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Looking for some advice, changing the kitchen light from an old ceiling rose to a new light fitting. It appears the are two cables, one for the actual light switch and one for the RCD(?) as far as i know there is no loop here but im probably wrong. So I have 2 of each coming out of the roof, live, neutral and earth.
My question, can I just wire them into the new connector of the new lighting unit, so two wires to each hole with the corresponding wire on the other side or is this a bit more complicated than that?
You took note of how the old fitting was wired up?
Didn’t you?
Is there more than one light of the same switch?
If so one cable will be coming from the light switch the other will be going to the next light.
HTH
Remember safe isolation etc
The other one isn't for the rcd, it's probably the switch wire. One will be live and neutral, the other goes live to switch and live return. You'll need to identify which is which.
Live supply and live to switch connect together. Live return and neutral go into light fitting
I took several pictures yeah PP. However the old ceiling rose was covered in so much dust/rust/dirt that reading anything from it is impossible. Think its been there since the house was built. I'll have a look once the flooring has been fitted as I cant get back in the kitchen now.
Edit - Everything is turned off including light switches and fuse box, kids out the house and dog too just in case. There is only one light from this switch.
Most likely to be as artist stated then.
Sounds like it's radial rather than on a ring. The second cable goes out to the switch and back. Yes you can just wire the new fitting in otherwise house needs a rewire (which given your description of the ceiling rose and the fact the light is on a ring might be due).
That would be a royal pain in the butt if its needs rewiring. The landlord we bought it was was the previous owner and said it had all been rewired in the 90's if not early 2000'.
I did find a load of old wiring, really skinny cables in the loft and in the walls which appeared not connected to anything (was cut off in random places), the current cables are all grey 3 wire cables which appears to be the same stuff they sell in B&Q
How did we decide the house needs rewiring from changing a ceiling rose?
Who knows how but STW has a habit of escalating some issues, next door neighbour had some spare little terminal blocks, not 100% sure what they are, I just matched the old wiring into these little blocks and it all works now. Not tripped yet, house isn't on fire. Was that ok to do?
If it's working, then it's probably fine 🙄
Or you'll die in a fire
Let us know 😂
Just commenting on the fact it's not a lighting ring and the fact the OP said the ceiling rose was a mess inside. If the outer insulation is grey and the inner blue and brown it's probably been rewired in the last 15 years, if the inner insulation is red and black it's probably older, pre 2004. Advice is usually to rewire after 25 years although I appreciate most people would only do it if there was a major problem or they were doing a big redecorate.
Thanks for that stumpy, I can confirm the out insulation is grey with brown and blue wires.
Everything seems ok, thanks for everyone's help 🙂
Be careful that the chock block is the correct rating to handle the current, otherwise it will melt and cause a fire.
Nowadays use Wagos and junction box.
Be careful that the chock block is the correct rating to handle the current, otherwise it will melt and cause a fire.
It's only carrying the current to that particular light fitting in this instance. There's barely any load on it whatsoever.
It’s only carrying the current to that particular light fitting in this instance. There’s barely any load on it whatsoever.
Yes and no.
Every part of each circuit must be rated for the maximum current for the fuse on that circuit. Let's say the light fitting fuses out creating a short. The cables, switches, choc blocks etc in that circuit will see a current in excess of the maximum fuse rating until the fuse blows or trips (a 30A fuse, can for instance let 35A pass through it for some time, before going). So if you used a 1A cable or choc bloc it could melt / combust before the fuse trips.
So, if the lights are on a 16A fused circuit, all cables, switches, connectors etc must be rates at 16A or above.
Nowadays use Wagos and junction box.
^ This. Choc block terminals tend to loosen over time.
Currently everything is neatly packed into the lighting fixture as there was insufficient space to put everything into the ceiling. The hole there was only adequate for the cables poking through and as my wire/stud detector is a bit dicky, I didn't want to risk making a bigger hole with the drill if I couldn't see any the location of the cables. There appears to be no access from upstairs either as its under a wall/bath in the back corner - not great.
Got the FIL coming in a couple of weeks so i'll get him to bring some tools over to double check everything.
I presume this chock block is the terminal block I've used? If so, I'm using the one the light came with inline with a spare one of equal measure from the neighbour