I'm changing an old pendant light into a ceiling light, but I have some difficulty in understanding the current wiring. It is controlled by 2 switches. I've checked typical rose wiring diagram, but it couldn't explain what the current wiring is.
Electrical – Could you explain this ceiling light wiring
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In my country a junction box of applicable protection class (=IP code) is mandatory ... terminal blocks are never allowed to lay blank.
From your wire-colours and terms I guess you are in the UK
The light itself is a 5 arm ceiling light ... I've never seen a light with an earth wire before
If it has any exposed conductive parts, they need to be earthed. Maybe the arms are metal?
What am I doing wrong?
You have probably mis-wired the ceiling rose. One of the wires from the switch loop will not be what its colour suggests.
A typical UK ceiling rose is wired like this
A is power in
B is power out (to next light fitting)
C is to/from switch
Note the red tape on the blue wire (position 2) to indicate that this is not a neutral, as the blue would suggest, but a switched live.
Since your breaker is tripped regardless of the switch position, you probably have something other than the obvious error that occurs when the tape is missing.
You should not have trouble connecting three or four earth wires to the earth terminal. You can use a connector block if that makes it easier but I believe they must be enclosed in a junction box or in the ceiling rose. There isn't much spare room in a ceiling rose.
The ones on the right are the traditional ones used in the UK, a lighting circuit uses the ones rated 5A. The connectors to the left are Wago 222 and 221 connectors - they make it easier to connect multiple wires together - the leftmost one connects three wires together. There are 2,3 or 5-position versions of each. Wago also make push-in connectors (273 and 773 series) for various numbers of solid-core wires (not stranded). Other manufacturers like Ideal also make them. You can buy these from screwfix and other suppliers.
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Best Answer
It looks a bit of an unusual setup, but I'll hazard a guess that there is either a further light on the circuit either fed from one of the switches or the power from the circuit is fed in at a switch and feeds on from here to another light (or lights).
(Obviously, you need to verify this, as we can't tell how it's wired from just one photograph).
From left to right, you likely have:
The three core and earth cable (red / yellow / blue) probably comes from the switch. There is probably also another three core and earth running between the switches.
Have a look at the backs of the switches; this might give you more of an idea of where the power feeds to / from.
Usual warning... take care and switch off at the consumer unit before working on the wiring.
If you're unsure at all, you should call in an electrician.