Electricians please help!! Photo included.

[Santaslittlehelper83]

So having looked on YouTube I was confident with changing a light fitting....however having got all the wires out I have realised that the switch live is not marked with tape and I have an extra wire (which I think is live but not sure). As I now don't feel confident to proceed I have decided to abandon the job and get in a professional. Despite taking pictures I can't workout how to restore the old fitting! How can I make this safe with insulating wire please? Especially as I don't know which wire is the switch live? Please be kind as I did feel confident, now wish I had just got a professional to start with!

[Youvebeenseeingsos]

I would wrap each wire end separately, so they are all kept apart. You will have to use lamps until you get an electrician.

[Santaslittlehelper83]

@Youvebeenseeingsos

I would wrap each wire end separately, so they are all kept apart. You will have to use lamps until you get an electrician.

Thank you! I ended up wrapping the earths together, the neutrals together and wrapping the lives individually....is that ok? Any idea what that extra wire could be??

[good96]

On your fuseboard is that light on it’s own switch? I would isolate if you can? Failing that insulation tape around the wires.
I strongly would advise against attempting to reinstall the old light fixture. Just use lamps until electrician comes.

[TwoLeftSocksWithHoles]

I'M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN

I wouldn't just connect the colours together like that as you can't guarantee that all the colours are correct to live/neutral.

You may find that other lights don't work either, as all those wires are part of a circuit 'feeding' the next light.

I'm afraid you need a professional to test the wires to see what is what.
DON'T try it with a illuminated screw driver.

(Too late now but if there is a next time take a photo of the fitting and wiring before you start.)

[Santaslittlehelper83]

Thank you for your reply...if you read my post above does it sound like I've wrapped them correctly? I didn't wrap the lives together as I can't be sure which is the switch live?

[Santaslittlehelper83]

@Santaslittlehelper83

Thank you for your reply...if you read my post above does it sound like I've wrapped them correctly? I didn't wrap the lives together as I can't be sure which is the switch live?

That message meant for @good96

[Santaslittlehelper83]

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I'M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN

I wouldn't just connect the colours together like that as you can't guarantee that all the colours are correct to live/neutral.

You may find that other lights don't work either, as all those wires are part of a circuit 'feeding' the next light.

I'm afraid you need a professional to test the wires to see what is what.
DON'T try it with a illuminated screw driver.

(Too late now but if there is a next time take a photo of the fitting and wiring before you start.)

Ah yes good point....I might undo it all and wrap individually then! Funnily I did take photos but when I looked back it all looked a mess....wish I never started it but looked so straightforward on DIY guy!

[didntyou]

You can buy a multimeter for about £8 and work out which one is the switched live

[PigletJohn]

If you connect all the black ones together, or all the red ones together, there is a fair chance that the circuit breaker will trip the moment you turn it on, or the moment you turn the light switch.

If it does, just leave the circuit breaker off and call a local electrician.

It would be possible to talk you through it but it would take a long time and you would need a test meter, and some of the tests would be with a live circuit.

If you have friends or neighbours whose opinion you trust, ask for a personal recommendation.

Please don't look up a "24 hour emergency electrician" or an advertising website masquerading as a trusted recommendations site, however many recommendations the traders mates have written for him. Don't use an 0800 number or an out of area number.

[PigletJohn]

There are several professional "competent person" schemes you can use, this is one of them.

I can't guarantee that the one you choose will be perfect, but she will at least be qualified and local. I prefer an independent or family firm rather than a large company.

www.niceic.com/householder/find-a-contractor