Pendant light with no colour coded wires

[md77]

Hi.....I'm new to the forum so go easy please

I had to get my ceiling replastered and my pendant light was removed, however there's no colour coding other than the earth. I've a single wire and 2 others tied together so I'm not sure what's neutral and what's live. I've stripped back some of the wires but still no colour coding. Is there anyway to check what's what before I attempt to fit the light?

Thanks

 

[Octopus]

Do you have any form of tester?

 

[Marvo]

Can you show us a pic of the fitting and one of the wiring? You should be able to use the 'upload a file' button to include photos in your reply as long as the file sixes aren't too large.

 

[md77]

Unfortunately no.... But my post should have been clearer....the wires I'm referring to are on the light itself

 

[md77]

No to the testing equipment, photos coming shortly

 

[Rpa07]

I'll bet it's the new breed of customer bought lights having see through insulation on the single that is differenciated by the slightest of blue streaks along the length of the insulation and is nigh impossible to see unless you ironically have a light working - I could be wrong, will await photos.

 

[Jamchiv01]

Typical Pendant Wiring:

Without a continuity tester, I wouldn't even attempt to wire the light as you could wire it incorrect and cause a short circuit. Either call a electrician out to look at it, or get a continuity tester.

EDIT: just saw your post saying it's on the light itsself, ignore my drawing

 

[Jamchiv01]

I'll bet it's the new breed of customer bought lights having see through insulation on the single that is differenciated by the slightest of blue streaks along the length of the insulation and is nigh impossible to see unless you ironically have a light working - I could be wrong, will await photos.

I saw one the other day that had a white streak, and the other had nothing. ES fitting and polarity was incorrect by whoever installed it. Lucky they didn't change the lamp in it.

Think they said they got it from John Lewis.

 

[Rpa07]

Typical Pendant Wiring:

EDIT: just saw your post saying it's on the light itsself, ignore my drawing

Your drawings are great - not quite Richard Burns great but you're not far behind - keep it coming.

 

[Jamchiv01]

Your drawings are great - not quite Richard Burns great but you're not far behind - keep it coming.

Thanks, Pictures tell 1000 words.

 

[md77]

I'm struggling to upload photos.....Rpa07, you're right, it's the see through insulation but I can't see the blue line even with a torch on it. I'll try to get the photos uploaded, in the meantime, would the light have 2 lives or 2 neutrals?

 

[Jamchiv01]

1 Line 1 Neutral

 

[buzzlightyear]

still waiting.

 

[md77]

That's what I thought but I have 4 wires, 1 earth and 3 unknowns, 2.of which are taped together so I'm assuming they're the same

 

[Jamchiv01]

4 wires to one light would suggest there's 2 lamp holders, is this the case?

 

[md77]

No, it's a single chain pendant light with 4 holgens running off it

View attachment 35000

 

[Jamchiv01]

In that case, you will need a continuity tester to test what cable goes to what part of the lamp holder.

 

[buzzlightyear]

still waiting.

 

[buzzlightyear]

what big thumbs you have, with out a c/tester for the tails in ceiling and pendant
get a local spark in.

 

[Rpa07]

Is that a grey streak on one of them - they are all tied together so irrelevant I think. Good photo by the way

 

[7029 dave]

So no colours then at all.?

 

[buzzlightyear]

when people by those cheap cr***p lights, I bet Chinese are laughing at us ,

 

[md77]

No colours at all except the earth......I might be able to get a hold of a tester tomorrow, what would I be looking for? If I can't get a hold of a tester is there anything else I can do as keen to get the light up tomorrow as I'm not at home again until Christmas day and would like it up for then if possible

 

[md77]

The light wasn't cheap, cost a fortune.....doesn't mean it's worth a fortune though!

when people by those cheap cr***p lights, I bet Chinese are laughing at us ,

 

[Rpa07]

How about a photo of the other end where all the light goes on. Are you sure that's not a grey line on furthest left?

 

[buzzlightyear]

do you self a favour get some one in ,do you know how to use c/tester.

 

[md77]

How about a photo of the other end where all the light goes on. Are you sure that's not a grey line on furthest left?

Def not a grey line, just the reflection of the flash

View attachment 35004

 

[buzzlightyear]

wow that blinded me any more tail there!

 

[md77]

do you self a favour get some one in ,do you know how to use c/tester.

If I need to I will but the light is in the dining room where I'm having Christmas dinner and I'm away from home from tomorrow until Christmas day so I can't get someone in in between.

 

[Marvo]

Nice photo.

Can you cut that cable strap and spread the wires a bit so we can get a closer look at the cable. Thanks.

No, it's a single chain pendant light with 4 holgens running off it

View attachment 35000

 

[md77]

Nice photo.

Can you cut that cable strap and spread the wires a bit so we can get a closer look at the cable. Thanks.

View attachment 35005

View attachment 35006

View attachment 35008

View attachment 35009

 

[Rpa07]

I can see a brown streak and a grey streak - other one earth to the fittings?

