DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hello all

I am just about to fit a new light fitting and have had a look at my existing wires, i have 2 live and 2 neutral and one earth. on my light fitting i only have space for 1 live 1 neutral and the earth.

Have just connected it up and it works but i cant turn it off and i have 2 spare wires!

any ideas?

Matt

Hi Mattmo,
first you don't have 2 L, & 2N.
if you look at projects 'wiring a light' it shows you have 3 L & 1N .
it's just that the lazy sod who wired the light couldn't be bothered to mark the {blk} sw.Line with red tape/sleeving as required!
As you only have 2 cables it will be easy to correct,
First mark the 'spare' blk with red tape, this will be your sw. Live which will go to fittings L term. [the one you are connected to with red at the moment].
The blk N stays as it is & the 2 reds go together in a spare connector block not connecting to the light at all.
This is called 3 plate or loop-in wiring and is the most common way of wiring lights, you should have 2 earths but they may be (incorrectly but commonly] sharing sleeving,
regards SPARX