Led down lights problem

themoog · Post by **themoog** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 3:26 pm

Hi. I purchased two packs of led down lights from b and q the other day (6 lights in total) and wired them in series from the original ceiling rose in the daughters bedroom. They are the integral units which plug into drivers on each unit.
Power on and only 3 illuminate.. The ones that don't light up have power to them and when I swap a light that works to one that doesn't it still doesn't light up so it's not the actual led faulty. What's going on there then?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 3:39 pm

They should be in parallel not series.

themoog · Post by **themoog** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 3:57 pm

Hang on.. The cable comes from the original ceiling rose to the first led. Positive and negative connected to the driver. Then another cable comes from the same positive and negative connections on the first driver to the next led driver and so on. The last led only has one cable going to it. Is that series or parallel? Do I need to connect the last led to the first as well?
Anyway its the same as I have connected other leds in the house and had no problem. I've done something wrong but not sure what.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 5:31 pm

I can only go by what you have typed.You said "............ and wired them in series"
What you have done is correct, you have wired them in parallel, I should also point out that with mains, it is NOT positive and negative, it is Live and Neutral

There is no need to connect the last driver to the first.

How do you know there is "power going to them" and power to what? (Since no one is there watching you, I have to ask, I am not being pedantic)

(In focus) Pictures would also help

themoog · Post by **themoog** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 5:44 pm

I have a mains tester. One of those things that you touch on a cable and it flashes and beeps. Every cable to each led has power. Baffled..

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 5:53 pm

Just because it does what its supposed to do doesn't mean what you are near is correct, you really need a multi meter and learn how to use it,

My "problem" with the thing you have is it will tel lyou if there is a voltage present, but not how much and is there a neutral.

I would suggest you leave everything switched off, take one of the non working drivers out along with a non working lamp, get a flex, connect this to your driver and lamp, put a plug on the end of the flex and plug it in and see what happens.

themoog · Post by **themoog** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 8:44 pm

Agreed. Thanks

themoog · Post by **themoog** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:32 am

Well that's embarrassing.. It helps if you plug the leds in the right way round.. Although in my defence I didn't have my glasses on and they can be plugged in the wrong way around easily.. Laugh it up..

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:52 am

I am not laughing. Human error is quite common.