wiring a light fitting?

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davittee

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#55235 26-Dec-2009 11:38

HI, went to change a bulb in our batch and the pendant fitting crumbled in my hands, so....bought a new one and decided i need more than one light in this long hallway so bought 3 in total. So im from the uk and the old wiring is a bit odd to me.....Ive got one cable black and red from the switch and one cable from the fusebox black and red. So ive got two reds in one terminal one black in another and one black in the LOOP, and seems to be fine....so all i want is for the other two lights to swith on at the same time. so ive run a new cabel from this pendant added red to red and tried the black in the loop...light stays on....I used to the power going via the switch an outd i just cant work it this way.....any poniters ?

we are two hours away from a sparky so need to exhaust my own minimal efforts befor i call him...thanks in advance.....

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#285242 26-Dec-2009 11:58

I assume you have some familarity with electrical wiring to be attempting this yourself?

Rather than describing how to do this it'll be easier if you have a look at the NZ Electrical Code of practice it has diagrams showing how to wire both a standard switch and batton holder and a circuit with two switches. Reading your post above your mistake was potentially putting the red wires together - these go on the terminal typically marked "1" on the switch.

dontpanic42

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#285246 26-Dec-2009 12:29

Sounds like your light fitting could be wired up in a "three plate" situation. "Three plate" is when there is a feed going to the light fitting that is constantly live (even when the switch at the wall is turned off). A separate "switching" cable is then run down to the switch for the purposes of "switching" the light on and off. This may or may not be the case though, just a thought.

Now, I wonder if your batch may also be running very old wiring (the old TRS - Tough rubber sheath - Black sheathing, instead of the new TPS - Tough plastic sheath - white sheathing). Question: Is the main sheathing on the cable black or white? If it is black then I would be hesitant to go any further. The black cable sheathing means that it is VERY old TRS wiring that is usually very prone to disintegrate if you so much as breath on it. Most electricians don't even like to touch that stuff with a barge pole.

Either way, unless you are super confident about how the light is wired up you may need to wait for a sparky.

davittee

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#285249 26-Dec-2009 12:46

thank you "dontpanic" i think u hit the nail on the head although the cable looks to be in good nick.....

I have the light working as a single unit.....I just thought that running a cable from it to the red and black i could have another light , but it doesnt seem to be that simple.....i have done it a number of times, but never in this 3 plate set up.......ill just put up with one light lol......thanks again

davittee

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#285252 26-Dec-2009 13:13

and the cable is white....