Old fitting has L1 AND L2 and N no earth wire.
New fitting just has L ,N,E.
Wires at ceiling are 2x Black 1xRed. I pressume Red is live,one of the blacks is a live neuteral,other black is neuteral.New light fitting must be the wrong sort and i require one with L1 and L2 lie i have in other ceiling roses,or is there a way to wire into live,neuteral,earth fitting on new light fitting. Thanks

Dave, January 2009

Dave

Its not an issue that you don't have an earth in your lighting circuits providing you are aware of it and have installed electrical fittings/accessories/appliances accordingly.

As there is no earth then any non standard (pendant, Batten Holder) lighting points must be suitable for that type of installation. This will include switches too. If your switch requires an earth (if it has an earth terminal) then these should be repalced too. To go even further, if the back boxes for the switches are metal and the screws holding the switch on are metal too. If there was an electrical short to the back of the box then the voltage will just sit there waiting for someone to come into contact with it. Potentially fatal!

Its understood that the cost of putting an earth on circuits without an earth may be costly and impractical. It should be carried out as soon as possible. Just be aware of your installation and what you should/shouldn't do with it.

Matt, January 2009

Matt
Thankyou for your reply,I have found the switched live and added a small peice of brown sleeving to it(none on before).Dont know how the wires fitted into old fitting as back plate broke and wires had come out.I will return new fitting and exchange it for a double insulated one(now I know what to ask for).I dont have any earth wires in my lighting circuits,but they are in on the plug sockets. Thanks

Dave, January 2009

Dave

For clarity you found
2 x Black
1 x Red
1 x Black (typically switched live and should be marked/sleeved as a live cable, this is the black that comes from the light switch. When the switch is off the black cable is dead. When the switch is on the black cable becomes live - switched live its never a neutral)
1 x Other Black?

Can you advise what cables were in what terminals in your old fitting. Do you have an earth wire(s) that can connect to you new fitting. The reason why your old fitting didn't require an earth is typically because its double insulated. Indicated by a square box within a square box symbol on the appliance. If your new fitting has an earth terminal then it needs an earthed connection. This is very important. If your lighting circuit has no earth then you must fit another double insulated light fitting.

Did your old fitting require a permanent supply as well as a switched supply. Was it more than just a light fitting?

Matt, January 2009