My son very kindly decided to fit a new light fitting in the bathroom. The thing is, there are 3 grey cables coming from the ceiling. From 2 of the grey cables there 1 black, 1 red and 1 bare wire (neutral, live and earth I would persume?) However from the 3rd grey cable there are two red wires?! My sons first attempt proved to be a failing. (I came home to no electric and him swearing!) Having had a go myself, I have succeeded in being able to get the light to switch on, but cannot switch it off. I am assuming that this is due to the number of red wires and am suspecting that I may need to put them in some kind of board thing (found in normal drop lighting) but how? Any help would be gratefully received.
Regards

Becky

Becky, July 2009

Thx for helping my friend, you are invited to his son's funeral

Will, August 2009

Hi becky
You need to figure out which is the permanent live(son should know using meter or phase tester hint its red and gives you a belt or ask son to lick each red cable seperately he'll know) disconnect them all(red), then join red(permanent feed) to one of the twin red cables and the other twin red to the light fittings. switch will then work. Dont lick em yourself!!

ciaran, July 2009

OK Becky here we go.
The grey cables carrying the red, black and earth wires are the 'loop ins' and they come from one lamp in another room to your bathroom, and they then continue to the next room. The cable which has the 2 red wires goes to the switch - it takes one live from the loop, down to the switch, then back again to the bulb holder...catch my drift? Therefore to get your fitting to work, you need to provide the bulb holder with one black connection - the neutral - and one red connection, that is, the live coming back from the switch! Looking at the ceiling rose, the centre two brass connector blocks contain the loop connections, and the one at the side holds the live connection back from the switch. Phew.....

John, July 2009