 

[sparks1234]

Whilst I agree with the sentiment I have say that sparky is correct in that the best advice was to get a proffessional in, albeit a moot point now as the problem seems to be fixed, however it could have ended in tears.

Cheers me dears

 

[Mark.W]

I agree with you guys 100% he should get a spark in, but my argument is that he won't get a spark in, whether we advise him or not.

 

[deakin09]

Hi fellow sparkys

I do agree that where there is no experience on whatever job you intend to do you should get a professional in to do the job correctly however we all know that this not all ways going to happen.

I also think we have a professional duty to try and help and guide people where ever reasonably possible, and let’s be honest the current down turn of the economy is not just affecting electricians but everybody, so I can for see more and more DIY.

As from a legal point of view so long as you’re first bit of advice is to hire a professional
Then there will be no problem, anyway it’s a bit like trying to sue an author of a DIY electrical book if something goes wrong.

I just think we should not as professionals turn our backs on people that need help just because they are not fully qualified electrician and making the assumption that they are incompetent

I would imagine that Joe public reading these forums would have the opinion reading the above threads that we are arrogant and up are self’s which is obviously not the case.

Please people we are professionals so let’s act like it.

regards chris

 

[cdspcs]

i agree with above quote

 

[sparks1234]

Hi fellow sparkys

I do agree that where there is no experience on whatever job you intend to do you should get a professional in to do the job correctly however we all know that this not all ways going to happen.

I also think we have a professional duty to try and help and guide people where ever reasonably possible, and let’s be honest the current down turn of the economy is not just affecting electricians but everybody, so I can for see more and more DIY.

As from a legal point of view so long as you’re first bit of advice is to hire a professional
Then there will be no problem, anyway it’s a bit like trying to sue an author of a DIY electrical book if something goes wrong.

I just think we should not as professionals turn our backs on people that need help just because they are not fully qualified electrician and making the assumption that they are incompetent

I would imagine that Joe public reading these forums would have the opinion reading the above threads that we are arrogant and up are self’s which is obviously not the case.

Please people we are professionals so let’s act like it.

regards chris

Not being funny but we aint baking cakes, this stuff can kill you, its a garage so probably outside, that will be a good path to earth then, I'm all for helping fellow man but come on, lets see sense, Part P is actually there for a reason even though I do not like paying my £450 each year

 

[stretchyboy]

I've come across a similar thing on another forum and they were mainly talking about ELV kit with a single mains connection, but they had a case where someone made noises about sueing for wrongfull advice etc

You do have to be careful these days in this poxy blame culture that has grown up around us.

As much as we all hate it, we ought to be very careful in dealing with the obviously inexperienced. As it happens the guy seems to have more savvy than it first sounded and all turned out well. But maybe next time ...............

 

[deakin09]

Not being funny but we aint baking cakes, this stuff can kill you, its a garage so probably outside, that will be a good path to earth then, I'm all for helping fellow man but come on, lets see sense, Part P is actually there for a reason even though I do not like paying my £450 each year

I completely 100% agree with you he should get someone fully qualified, as electricians we know how dangers electric is and if treated without the respect it disserves it will kill.
And I’m sure we both know with or without are advise the untrained will still try to fix it them self hence why they post on this and other forums. And by the shear nature of the post suggest to me that they do not intend on getting a fully trained sparks.
But surly it’s better to give guidance an advice than let them go ahead completely blind where the risk of injury is great
Regards chris

 

[stretchyboy]

The name of the site is "Electricians" forum dont forget, we are all happy to give advice to other electricians, however good or bad they are, we all need help no matter what knowledge we have, but we ought to be careful. A lawyer would have a field day with us if it was clear that we advised someone with no prior knowledge or training to go ahead and do electrical work.

I agree it is 'pants' but thats the sort of thing that goes on. If someone untrained reads something on here and goes and kills themselves then that would be unfortunate, but if someone was actually told what to do and unfortunately died I think it could become the next days headlines.