 

[buzzlightyear]

the possibility you have two lives and one neutral

 

[Jamchiv01]

@Rpa07 Hows this

 

[Marvo]

I think you may have a live, neutral and earth in that transparent cable but gawd knows which is which. You're going to have to either take the fitting somewhere that can test it and mark the wires or you're going to have to get a sparky to come and test.

Please don't try it with guesswork, if you get it wrong there's a good chance you'll make the body of the fitting live and give someone a bad shock.

 

[Rpa07]

I can see a brown streak and a grey streak - other one earth to the fittings?

I've never quoted my own message before but am I the only one that can see it?

 

[Rpa07]

@Rpa07 Hows this

Getting you no where but I like it!

 

[md77]

I've never quoted my own message before but am I the only one that can see it?

What's the grey one then, and is it fair to assume the other wire next to it is the same

 

[Karin]

not really safe to assume anything for us as it's too hard to get a picture of what's going on. could be quite a few options! can you give the model of the fitting?

 

[FatAlan]

Silly question, but they're always the best. Did it come with any instructions?

 

[Pete999]

Hi.....I'm new to the forum so go easy please

I had to get my ceiling replastered and my pendant light was removed, however there's no colour coding other than the earth. I've a single wire and 2 others tied together so I'm not sure what's neutral and what's live. I've stripped back some of the wires but still no colour coding. Is there anyway to check what's what before I attempt to fit the light?

Thanks

A picture would help

 

[md77]

not really safe to assume anything for us as it's too hard to get a picture of what's going on. could be quite a few options! can you give the model of the fitting?

It's a light from Pagazzi....PG14379, if that helps

 

[md77]

Silly question, but they're always the best. Did it come with any instructions?

Yeah, but they were binned. The light was already up and had to be taken down, the plasterer who took it down didn't leave me anything to work with unfortunately

 

[Hellmooth]

The 2 cables together have a white line running along them, I fitted one the other day and the white line was the neutral, can't guarantee it is the same here but I would think it was likely. Although in extra low voltage cable power supplies it seems the the white line is the positive. I would call their technical line they will tell you easy enough.

 

[Richard Burns]

A continuity tester would be able to identify the wiring for you.

It may be possible with much effort to physically trace the wires if you were to undo the nut at the base of the light fitting and separate the two halves but this could lead to there being lots of bits of light fitting all over the place and tracing wires through the flex is very hard.

The wires do show in the pictures that there is a grey stripe on at least one of the wires, though it may be on all of them, and so this might help tracing.

The wires should be one line, one neutral and one earth, the polarity of line and neutral will not matter on a G9 lamp but the earth identification is crucial to avoid an electric shock.

Even if you have a bulb and a battery with bits of wire to make a circuit you can use this on the wires (when disconnected from the mains supply) of the light fitting to trace them. The G9 lamp holder will have two contacts, one to either edge of the slot, make sure you are not shorting across the contacts and getting false readings.

One wire should go to one side of the lampholder, one wire to the other side of the lamp holder and the earth wire to the metal casing of the light fitting (similarly to the green wire you have already).

View attachment 35010

 

[Marvo]

Long shot but you don't have another identical fitting that's still connected by any chance?

 

[Midwest]

@Rpa07 Hows this

Sorry but RB just trumped you.

 

[Midwest]

If I need to I will but the light is in the dining room where I'm having Christmas dinner and I'm away from home from tomorrow until Christmas day so I can't get someone in in between.

Get one of these;

And a BC light bulb (that's what Screwfix call 'em). Make sure you carry out Safe Isolation. Or just put a few candles on the table (candles should not be left home alone) or put the Xmas tree lights on.

Get someone in after Xmas to put your fancy light up. Think that's the best advice, if you want to see in the New Year

 

[md77]

Yeah, but they were binned. The light was already up and had to be taken down, the plasterer who took it down didn't leave me anything to work with unfortunately

This is what Pagazzi sent me through, not particularly helpful as it also states the wiring of the actual the light may be different than in the diagram

View attachment 35018

 

[md77]

A continuity tester would be able to identify the wiring for you.

It may be possible with much effort to physically trace the wires if you were to undo the nut at the base of the light fitting and separate the two halves but this could lead to there being lots of bits of light fitting all over the place and tracing wires through the flex is very hard.

The wires do show in the pictures that there is a grey stripe on at least one of the wires, though it may be on all of them, and so this might help tracing.

The wires should be one line, one neutral and one earth, the polarity of line and neutral will not matter on a G9 lamp but the earth identification is crucial to avoid an electric shock.

Even if you have a bulb and a battery with bits of wire to make a circuit you can use this on the wires (when disconnected from the mains supply) of the light fitting to trace them. The G9 lamp holder will have two contacts, one to either edge of the slot, make sure you are not shorting across the contacts and getting false readings.

One wire should go to one side of the lampholder, one wire to the other side of the lamp holder and the earth wire to the metal casing of the light fitting (similarly to the green wire you have already).

View attachment 35010

If polarity of the line and neutral isn't an issue as long as the earth is good, am I good to go as long as I make sure the earth is connwcted correctly....which I'm confident in doing