Two way lighting circuit gone wrong

[Nickj]

Shouldn't be able to see the copper on those neutrals. That's normal wiring for loop in/out light circuit. Did you also alter the wiring at the switches?

 

[sparksburnout]

And we wonder where DS has gone.......

 

[The Ghost]

Frying tonight?

 

[Tony Good]

Vortigern, I know what you are saying about the copper showing but the two neutrals are connected in the block. Will tidy those up. Can't show you the back of the switch as I'm back home now but can do tomorrow (if the house doesn't burn down). By two way I mean one switch controls one light and the other switch the other light but, to my mind anyway, the two switches should not have their wiring crossed at all. A big worry is that my friend says he changed the switch from dimmer to rocker swich to try to solve the blowing light problem. He may have wired it wrongly I guess.

 

[sparksburnout]

(if the house doesn't burn down).

Why don't you just stop *****g about and get someone in who knows what they are doing FFS? Anyone near Swindon?? Go and put this guy out of his misery for gods sake.

 

[Tony Good]

Sorry I was being flippant, might be time to call a spark tomorrow but for now the downstairs lighting circuit is off. Thanks for your help anyway.

 

[ruston]

Have to agree , ten minute job.
We cannot tell you how to do that safely, even if you had the gear.

 

[sparksburnout]

might

Careful don't do anything dramatic..... And can I just ask, this guys a MEMBER??? Why is he a member?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Hi Tony I think the best advice has been given with regards to getting an electrician in

Guys can we keep things calm and civil please.

 

[Dave OCD]

x2 on that Lee.

 

[Tony Good]

Thanks for that Leesparkykent - I totally understand you skilled guys telling me to step away from the wiring. Was just trying to help out a friend with no money to get a spark in. Big mistake.

 

[sparksburnout]

Thanks for that Leesparkykent - I totally understand you skilled guys telling me to step away from the wiring. Was just trying to help out a friend with no money to get a spark in. Big mistake.

What would you have done if you could smell gas? Back to Muddy Waters again...

 

[Darkwood]

Careful don't do anything dramatic..... And can I just ask, this guys a MEMBER??? Why is he a member?

If your refering to the term EF Member under the avatar then that applies to anyone registered in the forum and is just the general basic status, staff need to assign other titles and unless we are made aware as we cannot follow every post in every thread then we sometimes rely on our regulars to report and suggest the member be better with other assigned status like DIY.

Has his introduction to the forum in his other thread clearly states he is an Electrical enthusiast with no formal qualifications then we will update his status.
Please help us if you see similar situe's by letting us know with the report button as oppose to making a brash response in the thread which helps no-one.

 

[sparksburnout]

Thanks for that Leesparkykent - I totally understand you skilled guys telling me to step away from the wiring. Was just trying to help out a friend with no money to get a spark in. Big mistake.

Is it me or was there just a touch of sarcasm in there??

 

[sparksburnout]

If your refering to the term EF Member under the avatar then that applies to anyone registered in the forum and is just the general basic status, staff need to assign other titles and unless we are made aware as we cannot follow every post in every thread then we sometimes rely on our regulars to report and suggest the member be better with other assigned status like DIY.

Has his introduction to the forum in his other thread clearly states he is an Electrical enthusiast with no formal qualifications then we will update his status.
Please help us if you see similar situe's by letting us know with the report button as oppose to making a brash response in the thread which helps no-one.

Bring back DS thats what I say, think about it.

 

[The Ghost]

Well that is a good point. This is what people do when they do not have the money to afford a tradesman, have a go. Its just unfortunate to be in such a position. Maybe post a piccy tomorrow. But please make sure the electrics is defo off! The legal position is very fraught for you if something goes wrong. Its a lesson to us all, stick to what you know and have been trained for.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I have just looked at the picture on the light fitting was the screws on the copper conductor or the pvc. sheath ?

 

[Pat H]

If you only altered the wiring in that ceiling rose then yes you have interrupted the normal L/N feed that loops from one fitting to the next. All the lights normally have live and neutral and earth fed to them from the consumer unit. Most ceiling fitting have a bus bar at one end connected to the neutral of the light flex this bus bar has the incoming Neutral and outgoing neutral (unless its the last light in the chain)
The bus bar on the other end connects to the live light flex via the switched live feed.
The center bus bar has the incoming live and outgoing live (unless its the last light in the chain) and then it also has the live feed to the switch. The complication is the cable used to go the switch is normally a twin and earth so has a live neutral and earth wire and it actually switches live so we have to indicate that the neutral is actually carrying live and we do that by putting a sleeve on each end to match the live colour.
But often that sleeve isn't present so its easy to get wires mixed up.
What's needed is to identify the incoming feed the outgoing feed and the switch wire.
Easy if you know what's what but dangerous if you don't.
Its not a big job for an electrician and I'd advise you get some help to be sure its correct and safe.

 

[The Ghost]

re the above I mean above Pat H and Buzzlightyear

help out a friend with no money

 

[buzzlightyear]

try salvation army.