DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi guys,

I tried fitting a new ceiling rose and unfortunately I didn't take an accurate note of how it was wired before.

I have 2 lights in the living room. One has the conventional 2 core and earth as it runs off the first light.

The 1st light has 3 2 core and earths and one 3 core and earth leading to it.

I wired it up and now the second light stays on all the time and the first light comes on when I turn the wall switch on.

I have also noticed that if I turn the kitchen light on, both light 1 and the kitchen lights come on as a flicker.

I'm now guessing that either the kitchen lights run off the 1st light, or two switches are connected to the first light.

Here are some photos to give you some more details..
http://s22.postimg.org/t4d04x71t/image.jpg

http://s22.postimg.org/sz98v8zqp/image.jpg

http://s22.postimg.org/hye3q87hp/image.jpg

I don't know why you have triple and earth I can only guess that both switched line and permanent line are taken to the second lamp. If I assume this then looking at picture of your ceiling rose you have.

Switched line (two connections end)
Black, Yellow, and Brown.
Permanent line (centre)
Four reds.
Neutral (three connections end)
Two blacks and two blues

So the slave lamp should have going from that.
Switched line (two connections end)
Yellow, Brown.
Permanent line (centre)
Red
Neutral (three connections end)
Two blues.

You may also have a feed to another lamp other wise can't see why triple and earth is used.

Since you say other lamps acting odd I will guess you have got the blacks mixed up. Two of the blacks are neutral and one is switched line. With power off and an assistant with a multi-meter or some other set up could even be a door bell you need to "Bell out" the cables to find out which one goes to the switch.

I say assistant as want some one to flick the switch on/off while you see if continuity between red and black also switches on and off.

I did once write out a test sequence to work it out without belling out but I was banned from this site for my trouble. Some one claimed it could be dangerous. Then that poster disappeared and failed to help anyone.

What I would warn against is using trial and error as in one of the three combinations it would cause a direct short and likely damage the switch and also blow fuse or trip MCB. In theory the black switched line wire should have a red sleeve on it. Or at least some red tape.

The reason you have lights flashing is they are now wired in series rather than parallel due to blacks being incorrectly fitted.