Top floor lighting gone - fuse replaced, still no action.

[KennyWhiate]

Hi,

As per...the top floor lighting is all gone - i've tested and changed fuses on every part of the box and I cannot get the lights back on.

Bulbs changed for ones I know 'work' too.

What has happened?

(if wrong forum sorry)

 

[Lister1987]

If you can, talk us through right up to the event, what we're you doing, what was running, what you consumer unit set up (rewirable fuses, cartridge fuses, MCBs etc), any recent DIYY (including putting up pictures), this should help give us a better picture and enable us to help you further.

The default response is likely to be get an electrician in, based purely on the fact there may be diagnostics that need to be checked to rule out a fault with that Installation.

 

[KennyWhiate]

Hi,

I was replacing a light fixture and i've probably put the (old school) red wire into the neutral. This light fixture was crazy as has four 'spare' red wires - three were wrapped into each over. i've been into the loft and seen another 'red' wire as a fourth.

 

[westward10]

How is it all connected now.

 

[brianmoooore]

Hi,

I was replacing a light fixture and i've probably put the (old school) red wire into the neutral. This light fixture was crazy as has four 'spare' red wires - three were wrapped into each over. i've been into the loft and seen another 'red' wire as a fourth.

This sounds like a very common configuration for UK lighting wiring, and your problem comes up on here often. The cables are feed in, feed to next light, and connection to switch.
You have probably mixed them up.
Is one of the cables marked in any way?

 

[Midwest]

Looking at that pic (and I know some of will say 'why'), I think its time for a rewire ?

 

[telectrix]

does look a bit like it. the doggy side of my brain says "Ruff"

 

[brianmoooore]

Looking at that pic (and I know some of will say 'why'), I think its time for a rewire ?

Can't disagree with that. No sign of cpcs, so at least half a century old? OP would probably like lights back in the meantime though.

 

[KennyWhiate]

yeah this is an inherited property and i want a re-wire but i loosened the 'three' wires and that seems to be the problem. the three reds.

i don't care about this room but the rest of upstairs

 

[westward10]

What do you mean you lost the three wires.

 

[Spoon]

What do you mean you lost the three wires.

He says 'loosed' which I'm taking for 'loosened' or 'has now removed them from the fitting'... I could be wrong.

 

[westward10]

I thought "loosed" was "lost" spelt wrong?

 

[Spoon]

If the pic he posted in post #3 is as they were originally grouped in the original light then there should still be a In & Out feed, so the other light should work.

 

[KennyWhiate]

i'm getting there, I had no idea that would be an issue, dumb of me

all sorted, good forum

 

[Spoon]

i'm getting there, I had no idea that would be an issue, dumb of me

all sorted, good forum

You have all the lights working now?
What did you do?

 

[KennyWhiate]

asides from me rushing and misspelling a word, appreciate the help. these wires are ridiculous and can't really fit into a basic fixture - big task this place

 

[KennyWhiate]

You have all the lights working now?
What did you do?

I had no concept that those 'three' red wires must be looped touching each other all the time, i prised a bit away to fit it in the rose fixture, it won't fit as is. nightmare, naïve of me but i've learnt something...i started the day replacing the kitchen fixture but the connections are modern so simple, this is horrid

 

[westward10]

Can you show a pic of what it is like now.

 

[brianmoooore]

It's a bit of a cultural thing. The wiring you have is a standard "British" arrangement, used from around 1960 until fairly recently.
Most decorative light fittings are made for "European" wiring, where it's unusual to have any more than one cable going to a fitting.
Most electricians in this country seem to have moved towards this single cable to the fitting now, with the loop in and out often moved to the switch instead.
Now that you've fitted the new light, no wires must be left just twisted together.