just putting up a new light and when we put the light on it came on but would not turn off what do we do with the spare red cable

charlotte cracknell, February 2008

I have removed a celing rose light from my room, after disconnecting the wires I have realised it was a loop system, I now left with 3 wires that are all twin and earth, I can't fit my new light until I know the proper procedure can you help me please thank you.

Derek moffat, April 2011

I am attempting to fit a new light fitting, expecting it to be straight forward. But the light either remains permanently on or permanently off - ie. the switch isn't working.

Coming from the ceiling I have two reds, two black and one earth.

I'd assumed that I should connect both red wires to the live terminal on the new light fitting and the black wire to the neutral. But, as I said, this results in the light being constantly on.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

claxton2009, February 2009

http://www.diydata.com/planning/electric_lights/electric_lights.php

James the bodger, November 2008

I attempted to replace a light and in my aste to get the job done before darkness (turned off main fuse) I did not pause to label the old ceiling fitting. Failed to realize that IKEA light was moulded and designed for simple 2 wire system only whereas ceiling plate antiquated ant had 1 less terminal in the phase than the more modern ones - so I had to out two of the lives into one terminal. Abandonned idea and tried to refit old light back.. Did this and no accidents but switch does not turn off light nor does next door's kitchen light now turn on. So - the way I see it there are 3 live wires and therefore a 50% chance. Today I will have to take down ceiling fitting and either replace with a more modern 8 point ceiling rose or just try one of teh other live wires in the live for the switch... It's really not that complicated - Well, plaster suffers each time I take it down ad re-wire. If local electritians were not so expensive I would have taken on the lazy approach and get one of them to do it.. 1950s house so still using black/red before the change to enable colour blind people to distinguish (blue / brown).

James the bodger, November 2008

The lkopoin system work by running a Phase livem,, phase netrla and an earth from light to light using the ceiling rose as junction box. From the phase live in the rose a live is taken to the wall switch and back. The return should have small sleeve on it to indicate that it is live when switched. That is the wire that should go the the live terminal on the light fitting. The neutral should be connected to the Phase neurtal wires in the Cieling rose. The light fitting's earyh goers to the eartyh in the ciurlinb rose.

If you do not understand the above or do not have an earth in the ceiling rose - get an electrician before you have a nasty accident.

t, February 2008

Is this a wall or ceiling light which is one of a pair or a series of lights?
Sounds like you have older wiring - black (neutral) and red (live). New wiring is brown (live) and blue (neutral) plus green/yellow striped or bare earth.There could easily be 2 live wires routed into the fitting. One would be from the switch and the other could be the live feed to another light or lights (in series). If there are 2 or more lights which are meant to be lit together at the same time, then both live wires will be connected to the same (live) terminal. The neutrals (black in old system or blue in new) are looped in for lights in parallel. There should not be any "spare" wires - unless someone has deliberately isolated a redundant wire. Assuming that you just replaced a light fitting, without interfering with the switch or switches (2 way), then what you describe with light not switching off, is hard to understand. Of course it is quite possible that someone else even less competent has mixed up wires on a previous occasion. The best thing to do is get a qualified electrician and don't mess with it yourself!

J, February 2008