DIY: Why is this wired thusly?

[Tin Pot]

So, a number of jobs done (bathroom light fitted and wired properly, bathroom light pull thingy refitted, upstairs bedroom light traced to loose wiring - made good, other bedroom light fitting checked all good and was the wrong type bulb for the dimmer).

Now we come to the crux of my concerns with the wiring, this is wired I believe to be always live at the fitting - why would they do this?

Could it be something to do with other fittings upstairs being in series?

The live reds have been wired together as have the Earth wires.

The black wires appear to carry no charge, when tested with an electricians screwdriver (volt meter has gone missing)

 

[subaqua]

Switch power off
Put reds where blacks are and blacks in connector . Earths need sleeving with green and yellow.

That switches neutral only as it currently is which is prohibited by wiring regs.

Steve MIET

 

[jonny jeez]

So, a number of jobs done (bathroom light fitted and wired properly, bathroom light pull thingy refitted, upstairs bedroom light traced to loose wiring - made good, other bedroom light fitting checked all good and was the wrong type bulb for the dimmer).

Now we come to the crux of my concerns with the wiring, this is wired I believe to be always live at the fitting - why would they do this?

Could it be something to do with other fittings upstairs being in series?

View attachment 344482

The live reds have been wired together as have the Earth wires.

The black wires appear to carry no charge, when tested with an electricians screwdriver (volt meter has gone missing)

Is that all a bit illegal these days?

Dont you require a qualified spark to sign off the work that a DIYer has done?

 

[raleighnut]

Stairs Lightswitch?

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Switch power off
Put reds where blacks are and blacks in connector . Earths need sleeving with green and yellow.

That switches neutral only as it currently is which is prohibited by wiring regs.

Steve MIET

I've often wondered about that. Surely by sleeving (i.e. insulating) the earth wire you reduce its chance of doing what it is supposed to do - be there when an errant live wire can touch something. By leaving it naked it is more "available" to redirect current and activate the earth leakage detector?

 

[subaqua]

I've often wondered about that. Surely by sleeving (i.e. insulating) the earth wire you reduce its chance of doing what it is supposed to do - be there when an errant live wire can touch something. By leaving it naked it is more "available" to redirect current and activate the earth leakage detector?

No as it's more likely to press against and eventually dig in then go pop . The technical reasons go to many thousands of words I have given the broad brush .

And yes any bathroom work is part P notifiable.

 

[Tin Pot]

Switch power off
Put reds where blacks are and blacks in connector . Earths need sleeving with green and yellow.

That switches neutral only as it currently is which is prohibited by wiring regs.

Steve MIET

Yes, that would be the plan but before executing I'm wondering why they did it like this.

Usually there is a reason, however poor, so I'd like to figure it out before making changes and finding something else doesn't work.

 

[Tin Pot]

Is that all a bit illegal these days?

Dont you require a qualified spark to sign off the work that a DIYer has done?

No

Yes

 

[User33236]

Have you checked the other end on the cable to see if it's wired correctly? Wouldn't be the first time I've come across black and red being mis-wired so black is live and red neutral.

 

[fossyant]

Frightens me some of the bad wiring you see - hence we won't touch my mother in laws house as my FIL was always upto bodging stuff (if there was a short cut he would do it). My wife remembers where he would plug bear wires into a socket with a plug on top just because he wouldn't use an extension !! Even the Sky installation has a bodge to allow the signal in another room (without the multi-room).

The only thing I've found at home was the oven and electric shower labelled wrongly on the consumer box. Fortunately I double checked before I removed the old shower and fitted a new one. Yes it should really have been signed off by a leccy, but I'm not moving and I am careful and have wired in stuff before.

 

[raleighnut]

It doesn't look as 'dodgy' as this though,

 

[fossyant]

It doesn't look as 'dodgy' as this though,


View attachment 344552

 

[Tin Pot]

Have you checked the other end on the cable to see if it's wired correctly? Wouldn't be the first time I've come across black and red being mis-wired so black is live and red neutral.

Yes, and no it's as it appears.

The live reds have been wired together as have the Earth wires.

The black wires appear to carry no charge, when tested with an electricians screwdriver.

[QUOTE 4739976, member: 9609"]Does the switch work, as is it successfully switching something on and off ? and if it is, is the load side still live when switched off ? pretty dangerous if it is. The switch should cut the live side not the neutral, I woud guess an electrician would be making sure the red is live before switching them over.[/QUOTE]

Yes it works, the red at the rosette is live regardless of the switch, neither of the blacks at the switch are live.

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So apart from agreeing that it's a travesty can anyone think of a reason someone would choose to do this?

 

[subaqua]

Yes, and no it's as it appears.

The live reds have been wired together as have the Earth wires.

The black wires appear to carry no charge, when tested with an electricians screwdriver.



Yes it works, the red at the rosette is live regardless of the switch, neither of the blacks at the switch are live.

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So apart from agreeing that it's a travesty can anyone think of a reason someone would choose to do this?

Politely - no understanding of the wiring regs

Impolitely - farking cowboy .

 

[subaqua]

It doesn't look as 'dodgy' as this though,


View attachment 344552

Ooh

Several Code 3 observations . And a possible Code 2 . No Code 1 tho.

Code 3 Squished cables , no sleeving identifying phase conductors. Incorrect earth sleeping colour,

Possible Code 2 far far too much copper showing and earth not in a terminal but not knowing how it came apart ....