Wiring a mains halogen circuit

paullav · Post by **paullav** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:45 am

Hi.

I'm planning on fitting 10 50w mains halogen downlights in my dining room to run off one 600w dimmer.

I plan to replace the current ceiling rose with a 5a junction box fixed to a joist up in the ceiling void, leaving the JB accesible from the 1st spotlight hole.

Then run the tw&e cable 1mm, from the junction box to the 1st light, then from the 1st to the 2nd and so on, terminating at the last light.

Is this ok?

Also would you advise to use a JB for each light, if so what rating?

Cheers.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:31 am

in theory yes thats fine, but the first point where your JB will be needs to be accessibly by the regs for testing and maintenance. The only concern i have is what other loads you have on your downstairs lighting circuit? remember my earlier advice of max 1200w per circuit. ona 6A breaker. why not split the ten lights into two switch circuits and have a 2 gang dimmer instead? you might not want all 500W of lighting on at once and can be arranged for mood setting if required this way .

Nick

paullav · Post by **paullav** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:40 pm

Thanks Nick.

Yeah loads not a problem as I have run a seperate circuit for the kitchen and dining area.

One last question and I'll leave you alone!

I have a light in the porch running off a JB and a one gang switch. I want to add another light nearby. Can I just install a two gang swich instead and use that to run the new light as well?

If so how do I wire it will the comm L1 L2 etc?

Cheers

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:04 pm

Unless you have aneutral at your light switch you cannot wire off of it for your second light. You will need to either take a neutral to the switch, or run your other light off a JB with a feed and a new cable to the switch .

Nick