Can't turn off the new light HELP! Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[oks]

Hi, I just installed a new light in the den. There was no light there previously, so I could not follow the "proper wiring" example. After installing the light I put the power back on and everything seemed to be working - the light was on. But when I tried to turn off the switch, the light did not go off. It's not reacting to the switch on or off at all. Don't know if it is right but both wires connected to the switch (red and black) are hot. The neutral white is not connected. I can't figure it out and would appreciate any help.

[jimmy_one_ball]

Hi oks, I'm an electrical installations student and we're covering exactly what you described at the moment. It seems clear that the current is going straight to the lamp and not through the switch first. Google "single switch" and you'll find a wiring diagram to follow. However the wires should not be hot, there is a real fire risk there. I'm guessing that the cable you run out to your den is too thin or too long or both. There is a limit as to how long a cable may be as too long = more resistance = more current being drawn than the system is designed for and that will cause heat and fire!! Don't use the lamp till you get it sorted. If the cable is just too thin then Watts divided by Volts = Amps e.g. (60Watt bulb / 230V = 3A cable). Remember I'm just a student better have it checked by qualified sparky. PS I tried to send a diagram but it won't let me

[hatchy]

I too am an electrical installations student, and have just covered this aswell. The way it goes is the live, neutral and earth come into the ceiling rose. The live is connected to the LOOP, neutral to the neutral, earth to the screw connetor located away from the main three connector groups. A cable is taken from the live in the rose down to the common (C) on the switch. A cable then goes from the L1 terminal on the switch to the Switch Live on the ceiling rose. The lamp will already have one cable connected to the switch live and one to the neutral. Remember to connect the earth in the switch aswell. The return cable from the switch, called the switch live (or switched live) should be marked to indicate it is a live carrying conductor, that stops someone else mistaking it for a neutral at a later date. The ceiling rose normally has two screw terminals for the switch live, three for the LOOP live and three for the neutral, but may differ depending on the manufacturer. I agree with the other post that the cables should not get hot! Are you coming off an existing lighting circuit elsewhere, as protection differs for the different types of circuits.

[oks]

jimmy_one_ball and hatchy thank you so much for your advice. I actually figured it out. In the ceiling where lamp/light wires connect to the ones in the ceiling I had to connect black wire to the red. Now everything is working.
By the way, by saying "hot" wire I didn't mean temperature wise. I meant the were both live wires. Hopefully it won't cause the fire.
Thank you.