Advice on correct wiring configuration for ceiling light

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Spies

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#257070 13-Sep-2019 09:58

Hi all

I've replaced an old ceiling fluorescent strip light with a spot light from Bunnings. I'm sure I've rewired it up the same way, but now the new light is always switched on and I can no longer switch it off at the wall switch.

I have attached photos of the way I was wiring it and of the wall switch.

There are two 3-core wires coming out with green/red/black, and then one 2-core wire with red/red that must feed down to the light switch.

I've wired the 2 green wires to the Earth connection on the light block.

The 2 black wires are connected to Neutral.

The 2 red wires are connected to Phase.

Now, the 2 red wires from the light switch - one of them is wired into Phase, and the other is wired into the spare block (it's isolated, not connected).

Any ideas on the correct configuration would be most welcome?

Thanks,

Rob

trig42

5814 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2317037 13-Sep-2019 10:12

In that orange block, you don't want the three red wires to be connected to anything on the new light - just terminate them, and connect the single red to the light.

SO on the orange 4-way block, Black to Black on the light. Green to Green, Single red from switch to red on light and the three other reds connected and terminated in the block.

Virgil

Dangerous Chocolate
206 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2317038 13-Sep-2019 10:12

>The 2 red wires are connected to Phase.

>Now, the 2 red wires from the light switch - one of them is wired into Phase, and the other is wired into the spare block (it's isolated, not connected).

There should be three reds together, 1 from each cable, and these should be isolated. The remaining single red (from the pair of reds) should go into Phase.

So essentially, move the two connected reds to join the single in the spare block.

Does that make sense?

Lurking ...

Nod

11 posts

Geek

#2317041 13-Sep-2019 10:19

The Light phase should be connected to the single Red wire (phase switched by the light switch.

andrewbnz

59 posts

Master Geek

#2317044 13-Sep-2019 10:34

All that exposed copper wire makes me shudder especially given the metal fitting. You should really insert/trim the copper further so it is not exposed. I hope your circuit is RCD protected.

Bung

6488 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2317062 13-Sep-2019 10:52

Newer connector strips make it easier to terminate without ugly amounts of bare copper showing than the old orange ones but that's no excuse.

This is the explanation for the wiring arrangement out of ECP 51 the electrical code of practice for home owner work.

"Some electrical installations may have lighting circuits wired where
the cables running from the switchboard are connected at the light
fitting and then looped between light fittings (known in the trade as 3-
plate wiring), this means that live wires are always present at the light
fitting rather than at the switches. A way of checking for this is to
unscrew a number of light switches and if there are only 2-wires
(coloured red) at the switches, this would indicate that the live wires
are at the light fitting. If unsure, contact a licensed electrical worker. "

Spies

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2317563 14-Sep-2019 09:29

Thank you all for your responses. As suggested, I've rewired and it works perfectly. Cheers.😄