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Lost half the lights in my house

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  • 17-03-2011 10:53am
    #1
    hairyslug
    Registered Users Posts: 2,593 ✭✭✭


    Firstly I appoligise for my ignorance, I dont know much about electics

    I had a friend do some work in my house yesterday, putting up a stud wall, he had to disconnect a light socket and since then we have lost the lights in the rooms surronding the room that the work was in.

    Is it just a matter that because there is no light anymore in 1 room, the rest of the line has lost power so all I would have to do is reconnect the light again (hope that makes sense)


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    #2
    WIZE
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,597 ✭✭✭WIZE


    did you check your Fuse box to see if any of them a tripped


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    #3
    jj build
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 67 ✭✭jj build


    hairyslug wrote: »
    Firstly I appoligise for my ignorance, I dont know much about electics

    I had a friend do some work in my house yesterday, putting up a stud wall, he had to disconnect a light socket and since then we have lost the lights in the rooms surronding the room that the work was in.

    Is it just a matter that because there is no light anymore in 1 room, the rest of the line has lost power so all I would have to do is reconnect the light again (hope that makes sense)
    Yes more than likely, the rest of the lights have no neutral to them put the light holder back on , if not use a junction box .knock the power off first at the fuse board if he dosent remember where the wires go put a photo of them up and i can tell you.Be careful!


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    #4
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    hairyslug wrote: »
    Is it just a matter that because there is no light anymore in 1 room, the rest of the line has lost power so all I would have to do is reconnect the light again (hope that makes sense)


    Yes the neutrals to the light that has been removed need to be connected back together most likely. The light fitting does not need to be refitted until the wall is ready, just the neutrals connected in a connector. Turn off power to all lights first.


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    #5
    hairyslug
    Registered Users Posts: 2,593 ✭✭✭hairyslug


    so it looks like i have a blue, red and black wire in the ceiling but only blue and red 1s in the socket, what do i do with the spare black wire


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    #6
    jj build
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 67 ✭✭jj build


    The blue wire is normally with the black wire,turn the power of first .Make sure the wires are not loose when your done.


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    #7
    Tifosi
    Registered Users Posts: 107 ✭✭Tifosi


    jj build wrote: »
    The blue wire is normally with the black wire,turn the power of first .Make sure the wires are not loose when your done.


    Isn't the blue(neutral) wire off the light flex and the black(neutral) the main neutral.

    If there is only one neutral, then this is not looped and he has only lost that light?


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    #8
    jj build
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 67 ✭✭jj build


    Tifosi wrote: »
    Isn't the blue(neutral) wire off the light flex and the black(neutral) the main neutral.

    If there is only one neutral, then this is not looped and he has only lost that light?
    Very true ,if that's what he means ?? Was thinking somebody replaced the other black wire with a blue at some stage


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    #9
    RoundyMooney
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭RoundyMooney


    Ok; first and foremost, what are you calling a socket? The light switch?

    It's obvious you have a mixture of old and new codes when it comes to the wiring, but I'll say no more for now until you can clarify.

    Tell us what you have poking out of the ceiling, and out of the wall, you may have dropped either a looped phase or neutral depending-bear in mind, all we can do here is advise without being able to check the circuit in actuality.

    edit; and are the wires to the light switch individual cables?


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    #10
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    The fact he says there are reds and blacks would indicate the house has red and black wiring, but blue neutrals were added in for extra lighting possibly. Its not very clear what he means alright. Is it lighting 5 amp sockets the OP is talking about?


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    #11
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    Some photos required here i think.


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    #12
    RoundyMooney
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10,910 ✭✭✭✭RoundyMooney


    robbie7730 wrote: »
    The fact he says there are reds and blacks would indicate the house has red and black wiring, but blue neutrals were added in for extra lighting possibly. Its not very clear what he means alright. Is it lighting 5 amp sockets the OP is talking about?

    Possibly, But then you've a blue at the switch. As you know a blue isn't always a neutral, and a red isn't always a phase.

    The terminology is misleading, as one would expect from someone who isn't in the trade or has knowledge, but at the same time, I'd be getting a sparks in to have a look at the whole thing (default answer, I know, but rarely unrequired).


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    #13
    Bruthal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,422 ✭✭✭✭Bruthal


    RoundyMooney wrote: »
    Possibly, But then you've a blue at the switch. As you know a blue isn't always a neutral, and a red isn't always a phase.

    The terminology is misleading, as one would expect from someone who isn't in the trade or has knowledge, but at the same time, I'd be getting a sparks in to have a look at the whole thing (default answer, I know, but rarely unrequired).

    Sounds about right, and in a house, any colour could be anything. If a switch is being called a socket then certainly time for the sparks.


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