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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Odd wiring question https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1429010387 Message started by Ediyer on Apr 14^th, 2015, 12:19pm

Title: Odd wiring question
Post by Ediyer on Apr 14^th, 2015, 12:19pm

Hi All,

This one has really confused me. I've recently moved to a new house and upon unscrewing the two light fittings to change them for newer ones (both of which work fine) in one room I've found what looks to me like they've been wired round the wrong way as the black wire has been connected to the live input on the light fitment and the red connected to the neutral. I've attached pics of each fitment to show what I mean.

Many thanks in advance

Title: Re: Odd wiring question
Post by Lectrician on Apr 14^th, 2015, 4:20pm

The right hand picture looks correct EXCEPT for the brown and blue need interchanging.

Where the blue is currently connected to a single black, that black should have a small piece of red tape or sleeve to identify it as a switched live conductor.

The one on the left must have a terminal block still hiding away in the ceiling?

Both look quite messy and could do with reterminating completely.

Title: Re: Odd wiring question
Post by Ediyer on Apr 14^th, 2015, 4:50pm

Thanks I thought as much concerning the one on the right, i'll be checking later to confirm that is the switched live and have a root about in the ceiling on the other one to figure out what's going on there.

Out of curiosity are there any potential issues with switched live connecting to the lights neutral terminal as shown in the right picture? Or is it ok as long as the other terminal from the light is connecting to a neutral.

Title: Re: Odd wiring question
Post by Lectrician on Apr 14^th, 2015, 5:22pm

Standard lights will work reverse polarity, but it is convention (and reg for certain lamp holders) that on Edison Screw types, the center pin must be the live.