Help with Light Fitting After Removing and not Checking Wiring Configuration Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[Nickwigan]

I have stupidly taken down the light fitting in my hall and didn't note where the wires went.
It has 2 lights and 2 switches.
The wires are as follows
1, blue, brown, earth.
2, blue brown, earth.
3, blue brown, earth.
4 black wire with brown tape, brown, grey wire with blue tap, earth.
The new light has live, neutral, loop and earth fitting.
Any help is much appreciated.

[chriscba]

Can you post some photos

[Mr White]

You have 3 twin and earth cables and one 3 core and earth cable and no light fitting.
I can tell you, of the 3 twin and earth cables, one is feed in, one is feed out, one is the switch cable.
The question is which one is which and what is the 3 core and earth connected to?
Without having a means of testing (Multi meter) all any one can do is guess, and since this will no doubt result in a large bang, I do not recommended it.
Instead, I suggest you call in a competent person (It doesn't have to be an electrician) to do the job for you.

[Nickwigan]

Thanks for your reply Mr White.
If I get a multi meter to find out which is the feed in what way round would I connect them to the light socket.
The light socket has earth, live, neutral and loop.
Thanks

[Nickwigan]

I've managed to sort it thanks for your help

[ericmark]

A multi-meter is not a magic wand. It is just at tool. With power off a bell and battery could be used to find out which cable goes to switch, in the same way as with a buzzer or ohm range on multi-meter.

I was really surprised when I went to do an 'A' level Physics, I wanted maths but if I did three it was £10 and just one over £100 so did three.

They provided the class with multi-meters, and the students were to measure volts and amps, and they managed to rupture 15 fuses in multi-meters. I thought the 'A' was for advanced?

And this is the problem as an electrician is seems easy, but clearly even advanced students could not follow what I thought were fool proof instructions, with a 12 volt power supply no problem, with 230 volt ac that is a different thing.

The forth cable can't help much, but first three likely one goes to the switch, and with the power off, and I mean total off at the consumer unit, then it is possible to put a meter/bell or other device across the brown and blue wires to test continuity and flick the light switch on/off until the switch wires are identified.

But forget to turn off power and then big bang is possible.

I worked out a truth table to enable testing without a meter, however make a mistake then again big bang, ionisation of the atmosphere is extremely dangerous and when I tried to relate how to use a truth table on here, I was banned for a time, as it is so easy to make a mistake.

[Mr White]

I am concerned for your lack of understanding, things often look easy from afar, that is because the person doing the job is competent to do it, sadly you are not. I suggest you get someone in to do the job for you. Better safe than dead.