Adding a ceiling light to existing wall light circuit

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Fri Oct 26, 2018 1:36 pm

Hi
Bedroom on first floor house has 2 wall lights on same wall, finding them insufficient. I think the setup was changed by previous owner from ceiling light to wall lights.
I want to add a ceiling light to the same circuit, is it as simple as going up to loft which is unboarded in that section but has insulation and hoping there will be a cable for the wall light accessible, cut the cable put a junction box and add a new cable for the ceiling light? Anything else to look for?
Thanks

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Oct 26, 2018 4:48 pm

Yes, make sure the cable you cut goes to the wall lights and not somewhere else, and turn the electricity off first. you may even be lucky and find a jb where the ceiling light was.

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 3:18 pm

someone-else wrote:Yes, make sure the cable you cut goes to the wall lights and not somewhere else, and turn the electricity off first. you may even be lucky and find a jb where the ceiling light was.

I have been to the loft today, followed cable of light switch and to a cable of one of wall light which leads to a junction box, pic attached not to clear but it is the round white thing. But the location of the box is not in the middle of the room as you would expect. Has it been moved when rewired, any other possibilities?

I checked the bedroom ceiling for any clues but been papered so cant see much but a bump corresponds roughly where jb is, pic attached.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 4:00 pm

Sorry, not sure what I am looking at, picture is as you said " pic attached not too clear"

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 4:52 pm

someone-else wrote:Sorry, not sure what I am looking at, picture is as you said " pic attached not too clear"

The pic where there is loft insulation and I just put a black arrow pointing to a white round object which is the junction box.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 5:54 pm

is it? oh. (still can't see it

) But if its a JB why can't you move it?

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 6:21 pm

someone-else wrote:is it? oh. (still can't see it ) But if its a JB why can't you move it?

Have you tried the magnifier (+ button) at top left corner of the photo?

wine~o · Post by **wine~o** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 6:56 pm

Not clear even when zoomed in, either way we'd need to know how it was wired and whether there is a switched live and neutral at the JB, you mentioned having a multi meter, now is the time to start using it.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Nov 04, 2018 7:15 pm

wine~o wrote: Not clear even when zoomed in.

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 10:58 am

I did say it's not clear picture, if you zoom you must be able to see a circular white object, that is the junction box and take my word for it. All light jbs looks the same and this is no different.

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Mon Nov 05, 2018 12:33 pm

wine~o wrote: Not clear even when zoomed in, either way we'd need to know how it was wired and whether there is a switched live and neutral at the JB, you mentioned having a multi meter, now is the time to start using it.

Yes I have a multi meter but busy week so will do in the weekend.

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Thu Apr 16, 2020 5:03 pm

Hi
I didn't do anything since but am back today to do it. Been to the loft, opened the junction box, please see pic attached.
Following the wiring I named them, the 4th one not named believe the live coming from bathroom ceiling light.
Am I right to say the third light I want to connect will be basically in parallel with light 1 and light 2?

I can't find the original whole in the plaster board of the old ceiling light in the loft. But in the area there is a small cut plasterboard which I assume it a repair and part replaced where the hole was.

Is the best way to drill from bedroom ceiling where I want the light then go to loft and connect to junction box?

Thanks

: MyBedroomLight.JPG (62.52 KiB) Viewed 2555 times

yartin · Post by **yartin** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 1:26 pm

Update:
For unknown reason, N& E were shorted (previous owner was DIY disaster), this was corrected. A third cable was added for ceiling light, new light fitting connected and all done, job done. Pic of junction box attached.

: ceiling light.JPG (62.46 KiB) Viewed 2542 times

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 6:17 pm

Nice clear in-focus pictures, they really help. What is the black flex for?