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Electrical

Two black one brown(live) what's going on with the second black ?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.19 PM

I am trying to install downighters in the bathroom . after opening up the ceiling rose I have 1 brown wire going through a terminal blocks to the liveside of the load (bulb) through the load to the neutral terminal block . The N terminal block has 2 black wires and away. Why does it have 2 black wires and 1 live? What's going on ? Obviously it doesn't stop me taking a feed from the L and N but I would like to know i) what happend to the other brown wire ? ii) why the 2 black wires ( my guess is switch and power)? Thanks for reading my question and not just saying it's certifiable I know how to connect the downighters to the circuit ,but like to understand everything I don't understand . I was thinking the wires are tied up away from the rose I can't see and wanted an idea what was happening ,what old school practice had been used ? I'm sure the wiring is pre 1970. Unfortunately red tape on the switch live isn't there and nice blue and brown wires to tell me instantly what's going on. Any insight into the mind of older sparky parctice would be appreciated and yes I am getting the work certed at the end :)

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4 Answers

D Marshall Electrical

Rating: 5 out of 5
Derby
As previous comments, bathrooms are notifiable. A qualified electrician should be brought in to sort this for you.
Answered15 October 2018
1

LP CONTRACTS LIMITED

Rating: 3 out of 5
Sittingbourne
Hi, Regarding ceiling rose wiring. You should have 'live in' 'live out' 'switch out' =3no lives. Then 'switch return' (black marked as red) to the bulb. Then 'neutral in' 'neutral out' and linked to the bulb. Maybe you have some cables connected behind the rose (live in, live out, switch out) so you see 'switch return' and 'neutral in', 'neutral out'. Regards, Laurence
Answered24 October 2018
1

E3 Electrical

Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Winscombe
I would suggest if this confuses you then you should be calling on a professional to do the work, bathrooms can be dangerous places! Work in bathrooms is notifiable to building control and should not be attempted unless you can self-certify your work.
Answered15 October 2018
0

HandyONeill

Rating: 5 out of 5
St Albans
Bathrooms notifiable. Unless you have a tester don't work with electricity
Answered15 October 2018
0