Fancy Light Fittings, Holding Them Up

Andrewr3 · Oct 14, 2014

My customer today gave me three metal light fittings to install as replacements for existing roses. One had four heavy spot lamp housings for GU10's. Lesson learned, I have decided that next time I have one of these jobs I will rig up some kind of support wire from a screw in a joist to hold the fitting weight so I don't need hold the fitting with one hand and connect the terminals and other fiddly screws using the other single hand. Or get an apprentice, to hold the fitting.

Richard Burns · Oct 14, 2014

Use an extension support prop or a plasterboard support prop.
If there is a flat surface you can loosely clamp it to the ceiling while you wire it, drill support holes, etc. or hook it onto the clip.
Invaluable.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Fancy Light Fittings, Holding Them Up

HandySparks · Oct 15, 2014

Just make up a hook from stiff iron wire to hang the fitting off the bracket that you've already fixed to the ceiling (if there is one).

These Wago squeeze to open connectors are easy to use in this situation.
Wago 224-101 Lighting Connector 0.5mm - 2.5mm
Wago 224-112 Lighting Connector 0.5mm - 2.5mm Loop In

Andrewr3 · Oct 15, 2014

HandySparks, The stiff wire or gash length of 4mm copper yes. But the brackets just don't lend themselves to having a wire connected. That's why I think I'll just put a roundhead screw in somewhere. I use wago's a lot but not tried those the push to open ones. Thanks for the tip, I grab a few from the wholesalers.

Geordie Spark · Oct 15, 2014

Richard Burns said:
Use an extension support prop or a plasterboard support prop.
If there is a flat surface you can loosely clamp it to the ceiling while you wire it, drill support holes, etc. or hook it onto the clip.
Invaluable.
View attachment 26665

Nice one Richard. I like it!! :yes:

The added bonus of course is it can be used as a clothes prop on washing day to stop the legs of yer Granny's drawers trailing on the ground while they're drying on the claes line.

Andy78 · Oct 15, 2014

I have no idea how to hold fittings up, but I have got a great method for taking them down......

Andrewr3 · Oct 16, 2014

I like the plaster board support/extension prop. Excellent idea.

telectrix · Oct 16, 2014

what i do is fit a cable tie round the bracket when fixing it to ceiling, hang the fitting on the tie, then cut tie out after wiring up.

globaltech · Oct 16, 2014

In order to get a secure footing for that sort of weight, you would be best to insert a wooden batten, approx 20cm long, 3cm wide, into the cavity where your cable runs out of ( you may need to widen the cavity in order to get the batten in.)
Once inserted you should secure it to the ceiling plasterboard using screws, toward each end of the batten. You now have a very secure anchor point, and the surface area is distributed nicely.
Remember to drill pilot holes into the wood (so as not to split) and beware of screwing into your cable.
Hope this helps.

DPG · Oct 17, 2014

globaltech said:
In order to get a secure footing for that sort of weight, you would be best to insert a wooden batten, approx 20cm long, 3cm wide, into the cavity where your cable runs out of ( you may need to widen the cavity in order to get the batten in.)
Once inserted you should secure it to the ceiling plasterboard using screws, toward each end of the batten. You now have a very secure anchor point, and the surface area is distributed nicely.
Remember to drill pilot holes into the wood (so as not to split) and beware of screwing into your cable.
Hope this helps.

Welcome to the forum! Daz