Changing ceiling rose Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[ruud1boy]

I'm trying to change a ceiling rose for a different light fitting & could do with some advice. I've looked thru' the Projects, but it's a bit technical for me, I could with simple "Janet & John" instructions!
The new light fitting has a 4-block connector & the fitting instructions advise "where a ring/loop circuit exists, there will be a 4th set of wires (usually red) that are not connected to the L, N or E of the fitting. This circuit must be kept together in the 4th terminal of the connection block".

I made the classic mistake of removing the old ceiling rose without noting where all the wires went :oops: . I've had the new light fitted & working, but it won't co-operate with the rest of the lights. The new one's on, but the upstairs lights won't work; or everything works, including the new one at the bottom of the stairs, but the light at the top of the stairs will only work in the new one's switched on!

So - within the new fitting, I've got live, neutral & earth. Coming out of the ceiling, I've got 4 red, 2 black & 2 blue. What gets connected to what?
Any advice for a novice DIYer greatly appreciated.

[sparx]

Hi , far too many possibilities to 'talk through'
first you have an odd combination of colours ie reds/blks ok but if you have blues it implies 3cores & earth cables so where are the yellows?
R U sure abt those blues? 4 reds/4blks we can deal with ,but blues?????
have another look, pls & reply
regards SPARX

[ruud1boy]

My mistake, I told you I was a novice!!
It's 4 reds, 2 blacks & 2 greens - makes a bit more sense, even to me.
My wonderful new testing gizmo tells me one of the reds is live all the time & when the light switch is flipped, all the reds are live but none of the others (I think).

Does this make it any easier to talk me thru' it?
Thanks very much for your help on this, it's much appreciated.

[sparx]

Hi agn.
OK still not entirely happy but here goes, ignore the greens as they just go to the fittings earth, this leaves us with some more possibilities...
Tthere are 3 twin+earth cables, the 2 blks go to Neutral of fitting.
this leaves 4 'reds'; the (2)reds from the same cables as the blks. go together in a spare (4th) connector, [one of these should be the one you identified as live],
you now have 2 reds left, these will either be: a double red cable, or more likely, one of them will be blk with red sleeving!?
If your new toy will test for continuity, ie if you put the leads together on Ohms range it shows low resistance reading & if apart shows high reading.
then with power off lights circuit you should be able to test between the remaining 2 'reds' and operating sw should alter reading.
Assuming it does, then....
put either one of them in with the other 2 reds & the last one goes to the L of fitting as your sw, live. If one of them is a sleeved black then ideally that is the sw. live one,
hope this is so, if not.... we'll try again. B.W.
SPARX

[ruud1boy]

I think I've got this sorted now - more by trial & error, but your pointers were a big help.

One of the reds into the live of the new light fitting & the other 3, including the permanently live wire, into a separate connector block. Everything works again anyway, so fingers crossed it's right.

Many thanks for your assistance Sparx.
DIY Doctor's gone straight into the favourites!!!!