Ok so I am a novice at electrics so this is probably obvious to most. Just about to replace the ceiling light and there are 3 earth wires, 1 black and 1 red. I understand about how a switched live works, so my question is, why only one red here? I was expecting 3. Also why 3 earths?

Thanks and apologies if this is a stupid question

would you be able to post a photo?

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- Dave
http://www.pamperhouse.net
http://www.invertedcircle.co.uk

um yeah hold on ill take one.....

pic.....

do those other two reds come out as well?

_________________
- Dave
http://www.pamperhouse.net
http://www.invertedcircle.co.uk

No they are going somewhere else, presumably the next light?

No such thing as a stupid question.

It would appear that your lighting system is not the conventional
loop in/out at the ceiling rose, rather the lives go directly to the switches, run in conduit...Can you tell us what colour combo you have at the switch, this May help...

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Blue with brown sleeve, Brown and earth at the switch. So im guessing this setup has been changed somewhere along the line?

Take it you don't have a multimeter??

In which case I would be inclined (Slight risk of tripping out your consumer unit/fuse board, so only attempt if you have fuse wire if the latter)

Wire the single red to the Live of your new light, wire the 2 blacks to the Neutral terminal, earths to earths goes without saying..

..you may find that the light stays on permanently, does not come on at all, or blows the fuse/trips the breaker..or works exactly as it should (My Guess)...

lecky off obviously...

There will be a junction box located somewhere ....Loft? if we can find it and id the wiring there we can have more than a stab at it.

I'm off out now, hopefully someone else will be along..

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Yeah I do have a multimeter. Ill try what you say wine~o seems logical to me. here goes the fuses....... :P

you can rest easy..nothing to test here. that is just a very old conduit system with the "loop" wired from switch to switch. they have used the conduit to run the cables together that's all. you should find a deep black metal conduit box is above the ceiling & you screw the rose onto that box.

old but normal.

Ok so I wrapped the two neutrals together and the three earths and I have light! Cheers for your help guys