wiring a light

[kasonovo]

I've bought an Ikea light that has space for two wires to go into it. Trouble is I have three cables, making three red, three black and three copper (yellow and green) wires altogether. One cable is obviously the 'switch' that I have identified, and the other two are probably the 'ring'? Just not sure how I should connect these nine wires. I presume the three earths go together and locate on the mounting - which leaves six left. Can anyone help?

[The Builder]

One red is the incoming "loop" live...............one red is the outgoing loop-on......................the other red goes to the switch.

One black is the loop neutral...........one is the loop-on neutral....................the other(which should have a red sleeve on it) is the live return from the switch.

You need to identify all of these before connecting anything :o)

[LCDMAN]

All the 3 reds (lives) go together (live feed in and out and live to switch). The 2 "real" neutrals go together (neutral feed in and out)

You have identified the switch wires and already connected the live to the switch so you are left with the "switched live" back from the switch (just to confuse you, this is probably black if twin & earth cable used BUT should have red sleeve or red tape on it to show it as the switched live return from the switch) connect this to one of your two lamp wires and the other lamp wire goes with the neutrals.

[buildersmate]

On the basis that a picture is worth 1000 words, look here (scroll down the page a bit to the diagrams).
http://www.diydata.com/planning/electric_light s/electric_lights.php