Another Lighting Issue!

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:56 pm

Ok, so I am back! But who will answer first this time, or will a war break out!? lol

Bathroom lighting.....

Going to change the exsisting ceiling unit shown below with a standard bathroom light, ive sorted the zones etc.

The problem is there are 3 sleeved wires, and it seems there are different SHADES of blue wiring?!?!? lol. Now im REALLY confused! Anyway look at the pic and tell me what wires what and also how the heck I get all the wires into those bloody small holes and how they stay there! lol

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:10 pm

With most lights it does not normally matter if the live and neutral are reversed as it will not cause any damage if the polarity is reversed. On some lights it is important!

Now the three blue wires, are these your existing wiring or are they connected to the light?

The first picture looks like it could be the push in type of terminals, where you just push the wire in and it grips the conductor. Are there any screws near the terminals?

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:58 pm

Sorry UHM i put the wrong pic up! The correct one of the current wiring is now up, so should help! I think they must be push in terminals, but pushing 3 wires in will be tough I imagine! There are no screws so it MUST be, just doesnt fill me with confidence! lol

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:48 pm

you will not be able to get the wires into the terminals of that lampholder, you will have to put a junction box or chockbox behind the fitting and bring tails through to the lampholder. UHM is not quite right in what he said about not mattering which wire goes where as on an ES (Edison Screw) lamp the live must go to the centre pin connection and not the outer ring connection to stop you inadvertantly making contact with a live exposed part. Just obe thing, are you sure this light fitting is suitable for use in your location as it is unusual to have an earthterminal ona bathroom fitting, do the instructions specifically state it is for use in bathrooms ?

Nick

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:03 pm

It says it is for bathroom zone 2. The earth terminal is the screw you can see at the top of the fitting. Im now scared off, a choc box, junction box, all very complicated for a newbie im guessing! Plus nowhere to put it behind the plate, other than the ceiling?!

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:09 am

Yes you would have to enlarge the hole in the ceiling for the chocbox to fit through, unless you can get access from above?

Then you have to make sure that the new light fitting will cover the enlarged hole!

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:38 pm

Oh great! :-(

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:41 pm

just had another idea, if your ceiling is plasterboard then you could use a round plasterboard drylining box, which your light wil fit over and the bonus is the box has fixings which should fit your new light fittings fixings centres.

Nick

Rich-Ando · Post by **Rich-Ando** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 4:15 pm

sparkydude wrote:just had another idea, if your ceiling is plasterboard then you could use a round plasterboard drylining box, which your light wil fit over and the bonus is the box has fixings which should fit your new light fittings fixings centres.

Nick

thanks Sparkydude, i never knew they had made round fast-fix boxes for that purpose too. always helps to know what the wholesalers have available for that knackered ceiling. ive just plastered 3 ceilings up because some bodger had destroyed them and i couldn't fix the roses.

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:39 pm

Is that round box safe for bathroom use sparkydude?

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:47 pm

yes its fine because it is behind the light fitting so does not need to have any Ip rating as the light to ceiling connection will seal over the box.

Nick

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:46 pm

Nick/ Sparkydude, where do the wires go then? From the image ive put up of the wires I have already which go into where and then do i need to buy extra wires to feed out the otherside of the chocbox? Sorry if your rolling around cracking up at my pure thickness!!

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:51 pm

yes, the cables you have there you will connect to some strip connector inside the box, then buy some butyl or heat resistant flex to bring the three tails through to the light fitting. They will connect where the lampholder cables are now, and also the earth goes to the earth terminal in your box.Just copy like for like with the cables and you wont go wrong

Nick

Willing_Learner · Post by **Willing_Learner** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:56 pm

Sparky, what is the difference between butyl and heat resistant flex, anything major? Preffered choice?