New Electric Lighting Fitting Replacing Flourescent Light Keeps Blowing Fuse?

by **confusedkathy** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:10 am

I removed a flouescent light from the bedroom. It was wired to a fused isolation switch and had a pull cord switch to turn it on/off. I wanted to relace with an ordinary light fitting. I cut the wire joining the light wire to the fused switch and wired to an ordinary new light switch, then attached the rest of the wire to a new light fitting which had wiring to bulb already in situ. Although I tried different fuses in fused switch it blew. I removed the fused switch and used a junction box to connect mains wire to lighting wire but this blew the lights as well. Wiring in switch etc seem fine as have checked diagrams and know matching live, neural and earth are separated. Not sure where to go with this. New light switch is turned off as else all upstairs lights blow. So single wire runs up to light switch and onto light rose. Ideas please?

by **proptech** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 7:02 pm

Hi confusedkathy

Your description is not really enough. We need to know precisely what you've done, and how you've connected it up. Photos if possible please.

by **ericmark** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 3:34 am

There is nothing in your description which would cause the fuse to blow so I will assume something missed. In the main we only switch the line but you can get double pole switches. What I have seen in the past is where an intermediate switch was mixed up with a double pole switch and as a result the guy had wired it to give a direct short.

by **confusedkathy** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:15 pm

Have made a rough sort of diagram of what I got up to attached below.
Kathy

by **ericmark** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:40 pm

I have looked and can only guess and my guess is you have the wrong type of switch to switch both the lives. There are in general 4 light switches.

1) On/Off two connections the neutral is not switched.
2) Two way three connections the neutral is not switched.
3) Intermediate four connections the neutral is not switched.
4) Double pole four connections the neutral is switched.

I will guess you need number 4 and have got one of the others?

by **confusedkathy** » Sat Nov 08, 2014 6:25 pm

Cheers not sure what a double pole switch is but I shall find out and give it a go and let you know.
Kathy

by **ericmark** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 5:11 am

http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-20a-dp-switch-white/85957

Link to Screwfix as easy for me to find. There will be 4 terminals two in and two out. This http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/13045684 ... 0&ff14=108 ebay advert shows the back of switch in this case even an earth terminal but likely you will not want neon. Only showing so you can see what the back looks like.

by **DIYDoctor2** » Wed Nov 12, 2014 3:44 pm

As working with electricity can be dangerous it may be time to call in the professionals Kathy - see our advice on finding a tradesman http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/find-tradesmen/

by **ericmark** » Thu Nov 13, 2014 10:07 pm

There are the schemes which allow electricians to self certify if the electrician is a member of one of these he should be reasonable and you can refer him to scheme operator if he is not.

But I would avoid any electrician who is a member of rated trades or similar. I know it seems odd but electricians who are good don't need to join any rated trades or similar only the useless ones join such things.

by **confusedkathy** » Mon Dec 08, 2014 10:44 am

Thanks for help. Bought a double pole switch and now the system does not blow but light still not working so will have to check the connections. Been a bit busy so sorry for not getting back.