Lampholder Wiring - Two Neutral Wires

[Moonraker]

A ceiling light bulb flickered out of use but was OK in another light, so I turned off the electricity  and unscrewed the fitting. The part that screws into the ceiling had 34 years of dust and gunge in it and as I was cleaning that out the lampholder came off in my hand - honest, the terminal screws were that loose.

So I have:

a green earth wire still connected to the ceiling fixture;
two red live wires twisted together at the ends;
two separate black neutral wires;
and a lampholder with three (unmarked) terminals, two of which obviously relate to the contact studs for the bulb.
 

Having looked somewhat helplessly elsewhere on the Web. I gather that the two neutral wires have different properties and it's not just a question of putting them randomly into the two terminals that I don't use for the twisted-together red wires.

Guess it's a job for a professional?

Moonraker

 

[Zeespark]

I would say get a pro in Moon, there is a chap here that does electrical work in and around Reading as far as I know. His name on here is M107, give Him a call, He is sound.

Andy Guinness

 

[M107]

Cheers Andy.

Where in reading are you Moonraker? If you are the right side of Reading I can drop by on my way home........drop me a PM if you want.

 

[Doc Hudson]

The two black wires that you are calling neutral: One is the actual neutral, the other is the live coming back from the light switch, It should have had some red sleeve around it.  But either way, it is the two black wires that must be connected to the terminals for the contact studs for the lamp. The two twisted together reds are the permanent live from the fuse box, and the permanent live going out to the light switch. These two reds must be put into a terminal that does not join to any other cables or contact studs. However, with it being an old lamp holder it would probably be wise to put a new lamp holder on now, as the heat from the lamp can deteriorate the fitting.

Doc H.

 

[betty swollocks]

Hi moonraker

Basically you are correct.

The two 'neutral' wires as you have called them, I presume, because of the black insulation colour are in fact one neutral wire and one switch wire from the room switch.

The basic wiring you have at this lamp holder is.

Power in one ( one live wire one neutral wire and one earth wire)

The other goes from this lamp holder to the room switch, the red wire takes the power to the switch, the black wire(switch) wire travels from the switch back to the lamp holder and should be marked wire red in the olden days, now brown to identify it as a switched live conductor and if it had you wouldn't be in this position now.

A basic multimeter will show you which black wire is the switch and which is the neutral

If you have one, with the circuit switched off, check you have actually turned the circuit off then with the switch in the ON position you will have continuity between the red wires and the black switchwire, turning off the switch will break the continuity thus showing you which wire is which.

M107 would have done this in half the times it's taken to type this!

 

[Moonraker]

Blimey, that was quick, thanks guys. But as the above was my very first post I can't PM you, M107. Perhaps you can PM me, please? I live in Tilehurst but as I write this I'm waiting for British Gas to come to sort out why my brand new hot-water cylinder is overheating - like the old one, which nearly burst. I suspect the mains switch is knackered. 

I can do without the cloakroom light for a while, but a visit would be welcome some time.

Moonraker

 

[M107]

Well I shall be on my way home from Dee Rd in the next 10 - 15 mins

My number is on the forum somewhere but here you are.........07789864079

 

[kerching]

Blimey, that was quick, thanks guys. But as the above was my very first post I can't PM you, M107. Perhaps you can PM me, please? I live in Tilehurst but as I write this I'm waiting for British Gas to come to sort out why my brand new hot-water cylinder is overheating - like the old one, which nearly burst. I suspect the mains switch is knackered. 
I can do without the cloakroom light for a while, but a visit would be welcome some time.

Moonraker

I would be v surprised if a faulty switch made it overheat...more chance of a knackered or incorrectly wired stat! See if M107 has time to have a quick shuftie whilst you are making him a brew with a side order of chocolate hobnobs

 

[Moonraker]

M107 was great, very pleasant and efficient, and, though I'm usually a mean old grump I paid him more than he asked. Good thing I didn't try to re-insert the wires myself as there was a fault with the switch as well. All good now. British Gas arrived a few minutes before he'd finished but didn't inspire much confidence: "I'm a plumber, not an electrician," he pointed out. I'll start a new topic, if I may.

Moonraker

 

[M107]

Loose termination at the pull switch tightened & replaced the 30 year old pendant = one working light.

Mr Moonraker is far from Grumpy, he is a very nice chap.

 

[ProDave]

Now go back and fix his immersion heater http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/topic/21944-overheating-immersion-heater/

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Loose termination at the pull switch tightened & replaced the 30 year old pendant = one working light.

Mr Moonraker is far from Grumpy, he is a very nice chap.

So..

is that code for you got tea AND cake ?? 

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Maybe M107's magnetic personality pulled the best out of Moonraker, or possible a new packet of Fig Rolls were broken open.

 

[sellers]

Now go back and fix his immersion heater http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/topic/21944-overheating-immersion-heater/

Well it was working fine before M107 turned up.

 

[M107]

Tea was offered, but once I'd taken a look at the light I declined as I'd have been done before the brew had brewed.

Fig Rolls .............. Eeeeeeeeeyuck

 

[Moonraker]

To be very honest, I didn't offer any hospitality this time. All I've got is decaff, Coca Cola and Jaffa cakes - and some horrible flavoured tea that a couple of my European friends like. The kitchen is a mess, new pipework having just been installed and the floor not yet filled in and the power to the lights was off, so a H & S risk.

Thanks for the character endorsement, M107. Regarding the immersion heater, I was getting a bit conscious that I might appear to be trying to wind people up on the other thread. Certainly  I admit to knowing not that much, but hopefully I gave you the impression of being genuine (if ignorant).

Moonraker

 

[betty swollocks]

Somebody mention Jaffa cakes?????

Full moon half moon no mooooon