Fitting fluorescents

xAlex · Post by **xAlex** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 9:56 am

I’m gonna replace a couple of loop-in ceiling rose lights with fluorescent tube lights in my kitchen. Do you have any tips or is there anything to watch out for? Presumably I will need to just join the loop-in live/neutrals/earths in terminal block and have a piece of 1.5mm T+cpc from the block to the fitting? I have not bought the fittings yet. Any advice gratefully received. Thanks.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:26 pm

I don't think that terminal blocks satisfy the electrical regs and so you are better off with a chockblock-

You can then feed this through the hole in the ceiling and then wire the other end to the terminal block in the flourescent fitting.

Terminal blocks are fine as long as they are enclosed and can be accessed.

xAlex · Post by **xAlex** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:31 pm

...Thanks for that site admin. I’m just a bit confused how this would be wired when there are likely to be 3 cables (loop-in/out, and the switch wire), without using terminal block??? Thanks.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:02 pm

There is a terminal block inside of the chockblock.

Obviously if the wires will reach to the terminal block in the actual light fitting then you do not need to use a chockbox.

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:11 pm

if its a loop, where you need a 4th terminal, you're better off getting a 4 way junction, which can be put in the ceiling void.

Not sure, but you may even be able to put a 4 way terminal strip in the flourescent casing, then just extend the L, N, E to its own terminal strip.

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 6:47 pm

better still make sure you just mount the fluorescent light over the old rose position and use connector blocks inside the fitting to extend the cables, that way all cables are easily identifyable and can be seen with the cover off. no hidden junction boxes above lights to catch us sparks out

Nick

xAlex · Post by **xAlex** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:50 pm

..ok thanks. The choc box idea doesn't present a way to connect all incoming and out-going cables (That I can see). The connector blocks seem to be the easiest solution but some people say that they are not allowed. I suggest that I connect the loop-ins and switch-live in a connector block and the Neutrals in another, tape them up, and push them into the carcass of the fitting. Sound OK?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:53 pm

xAlex wrote:..ok thanks. The choc box idea doesn't present a way to connect all incoming and out-going cables (That I can see). The connector blocks seem to be the easiest solution but some people say that they are not allowed. I suggest that I connect the loop-ins and switch-live in a connector block and the Neutrals in another, tape them up, and push them into the carcass of the fitting. Sound OK?

If it's in the fitting then it is fine

I't frowned upon when they are pushed into the ceiling void, although most people do this!

xAlex · Post by **xAlex** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:28 pm

OK. Well if the cables reached the ceiling rose then they should be long enough to stick through the hole, enabling the new fitting to be placed over them. Cheers.
Alex