Installation help UK

BobcatBob · Jul 30, 2022

Hi folks,
I just have a few quick wiring questions I could do with some help with please.
I'm in the UK.

Following advice on here and other places
I'm changing a couple of rooms from 12v halogen gu5.3 to 230v LED light fittings.
There currently is this round connector linked to the live & neutral of the old 12v transformer.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Installation help UK

My new LED light fittings have an earth connection too. So can I just directly connect the earth, black and red wires directly to the new light fitting, or is there a good reason to run a new piece of cable between the round connector and the new light fitting?

If connecting directly, and removing the round connector entirely, will that earth cable need a shielding sleeve to cover the bare wire when connecting to the light fitting?

littlespark · Jul 30, 2022

Yes..

Take off the round joint box. The push in connectors of the light fitting are designed for solid core conductors, which is what the red/black are.

A little bit of green/yellow sleeving on the bare earth wire, which should have been there already.

Make the red/black as short as possible(2-3cm). The box lid should be able to fold over, clip shut and actually grip the grey outer sheath of the cable.

BobcatBob · Jul 30, 2022

littlespark said:
Yes..

Take off the round joint box. The push in connectors of the light fitting are designed for solid core conductors, which is what the red/black are.

A little bit of green/yellow sleeving on the bare earth wire, which should have been there already.

Make the red/black as short as possible(2-3cm). The box lid should be able to fold over, clip shut and actually grip the grey outer sheath of the cable.

That's great, thank you mate

Yeh, I did wonder about that long length of bare earth wire... Seemed a bit of a casual installation.

brianmoooore · Jul 30, 2022

littlespark said:
The box lid should be able to fold over, clip shut and actually grip the grey outer sheath of the cable.

A task that would be much easier if the designers of these things left a sensible distance between clamp and terminals!
Put them on site, fitting a few, and the design would soon improve.