Please help me understand my light circuit

[Lipple]

Hello,

I am replacing my pendant light fixture with a low profile (metal) fixture.

I read a good bit and saw how light circuits are wired using the 3 loop method, wired inside the ceiling rose. There is no space in the new fixture, so I figured I would get some wago connectors, a junction box to hold them in the ceiling and some new cable with an earth line, repeat exactly the wiring in the rose and I'd be all done (to be honest, I think I can still do this as long as everything is wired up as it is in the rose, but I want to be sure)

When I opened the fixture I did not see what I expected to. See picture. There is nothing in the loop. I thought perhaps it's the last light on the circuit, but the other lights are wired the same way.



In the switch I got very confused, there is two wires (not colour coded) going into one end, and a live (or switch live?) in the other. See Picture. It sort of looks how they might wire a 2 way switch. But there is only one switch controlling this light.



I cannot make sense of what I'm looking at. There is a smoke alarm in same room which is almost certainly on the same circuit if that makes any difference.

Could you help me understand how this is wired? And maybe confirm if I repeat exactly the way the rose is wired using wagos, that all will be right?

Thank you.

 

[Murdoch]

How old is the property? The wiring?

Looks like you have singles with earth cables.

So easy to use lever wagos and don’t worry about containing them in their own enclosure - as long as the base of the new fitting covers the wagos you are good to go

 

[Lipple]

Property & wiring are brand new - 2023.

But okay, that's good, thank you.

I don't think there is enough space in the new fitting for the 3 wagos I will need. If nothing else I'd have to drill a hole in the fitting base just to fit the extra wires. So I think I'll have to put the wagos in the ceiling.

 

[Andy™]

wired in singles by the looks of it. all neutrals looped through the lights, perm live looped through switch & a SL from switch to light. neutral & SL having a cpc and the perm live no cpc

not a common way to do it but still an acceptable method, although current standards recommend a neutral at the switch

 

[kerching]

Is that brown cable with a white sheath or brown cable and lots of white spray paint ( going off the interior of the back box)?

 

[Lipple]

Ahh okay, that explains it Andy.

It's brown cable inside white sheath I think, single core. The white hasn't been trimmed back.

Thanks all, I'll go with my original plan so should be fine.

 

[kerching]

It's brown cable inside white sheath I think, single core.

Strange. In my mind I thought you couldn’t just run a live on its own and it had to have an earth with it. Everyday is a school day

 

[Andy™]

Strange. In my mind I thought you couldn’t just run a live on its own and it had to have an earth with it. Everyday is a school day

no different to meter tails. same cable type, just smaller CSA

 

[nicebutdim]

PVC/PVC singles are used extensively in domestic lighting circuits on this side of the Irish Sea, but brown is always with an earth. The regulations may not require this (can't be certain without checking), but it's a sensible precaution when cables are buried in walls.

 

[kerching]

no different to meter tails. same cable type, just smaller CSA

I’ve not seen them for years…showing my age/memory oh look,