Yellow cables in light fittings? Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[chubbs]

First time on here ...so please be gentle with me!


I went to replace an ordinary ceiling rose with a new fitting and found that the live wire was yellow?

I have checked several other fittings and switches in the house and found that it is the case in all of the lights.

The roses have 2 blacks, 1 yellow and 1 green wire, and the switches have 2 reds and 1 yellow.


I have never seen a yellow wire used in this situation before and was wondering if it is legal. The circuits are straight on-off type (ie not 2way switching).



Many thanks..

[sparx]

Hi, from what you say you have it must be old single core wiring in conduits, with lives looped at switches, neutrals looped at roses & switch wires in yellow. The sw. wires should have been over-sleeved red.
This practice was used in local authority housing a few years back, you will find the green earth wire comes from a terminal in back of conduit box, using conduit as earth continuity conductor (CPC). If this is so then you will have a metal consumer unit to pick up conduit earths.
If this is not so please reply with any other observations.
regards SPARX

[chubbs]

The loops are exactly as you describe and it is a local authority house...the use of the yellow cable was throwing me as I'd never seen it before and neither had a more experienced sparky I spoke to.


I'd have to do more investigation into the source of the earths but I do know that the consumer unit is a modern plastic one....MK I think.


Since my original post I have had a closer look at some of the wiring and have told my parents to get the council to have a look at it as I have found some live wiring cut off and tucked into skirting boards, and light fittings being back-fed from another source.



Glad it ain't my house but my mum is crapping herself now!!!




Cheers