Light wiring has me stumped

[skywayd]

Just moved into home and the external light had no light bulb in it. when I put one in it was constantly on. Light switch didn't do anything. So I decided to swap it for a new light. Same thing. I wired it the same way as the old light. Strangely though it has 2 red wires twisted together for live and 1 black wire for neutral. Bare earth wire was there but not connected so I connected that to new lamp.
Any ideas please?
David

 

[Leesparkykent]

Just moved into home and the external light had no light bulb in it. when I put one in it was constantly on. Light switch didn't do anything. So I decided to swap it for a new light. Same thing. I wired it the same way as the old light. Strangely though it has 2 red wires twisted together for live and 1 black wire for neutral. Bare earth wire was there but not connected so I connected that to new lamp.
Any ideas please?
David

Prob best to get a spark in to test it and see what wire is doing what.

 

[Toneyz]

Just moved into home and the external light had no light bulb in it. when I put one in it was constantly on. Light switch didn't do anything. So I decided to swap it for a new light. Same thing. I wired it the same way as the old light. Strangely though it has 2 red wires twisted together for live and 1 black wire for neutral. Bare earth wire was there but not connected so I connected that to new lamp.
Any ideas please?
David

A photo may help us give you a clue.

 

[MJPD29]

Could have originally been a light with a pir get someone with proper gear to test and see what they are

 

[Taylortwocities]

You may find that one red is a switched one (from the switch) and the other is a permanent live.

Do you have sopmething essential like a test meter?

 

[multimick]

could be the switch is fooked ,contacts permanantly welded closed circuit

 

[skywayd]

I separated the reds and connected them on their own. Did the same on constantly thing with one of the reds and when did the other red nothing at all. I took connections off the switch and it was still on.

 

[Madocks]

are you sure that switch is even for the light?

 

[Pete999]

A picture paints a thousand word David, as Ant has said.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Do you have something essential like a test meter?

 

[Timbo]

And, equally essentially, know how to use it?

 

[skywayd]

Will put pic up tomorrow but its only 2 reds and 1 black wire + earth.
I have a feeling that the previous owner (who I call bodge job Bob, see pics why) probably wired up the pir light he had wrongly. (maybe the 2 red wires are for a pir light I dont know, cant find anything on net about 2 reds wired this way together in live)
Answering question about is it the switch for the light. I am only guessing as its a double switch in hallway and has only 1 light in hallway and this external light outside of front door. No other switches anywhere.
I have rectified the ceiling light bodges that bodge job Bob had done and dodgy extended plug sockets.
I have a multimeter and a volt alert so I will do some testing tomorrow.
The first pic of ceiling light was rocking on that wire with fan on!!!!

 

[Pete999]

And, equally essentially, know how to use it?

Will put pic up tomorrow but its only 2 reds and 1 black wire + earth.
I have a feeling that the previous owner (who I call bodge job Bob, see pics why) probably wired up the pir light he had wrongly. (maybe the 2 red wires are for a pir light I dont know, cant find anything on net about 2 reds wired this way together in live)
Answering question about is it the switch for the light. I am only guessing as its a double switch in hallway and has only 1 light in hallway and this external light outside of front door. No other switches anywhere.
I have rectified the ceiling light bodges that bodge job Bob had done and dodgy extended plug sockets.
I have a multimeter and a volt alert so I will do some testing tomorrow.
The first pic of ceiling light was rocking on that wire with fan on!!!!

View attachment 40906 View attachment 40907 View attachment 40908

Oooof that's a right dangerouse bodge job, need to get that sorted a bit quick Mate a recipe for a disaster is that, beggars belief.

 

[Adam W]

Yes, probably wired for a security light with internal PIR and photocell, ie it switches on automatically when it's dark and someone approaches.

 

[ackbarthestar]

agreed
PIR switch missing, I assume that the two red lives are T&E from old military PSA standards? . What's going on with the cable in the second picture?

 

[Pete999]

agreed
PIR switch missing, I assume that the two red lives are T&E from old military PSA standards? . What's going on with the cable in the second picture?

Are you ex PSA ackbarthestar?

 

[skywayd]

Well I took lamp off to have another look and.... wiring was 2 x twin & earth but the guy had put the switch live (black) in a connector block and stuffed it back into the wall cavity!! I decided to buy another pir so have wired it 2 reds together for constant live, neutral is black and other black is switch live. working fine now. Thanks for your input guys. I registered with another forum for help and all I got was, "get someone competent round"
cheers guys

 

[Octopus]

I registered with another forum for help and all I got was, "get someone competent round"
cheers guys

Which isn't bad advice !

From your pictures I would say you should get somebody round as you seem to have had DIY Dave doing work ..

 

[skywayd]

agreed
PIR switch missing, I assume that the two red lives are T&E from old military PSA standards? . What's going on with the cable in the second picture?

Oh that's just paint flaking where he had painted the skirting. I cant believe I missed all these bodge jobs when we viewed the property, and we came back 3 times!! I can see why he did the ceiling lights as a lazy mans way but he wasn't no young inexperienced person, he had his own classic car restoration business and was coming up to retirement.

 

[ackbarthestar]

Are you ex PSA ackbarthestar?

No, Just ended up doing rewires, additions and fault finding on some of their properties after the PSA closed down.