Hi

I have changed my ceiling light and when I turned the electricity on a banging sound came from the light switch and now all the downstairs ceiling lights wont work. The light I changed workes but wont turn off by the switch, I have too turn it off by the main electricity power.

Can anyone help?

Emma, September 2009

In most older houses all wiring was red, black and an earth wire with a green sleeve covering a bare wire. I suspect that when changing the light fitting you joined all the reds together and all the blacks together. The wiring going to the switch will be a red and a black that means the black wire when the switch is operated would become 'live' if that now 'live' black wire is joined to a black at the fitting it will blow a fuse and possibly some of the other wires apart, stopping other lights working. Also the switch contacts will have welded together making it necessary to replace the switch

AL snr, September 2009

You have made a wiring error at the ceiling - the switch banging may possibly have been the switch melting - best to call in an electrician.

To turn off the uncontrollable light you might think about taking it out of its holder rather than turning of house power - use a cloth or thick gloves.

Good luck...

Peccavi, September 2009

One of the cables in the ceiling should go to the switch. It will look the same as the others but one of the wires will have a red or brown band on it. This is the switched live and goes to the live on the fitting.

Adam, September 2009