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Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Housekeeping

Help me before I electrocute myself

27 replies

hairycaterpillar · 07/07/2006 21:52

In cleaning frenzy a while back (during redecoration) I took down a wall light to clean. The 2 wires coming out the wall are both white so not sure which i connect to the blue, brown and green wires I have in the light fixture! Any suggestions what I should do? Any way to find out which is live which is neutral etc?

OP posts:

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SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 21:54

Is there a coloured bit under the white coating or do the copper wires just come straight out of the white?

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 21:55

It won't be the green wire though. That's the Earth. Although there should be an earth wire in the wall cable. Is the wall light a metal one...?

hairycaterpillar · 07/07/2006 21:58

cant see any colour on the wires or casing at all. There are only two wires no earth...is that a bit dodgy (it is an old house). The light is glass but has a kinda gold trim casing thing, which must be metal of some descipt!

OP posts:

Jasnem · 07/07/2006 21:58

You need an electrical screwdriver to test them both. Hardware/diy places will have one if you haven't got one.

hairycaterpillar · 07/07/2006 22:00

sorry I'm completely dim but do you mean a special screwdriver for doing electrical jobs...are they quite expensive?

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:01

I have a vague idea that it doesn't matter which way round they go on a light actually.

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:03

an electrical screwdriver lights up when you touch the live wire and stick your finger on a contact on the end of the screwdriver I think. Something like that although it sounds a bit dodgy !

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:04

Just reading a site found thru Google and giggled at "The most common mistake made by people wishing to change their light fittings, eg bulbs for spotlights etc, is that they take down the existing light and ceiling rose without marking or taking note of where all the cables went."

dkdad · 07/07/2006 22:04

Frankly, if you connect one to blue and one to brown, you'll be fine - 'tis only a light so there is no difference between one wire and the other in the fixture.

sugarfree · 07/07/2006 22:04

I think this is a Very Unwise Thing to be doing via a message board.
(no disrespect to your skills as an electrician SD)

heavenis · 07/07/2006 22:04

My DH says :- Don't worry about the green cos there are only 2 wires coming out of the wall. If the wall light is switched at the actual light it doesn't matter which way round you connest them. If the light is switched by a switch on the wall tape them up with electrical tape SEPERATELY and consult a sparky tomorrow.

Hope this makes sence this dh's own words.

Jasnem · 07/07/2006 22:06

Exactly like that soupy They aren't expensive.
Electrical things scare me so I wouldn't do it.
I suspect you're right that it would work either way round (you could try it and see)

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:09

Oh, I agree completely, Sugarfree.

sugarfree · 07/07/2006 22:10

Did you eat the condensed milk yet?

heavenis · 07/07/2006 22:10

Dh says Don't touch wires with electrical screw drivers and don't put fingers on them. I hope you have turned the power off.

hairycaterpillar · 07/07/2006 22:12

switches on at the wall light itself. have just phoned dh (away with work)he also says doesnt matter which way round they go...hmmmm might wait and let him test that theory, I'm a bit worried I frazzle myself and poor unborn babe lying innocently within me!

thanks for advice about screwdriver thing...might pop into B+Q tomorrow in case dh chickens out!

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:14

No, I decided against it!

hairycaterpillar · 07/07/2006 22:15

dh just called back to say dont touch...dont let kids touch (as if!!) and he'll call a sparky when he gets back at w/end....probably safest option!

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:16

You won't electricute yourself, you'll blow one of the fuses if there is a problem.

southeastastra · 07/07/2006 22:16

electrical things are always a bit dodgy, there's a law coming in (or is in) to stop people doing electics themselves!!

sugarfree · 07/07/2006 22:17

SD,you have better willpower than me!

Glad to hear you are leaving well alone caterpillar.

SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:17

Very wise to leave it to a professional though. I always phone my brother (was a qualified electrician) to double check.

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SoupDragon · 07/07/2006 22:17

(idf it had been slightly out of date I would have done. 2.5 years is rather too much for my liking!)

heavenis · 07/07/2006 22:18

I know you did soupy.

sugarfree · 07/07/2006 22:18

...wires and fuses and electrics and switches..

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