Turning on light trips at fuse box...?

[James a Polding]

Hi there

I'm having a bit of a difficulty re two sets of lights on the downstairs that keep tripping the fuse box when I go to turn them on.

The story.... I was asked to take down 4 lights for a house move and replace them with basic ceiling roses, simple enough, yeah!!?

Lights all down and I've wired 2 of the ceiling roses all good.

However, when I went to wire the 3rd one it keeps tripping the box when I go to turn it on.
I'm wiring into the neutral and return live, as I did on the ones that are working, though tripping every time.
I tried the 4th light, that's the same, tripping when I go to turn on the light.
Also, if it's relevant, the light switch was sticking halfway, jamming, though opened up the switch to release it.

This small 'favour' is giving me grief!!

Appreciate any help, thank you!!

 

[Taylortwocities]

Sounds like you have not separated out the switched live, so there's a short through the switch. That will probably have scrogged the switch too, that's why it was stuck.

Post a photo of the wiring at that light. You'll need a new switch, but lets sort teh wiring out first.

 

[Pete999]

What cables have you got at each light point? is it a 2way system? is the switching arrangement 2 gang? Any pictures you could post up?

 

[James a Polding]

Hi there

Thanks for replies.

I'll post pics bit later tonight thanks.

There's 3 cables coming from the ceiling, the switched live is separate, as per other 2 lights that are working.

Both lights are 2 gang.

Pics asap later. Thanks.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Have you got a test meter?

 

[James a Polding]

Hi there, no, could get one, what would I be looking for?
Thanks.

 

[Pete999]

Hi there, no, could get one, what would I be looking for?
Thanks.

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/produ...=e&gclid=COG_75rVmNcCFUZGGwodwSwPyg&gclsrc=ds

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

....the switched live you’ve connected to the neutral

 

[Pete999]

....the switched live you’ve connected to the neutral

You could be right but a bold statement nevertheless.

 

[Octopus]

I suspect you have mixed up the sl and the neutrals.

Got any test kit?

 

[KEV 1 N]

Red to red, black to black, blue to bits!........the old "altogether reds and altogether blacks" ploy!

 

[Richard Burns]

I am with DJOG et al.

 

[The Ghost]

Time to call an electrician methinks.

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

I must admit there is a leap of faith there

You could be right but a bold statement nevertheless.

 

[Octopus]

Me thinks a spark will be cheaper than test kit .......

 

[FatAlan]

When I moved I just left the lights in situ... less hassell. Were they crystal chandeliers Rodney?

 

[sparksburnout]

Time to call an electrician methinks.

I think that should read "should have called an electrician in the first place" methinks. Why do people F around with stuff they don't understand??

 

[DPG]

Subtle as ever Burnsy

 

[Toneyz]

May be blunt but he is right this electrical lark in not as easy as it looks.

 

[ipf]

What's to be expected if someone gets a builder to sort their electrics out?
No advice should be given, serves 'em right.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

We criticise the Op for doing this and making a pigs ear of it but look on the bright side, it will be a quick earner for a suitably able person in the local area.

 

[sparksburnout]

What's to be expected if someone gets a builder to sort their electrics out?
No advice should be given, serves 'em right.

I agree entirely IPF. It just amazes me that this blokes customer has even asked him. The thing that cheeses me off is the fact that this bloke obviously hasn't got a clue what he is about and it could actually end up being dangerous, but they don't seem to care? They just come on here expecting people to bale them out of the hole they have just dug.......

 

[sparksburnout]

Subtle as ever Burnsy

Tell it like it is Daz, tell it like it is.....Builder's huh.

 

[ipf]

We criticise the Op for doing this and making a pigs ear of it but look on the bright side, it will be a quick earner for a suitably able person in the local area.

True.....but it doesn't have to be a complicated fault to burn a house down.

 

[The Ghost]

On the face of it, it seems a simple task...I can see why someone could think "yeh no problem" but the most common place(s) where people come unstuck is light switches and ceiling roses. There are always more wires than they expect.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

On the face of it, it seems a simple task...I can see why someone could think "yeh no problem" but the most common place(s) where people come unstuck is light switches and ceiling roses. There are always more wires than they expect.

You would think though that this day and age people would use the smart phone to take pictures as they go. to help then put it back together, but no, they just jump straight in

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Another...." I connected it up exactly as it was before....." thread.
Well if you had it'd bloody well work wouldn't it?

 

[HandySparks]

Me thinks a spark will be cheaper than test kit .......

Especially if you buy a top end Fluke with 'free' DMM from RS:

1664 UK-DMM | Fluke 1664 FC Multifunction Tester with 115 Digital Multimeter | Fluke - http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/1448698/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-bing-_-PLA_UK_EN_Test_And_Measurement-_-Electrical_Installation_Testing_And_Accessories-_-PRODUCT+GROUP&matchtype=e&gclid=COG_75rVmNcCFUZGGwodwSwPyg&gclsrc=ds

 

[Risteard]

Phone an Electrician.

 

[ipf]

Phone an Electrician.

Yep. Problem is he'd probably want it explained to him and solved whilst on the phone.....obviously doesn't think it's worth paying for.

 

[sparksburnout]

Where's these pics then James? James????

 

[James a Polding]

Sorry guys, thanks for replies and advice, I think lol, had been waiting for access only to find out they got a REAL electrian in!!

 

[Taylortwocities]

Any idea how he/she solved it?

 

[James a Polding]

No, though not a spark to trade I've done jobs like a lot, I would like to know myself as it's confused me as to why 2 lights worked and 2 didn't.
Thought posting here would reveal an easy answer, obviously not!

 

[sparksburnout]

No, though not a spark to trade I've done jobs like a lot, I would like to know myself as it's confused me as to why 2 lights worked and 2 didn't.
Thought posting here would reveal an easy answer, obviously not!

James, not being funny mate, but the easy answer is that you obviously have neither the experience, training or kit to undertake this kind of work. How would you feel if you unwittingly left something in a dangerous condition? Just stick to what you know and let others do what they know eh?

 

[ipf]

True.....but it doesn't have to be a complicated fault to burn a house down.

Domsta72...........why the dumb?
How experienced are you?