3lamp (GU10) light fitting in bathroom has been blowing lamps since I moved in 5 months ago. Finally flickered and died last night. Have tried to install new fitting but still not working. On dismantling old fitting the junction box wiring was:
one single black to brown / earth to earth and / two twisted blacks to blue. There are three twisted reds into their own junction strip which did not appear to be attached to anything. I replicated this for the new fitting.
Have I missed something or might it be the pull cord at fault.
i have 6 wires though the ceiling 2 blues 2 browns 2 neutrals ones the switch the new light has one terminal block live earth and neutral have put the 2 blues 2 browns and 2 earths to light and connected to the pull cord switch when powers on the light works when pull the cord to turn off it blows the fuse any advice
mick, May 2011
Silly of me - it's impossible to mix up just ONE of the Black wires - obviously I should have said mixed up two of them - sorry.
Peccavi - forever sinning, February 2009
You do not mention a fuse or breaker blowing when you pulled the switch cord - had this been the case then you may have accidentally put one of the Black wires in the wrong place.
Three reds together is jut what you need They bring power in take power out and also take power to the switch.
Power returning from the switch will come back on a black wire - you have 3 black wires two of which are Neutral and one is Switched Live - confusing and potentially dangerous so the Switched Live should be identified with a red or Brown sleeve. It is this wire that should attach to the Brown that goes to the light fitting.
The Blue is the Neutral return from the Light fitting and connects to the two Balck Neutral wires - Neutral in and Neutral out.
If you're not popping fuses and all the other lights in the circuit are working properly your wiring arrangement is very probably OK and the pull switch must be suspect if the new fitting does not work.
If you are popping fuses then you've mixed up one of the Black wires.
The new fitting may of course also have a fault - a bench test with scrap cable into a wall socket will tell you if its good.
