hanging a light fitting.. help!!

luckky · Post by **luckky** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:33 pm

Hi, I'm a total newby so hope this comes across ok, I was hoping for some advice on how to fit a light .... that is a light for a living room, up untill now there ahas just been a light bulb so that part is all there but when it come to the wiring that is where we are stuck, is it really this hard and best to get a proffessional in or can anybody offer some guidence?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:46 pm

If you have nover done anything like this before than you may be better off getting either a friend with some experience or a professional electrician.

It's not difficult for someone that knows how to do it, but for someone with little experience it can be difficult, especially if the existing ceiling rose has 9 wires or more!

There are a few things you need to check, with the electricity turned OFF-

If the new fitting is metal then you must ensure that the lighting circuit has an earth wire present, some older lighting circuits do not have earths.

If you remove the plastic cover from the ceiling rose and there is no earth wire, then you cannot connect a metal light fitting and you need an electrician.

You need to take a note of which wires go where- DO NOT REMOVE ANY WIRES UNTIL YOU HAVE LABELED EACH ONE. so that you know where they all go.

You can read about lighting circuits here- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/lighting_circuits.htm

I don't know about there you live, but it is dark here now and so do not attempt this tonight

Can you post a picture of the new light and a pic of the old one (if poss)

luckky · Post by **luckky** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 5:25 pm

thank-you very will see how we go, may just get someone in but for now thanx

ban-all-sheds · Post by **ban-all-sheds** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 5:44 pm

It's possible for lights to be metal, and yet still not need earthing - it depends entirely how they are made inside.

If on the box, or instructions, you see a symbol of two concentric squares, (or of course the words "this product does not require an earth"

) the it is double-insulated, and does not need earthing.

If it doesn't, and your lighting cables have an earth wire present, don't cut them back:

a) They might be needed in the future

b) They must remain joined together to maintain earth continuity for the rest of the circuit.

On a general note, I can recommend this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0852028172

and if you plan on doing anything more extensive than just replacing lights and switches, you should also get these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0863413749

or http://www.iee.org/Publish/Books/WireAs ... k=WR%20261

http://www.iee.org/Publish/Books/WireAs ... k=WR%20500

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/ ... 0953788547

or http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/ ... index.html

IMPORTANT NOTE - when buying books from Amazon, seek confirmation that they are the latest versions.