Under kitchen cabinet lights

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:28 pm

I want to fit some lights under my kitchen cabinets that will be operated by a switch on the wall (like the pendant light but on a seperate switch). I have bought some lights from B and Q but now Im confused by what it says. The lights I have bought are the IT Kitchen Double Wedge Light with integral transformer, 20w halogen bulb, 60w transformer. It says varous things in the instructions and on the wire label and I cant tell if it needs to be wired to a plug or whether it can be wired directly to the lighting system. Some of the things in the instructions are:

Only suitable for connection to a 240v 50hz supply
Always suply to a switched 13ammp fused spur
If it is not being connected by means of a supply plug, ensure that mains supply is off before commencing installation.

I actually have 3 of these lights which I wanted to run off a light junction box and all to be operated by a normal light switch on the wall (seperate from the ceiling light)

I would be grateful of any advice.

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:32 pm

you'll need to connect the lights together then take the 2+e supply to a live suply, then interrupt the Live, with another 2+e which goes to the light switch.

I'm sure some one will produce a nice little diagram to show what i mean.

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:00 pm

i think the lights each have their own internal transformer, and she wants to use the spare switch on the the light switch to control them.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:03 pm

Thanks Hinton. Yes each light has it's own inbuilt transfoermer and I want to know if they can be wired to a light switch as opposed to putting a 3 pin plug on them and pluggin them into an electric socket (wchich will mean having to go around switching each one on and off, rather then have them controlled by a switch by the door)

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:04 pm

Do the lights have plug connectors, so that you can link from one light to another?

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:07 pm

They dont have plug connectors, just the live and neutral wire.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:12 pm

I can't see any reason why they cannot be connected via a lightswitch on the lighting circuit.

are you going to be doing this yourself are are you getting someone to do it for you?

I'm not being nosey, just if you are doing it then People will probably add to this post to try and explain how to do it

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:15 pm

I will be doing it myself. Any tips and advice would be very welcome.

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:18 pm

is it possible to run two cables from ceiling light, one tio light switch & another to new lights postion?

I thinking its its best to source power from the lighting circuit

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:35 pm

Kitchens are a pain in the butt since the new rules. By doing it your self you could be breaking the law, unless you get it tested afterwards by the LABC.

For that reason it would be much easier to wire them into a plug, but here is roughly what you would need to do if you was going to wire them to the lighting circuit.

Firstly you would need to run all the wires in the Permitted zones.

You need a switch to turn on the lights, which is wired to the junction box for the lighting circuit, the switched live wire from this will go to a Fused connection unit beneath the kitchen wall cupboards, this will have a 3amp fuse.

Now connect each light in parallel to the FCU.

honeymonster · Post by **honeymonster** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:54 pm

Stick a plug on the end then you don't need to worry about Part P etc.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:59 pm

Thanks for this. I'll give it a go and let you know what happens. I have wired a light for an outside light before so hopefully it wont be too bad.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:00 pm

The junction box will be in the ceiling space. I never made it clear from my last post

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:03 pm

Thanks

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:12 pm

One thing I do need to know is what ampage for the junction box? I will be running the lights above and a ceiling light (or possibly some halogen spotlights)
Thanks