Lighting wiring

[Niall J]

Hi all,

I am just replacing some spotlights, 4 wired in series. Where the wiring leads to the first one, I removed the wiring and unfortunately didn't pay close attention to the way it was wired. There are 4 wires in total with live and neutral. One leads to the other spot lights and there are 3 remaining wires(each with live and neutral). Can you confirm how these need to be connected in simple terms? It should be straight forward as I am just replacing spotlights that have already been fitted. Thanks!

 

[steptoe]

OK, so you know one of the cables, label it up,

Now, the hard part,

Do you have a multi meter of any description,? 

 

[Niall J]

Hi there, thanks for your reply! i can borrow a multimeter from a friend.

 

[steptoe]

OK, give a shout back once your borrowed that and we can get you sorted.

As always,

SWITCH OFF YOUR ELECTRIC AT THE MAIN BOX

 

[Andy™]

yet another who jumps straight in ripping out the old before thinking about how they are going to wire it again...

youre going to need a multimeter at least to trace where all the wiring goes. you probably have a supply in, out, switch cable and feed to lights. i would also hope there is an earth to go with the live & neutrals

 

[ProDave]

Do any of the black wires have a bit of red sleeving on them (or brown sleeving if the neutrals are blue)?
 

 

[Niall J]

Hi there Steptoe, so i am armed finally with the multimeter. What is my next step?

 

[Murdoch]

A trip to the wholesalers? You won't be able to use the downlight to connect that lot up, properly and safely....

 

[Niall J]

Thanks for the comment but would appreciate some advice on what im actually getting from the wholesalers

 

[Andy™]

i cant see any earths there... if there isnt then you cannot safely install that light since it needs an earth...

 

[Niall J]

There are earths. They are all bound together under they grey tape

 

[Andy™]

you will need a suitable junction box to connect the wires to then a short cable between that and the light

 

[ProDave]

WHEN you get a suitable junction box.

1) the earths covered in grey tape must join to the earth terminal on the light.

2) the reds connected together in the choc block must remain connected together and to nothing else.

3) the three blacks twisted together connect to the light fitting's N terminal

4) the lone black is probably the switched L from the light switch, sleeve it red and connect it to the light fitting L terminal

5) The cable to the other lights should connect to the light fitting's L, N and E terminals (I think that is the cable connected into the light fitting at the moment)

6) best of luck getting that back into that jagged hole in the ceiling and staying there.
 

 

[Niall J]

A legendary response. Thank you for saving the day sir!! Cheers. Niall

 

[Risteard]

1) the earths covered in grey tape must join to the earth terminal on the light.

And they must also NOT be covered in grey tape!