Daisy chain lighting

chjada · Post by **chjada** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:31 pm

Hello,

I am replacing a selection of hanging spot lights with 8 recessed spot lights. I intend to "daisy chain" them together i.e. I will connect each one to the next +ve to +ve, -ve to -ve to form a long chain.

Can I connect both ends of the chain to the junction box +ve to +ve etc, to form a radial circuit, or must I just connect one end to the junction box and wire the other end +ve to -ve?

Many thanks
C

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:42 pm

Hmmm,

Hopefully one of the sparks will answer this one.

What voltage and what wattage are the Lamps?

What thickness of wire are you using?

This may help them answer your question a little faster

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:28 pm

I am assuming that the lights are mains voltage and do not have a transformer. If this is the case then the circuit should be a radial circuit, not made into a ring as the lights will only be on the switched live and neutral and not the circuit live. Please tell me what sort of downlights they are and i will confirm if this ok

Nick

ban-all-sheds · Post by **ban-all-sheds** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:46 pm

chjada wrote:Can I connect both ends of the chain to the junction box +ve to +ve etc, to form a radial circuit,

That's not a radial circuit.

or must I just connect one end to the junction box and wire the other end +ve to -ve?

Not entirely sure what you mean by that, but connecting +ve to -ve is never usually a good idea.

And AC installations do not have positive and negative - those are DC terms - they have Live and Neutral.

Sounds like you should spend a bit of time reading the Which? Book of Wiring and Lighting to beef up your basic knowledge before you start fiddling....

chjada · Post by **chjada** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 9:49 am

Thank you for these replies.

The lights are B&Q eyeball spot lights with 45 watt bulbs.
I was proposing to use 1.5 mm, 2 core and earth cable from the junction box.

The junction box is currently connected to the ground floor lighting ring and is controlled by two light switches.
The proposed new circuit would run from the junction box to each light, sequentially.
I am trying to understand whether I bring the wiring back into the junction box.

Alternatively, can you tell me where I might be able to find a wiring diagram as one is not attached in the B&Q instructions?

Thanks
C

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:36 pm

From the junction box wire the first lamp using the twin and earth, then run the wire from that first light to the second, then from the second to the third and keep doing this until you get to the last one.

Each lamp will therefore have a live in, live out and neutral in and neutral out, except for the last one.

So the junction box has neutral Live in it, the blue wire will always go the the neutral - and the brown wire will always go to the +

When you get to the last lamp on the circuit, just leave it with the live and neutral, do not take it back to the junction box.

You are sure that the lamps are not low voltage and require a transofrmer arent you?

8 spotlights like that are going to use a damn lot of electric - 360 watts!

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:48 pm

Well said Chez, what have you already got on the lighting circuit ??? count up how many watts in total you have already on the circuit and do not forget things like outside lights . Also what size fuse is the same circuit protected by.

Nick

chjada · Post by **chjada** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 10:03 am

Thanks for all your comments, and advice.
Managed to complete the set up.

The old bulbs were 100w in the original spotlights, so the total wattage has actually gone down.
Remembered to install fire protection caps too.
Switching between the two light switches I am using on the circuit works well.
Replaced all the cables, the dodgy switches and broken junction boxes; installed everything in tracking so the whole set up is now neater and easier to maintain though the different walls.

Lots of help on the UHM site has been invaluable in trying to unravel the mysteries of the previous owners' efforts; the voyage of discovery in this old house continues…….
C

ban-all-sheds · Post by **ban-all-sheds** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 11:13 am

chjada wrote: Remembered to install fire protection caps too.

Did you need those?

chjada · Post by **chjada** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:24 pm

I was led to believe the new building regs required them, although it was perhaps a little over the top.
C

ban-all-sheds · Post by **ban-all-sheds** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 1:51 pm

It's very unlikely that they were required, although this is a common misconception. What type of house or building is it - how many floors? What rooms are below and above the ceiling?

chjada · Post by **chjada** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:42 am

The lights are built into a platerboard cieling, under s shallow sloping roof on an extension.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:17 pm

In that case then they are definiteley not required,as the only places they are required to be used is if there is habitable space above the lights, ie in a normal house, below a bedroom for example.

Nick

chjada · Post by **chjada** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 5:47 pm

Oh well.....I know better next time.
Where can I fiind the formal rules on the subject?
C

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:11 pm

chjada wrote:Oh well.....I know better next time.
Where can I fiind the formal rules on the subject?
C

No need, you just did.

Ask Nick or B-A-S!

Great this forum, init?

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