2 Bar Spotlight connection Problem

Dell.bhoy · Post by **Dell.bhoy** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 6:44 pm

Hi

I have just replaced a light fitting in my hall which was a Pendant Set which was fairly straight forward to connect. I am trying to put up a 2 Bar Spotlight but unfortunately there does'nt seem to be enough connections for the wires I have. There r 3 sets of wires coming from the ceiling..3 live, 1 neutral and 2 earth but on the Spotlight (photo attached) there are only 2 connections Live and Neutral plus there is a screw in connection for the Earth.

I have wired the connections (1 Live and 1 Neutral have been connected) as per instructions but unfortunately the light switches on but wo'nt switch of. Any advice on whats going wrong, Also were are the other 2 Live Wires to go. I have tried connecting them to Live connection along with the Live wire that I get a constant light on but no difference.

Hope the above is clearly described and any advice would be helpful

Thanks

Dell.bhoy

baldelectrician · Post by **baldelectrician** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:00 pm

Looks like one of these expensive homeB&Q fittings :D

If it's loop in you may have 3 reds, 2 blacks (neutral) and a single black (switched live)

you may need to extend the switched live, neutral & earth connections.

If you are unsure you should use a competent person for the work, links below

In Scotland:
Individuals regitered;
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/ListAC.asp
Companies
http://www.sbsa.gov.uk/register/SearchC ... ction&ID=2

In England and Wales:
http://www.competentperson.co.uk

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 7:26 pm

You can make the connections into a chockbox like this-

and push this up into the ceiling space above.

As for the wiring read this post by Ban-all-sheds-
new-kitchen-lights-a-dilema-i-face-t1311.html#9879

Dell.bhoy · Post by **Dell.bhoy** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:08 pm

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, the link of the illustration makes me very confident I can do this myself. I will source a Choc Box but can you please clarify the two points below.

1) The connections (or Terminal Blocks as I think they are also referred as) are usually sold in strips of twelve do I just snap them to three long. Think I know the answer to this but thought I'd ask to be sure?

2)I presume a 5A Terminal Block is what I'm requiring.

Regarding your comment "push this up into the ceiling space above" I'm not too sure about this as I'm not 100% sure what the ceiling covering is as we have concrete floors. I think it maybe plywood covering as it sounded hollow when I knocked it? Hopefulliy the chockbox would fix in the base of the existing juction box. If it did'nt would I need to cut a adjacent hole next to the connections on the ceiling.

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:25 am

1. I normally cut them with a stanley type knife. You will need 4 terminals.

2. 5amp is correct

Now for the connections, I have been on nights and I did not have time to answer this earlier-

It sounds like this light is the last on one the loop and so there is -

Live in
Live to switch
Switched live
Neutral
earth

Look at this diagram below, you have this kind of set up, but without the cable goint to the next light fitting. Two of the wires that are there are the live leading to the switch and then one is the switched live that is returning from the switch.

By looking at the cables it should be obvious which is the switch wire. The wires goin to the switch may be both red or one of the wires could be sheathed with red sheathing.

The permanent live and neutral will be in the same cable, unless single wires have been used!

When you have made the connections you can push the chocbox into the space above the light fitting-

If like you say it is plywood then you may struggle as you will need a couple of inches above in order to get the chocbox in.

If you can't get a chocbox in then you can make the connections into terminal blocks as they should fit in the base of the light fitting, just make sure they are insulated well and that you don't damage any wires with the screws. Having just looked at your picture again, the chock box may be too big for this particular application and so you may need to terminate the wires into terminal connectors in the base of the fitting!

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:33 am

If you have three lots of cable you will struggle to get them all in a 5Amp connector, i would use 15A , much easier to get them all in .

Nick

Dell.bhoy · Post by **Dell.bhoy** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:57 pm

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who contributed their recommendations, I've managed to connect the spotlight and I'm very happy with it. I'm glad i've discovered this website.

Thanks

Dell.bhoy

Dell.bhoy · Post by **Dell.bhoy** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:57 pm

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who contributed their recommendations, I've managed to connect the spotlight and I'm very happy with it. I'm glad i've discovered this website.

Thanks

Dell.bhoy