Discuss Unusual wiring in ceiling rose in the DIY Electrical Advice area at ElectriciansForums.net

Reaction score
1
Hello everyone, hope all are well.
I'm changing a ceiling rose and have lost the diagram showing where everything was connected (to the old light) and now I'm unsure on some of the wires. There are three cables, with three wires each: -
1 - Brown, Blue, Bare Copper​
2 - Red, Black, Bare Copper​
3 - Red, Black, Blue (which has a connector terminal extending the wire with blue/yellow wire)​
I believe that the Brown from cable 1, the Red from cable 2 and the Red from cable 3 were joined together in their own block, not connected to the lamp, and that the two copper wires, from cables 1 and 2, were connected together in the earth, but I can't remember the rest.
I'm guessing that cable 1 is simply old wiring and that cable 2 is new wiring, but I've never seen a combination in a cable of red black and blue (and certainly not blue and yellow).
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.
 
TL;DR
Unusual wiring in ceiling rose, confusing connection to a new light
Red, black, blue cannot be right. Is it just discoloured green sleeving?

Do you have a photo of the wiring as it is now?

Do you know where the brown/blue goes to? (Another light controlled by same switch or on to another room?)
 
Red, black, blue cannot be right. Is it just discoloured green sleeving?

Do you have a photo of the wiring asThe it is now?

Do you know where the brown/blue goes to? (Another light controlled by same switch or on to another room?)
Hi, littlespark and thanks for your reply.
I've attached a couple of pics:
Wires1&2 - Black, Red, Copper is circled in red and brown, blue, copper is in the blue rectangle​
Wire3 - Red, Black, Blue is circled in red and the connector terminal (extended the wire to a blue/yellow sheath) is in the blue rectangle. To my eyesight, it doesn't look discoloured.​
The light is controlled by a switch that also controls two other lights (this one is hallway, but the switch controls the landing light and a light outside, next to the front door).
Thanks again
 
Hi, littlespark and thanks for your reply.
I've attached a couple of pics:
Wires1&2 - Black, Red, Copper is circled in red and brown, blue, copper is in the blue rectangle​
Wire3 - Red, Black, Blue is circled in red and the connector terminal (extended the wire to a blue/yellow sheath) is in the blue rectangle. To my eyesight, it doesn't look discoloured.​
The light is controlled by a switch that also controls two other lights (this one is hallway, but the switch controls the landing light and a light outside, next to the front door).
Thanks again

Wires1and2.jpegWire3_Red_Black_Blue.jpeg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ok.

It looks as though someone has used blue insulation over the bare earth wire instead of green/ yellow.


I can see two possible scenarios:

They’ve simply used blue instead of green, and it’s an earth

Or

They’ve used the bare earth as a neutral, very naughty. And the black of that cable has another function or is damaged somewhere.


I think the best course of action is to employ the services of a professional. Anything we suggest now would just be guesswork without testing the cables.

There may be a helpful forum member local to you that could do it for a few beers.
 
Can you show a wider pic ?
 
The light is controlled by a switch that also controls two other lights (this one is hallway,
If this ceiling rose light is also controlled by another switch elsewhere (two-way switching) there's a good chance it's option 2 in littlespark's post #5.
You could check if either switch is 2-way (three terminals) with a wire in each terminal, with the bare earth conductor (possibly sleeved!) occupying one of the terminals? 🤔.

As you probably know that is not a legitimate way of wiring the circuit!
 
Definitely looks like the cpc (earth) has been sleeved and used as a neutral conductor, this is not permitted. You are going to need an electrician to look at that.
 

Reply to Unusual wiring in ceiling rose in the DIY Electrical Advice area at ElectriciansForums.net

Similar Threads

I hope someone can help with this as I'm stumped. My landing hallway ceiling (2016-build house) has two rose pendants which I've attempted to...
Replies
7
Views
446
I have 2 lights connected to 1 switch. I installed a led light fixture on one light, it had one red wire and one black wires. It was easy to match...
Replies
0
Views
279
I have a strip light in the kitchen operated from a single switch. I want to replace it with a straight bar 4 spot array. There are three supply...
Replies
2
Views
439
Hi guys, I have recently encountered that my circuit breaker for the upstairs lights keeps tripping. I flick it back on and immediately it trips...
Replies
7
Views
870
A rose in my 1970s kitchen ceiling became loose (one fixing screw had been inserted right on the edge of the hole in the ceiling) and when I...
Replies
3
Views
778

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by Untold Media. Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock