Adding a few Down Lights

[Ryan_Moore]

Ok first of all I AM NOT A SPARK, so use small words. Also I completely understand the risks involved, if I do not feel comfortable I will get someone who does. But I atleast want to have a go.

So, in my bedroom I have 6 downlights, in 2 rows of 3, I want to turn this into 8, 2 rows of 4.

1. What will I need? (dont tell me I need the lights and some 1.5 cable that much I know)
2. What am I gonna see when I get into the loft and lift the insulation?
3. What do I need to do with what I see?
4. What should I take note of and make sure I do or dont do?

 

[malcolmsanford]

2 Not a lot unless you have a dormer window or a light source.

3. Pass on that one

4 Don't fit downlighters as they are useless.

What you will see is most likely some form of insulation, or boarding, but not always. A lot of thin wooden bits that you walk on, don't walk on the flat bits unless it's a piece of nailed/screwed wooden board that is fixed to those thin bits.

Loads of dust perhaps also load of junk, and this time of year lovely and hot for you. Could be several water tanks, a copy of a 1972 Beano or a broken tricycle.

Once you have taken all this in, there will be a few cables scattered about, hopefully not a wasp nests, and you will see if your lucky your 6 existing downlights.

 

[Paul.M]

For your next interview you need to know about safe isolation, that's where you start on this project. Are the existing lights 230V or on transformers?

 

[Ryan_Moore]

see under 1 you could have put a head torch, which I have, so that means I can see what I need to see.

Believe it or not I have been into a loft before, so I wont fall through the ceiling because I get my footing wrong...atleast not deliberately.

Thankfully we did a garage, or attic sale, a couple of weeks ago so it is clutter free, the heat I can live with, for a short period of time anyway.

We dont have a wasps nest but a birds nest, they are forever crapping on my car.

All this and the fact that I dont have special needs means I should be able to locate my downlights, then what?

 

[Ryan_Moore]

For your next interview you need to know about safe isolation, that's where you start on this project. Are the existing lights 230V or on transformers?

They arent low voltage, so no transformer right?

 

[malcolmsanford]

Oh love it a gobby young.un anyone got the Tallow!!!!

 

[Ryan_Moore]

Oh love it a gobby young.un anyone got the Tallow!!!!

Water based lubricants tend to work better, but whatever floats your boat at the end of the day.

I feel we are going to get off topic here.

 

[Lighthouse Phil]

We could write a book here.
Go for a pint.
I can see this ending in tears

 

[Paul.M]

Ryan you are coming across as a bit gobby mate, calm down calm down . I know how you feel, you just want to have a go to gain a bit of experience. Maybe at your stage it would be better to post up this job for a member to do it cheap and show you what it involves and if that member can explain it step by step you will learn more than just having a go. Just a thought mate.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Water based lubricants tend to work better, but whatever floats your boat at the end of the day.

I feel we are going to get off topic here.

I'm certainly am trying to get off topic as your clearly at no standard to work on a circuit if your asking these type of questions, and you will be a danger to yourself and anyone near you.

You posted earlier that your wanting to do an apprenticeship, and several people here have guided you, I for one, and have no problem, but there is guidance and there is a care of duty, which you will learn comes with being responsible, I for one will not talk you through a job on here after the standard of questions that you asked, your nowhere near ready to undertake electrical work and that is the end of it.

One last piece of advice son, times do a change, but apprenticeships don't, you will if your fortunate to get it see, that you will have the ar5e ripped out of you just as above by the guys, who are going to train you, and smart alec replies are meat and drink to them.

So I hope the other will guide you through this as I for one won't, as you will not know how to test the extended circuit, or fill in a MEIWC for the job either.

 

[Ryan_Moore]

Ryan you are coming across as a bit gobby mate, calm down calm down . I know how you feel, you just want to have a go to gain a bit of experience. Maybe at your stage it would be better to post up this job for a member to do it cheap and show you what it involves and if that member can explain it step by step you will learn more than just having a go. Just a thought mate.

If I get lip I am not just gonna take it, especially over the internet! But fair shout paul. I will close the thread, if I can, if not I will request a mod close it.

Edit: Your most recent post in place of your first Malcom would have avoided the issue all together, I thought it would be a simple(ish) job. A simple explination would have been good enough, instead of bein a...about it.

 

[Paul.M]

This is what a spark told me when I was starting out:- A customer only sees lights and switches, an electrician sees everything that can go wrong and the amount of work involved". It's this attitude that separates DIYers to professional tradesmen. You've approached this the wrong way imho. You need to know:- What load is on that circuit already, can you put a further load on it? What's the cable size? Mcb size? Under the building regs do you need fire resistant fittings? How far the loft insulation needs to be away from the fitting? Do you need heat flex? How can you test and cert this work? All this before you pick up a screwdriver.

 

[wade88]

i can only assume the extra two new lights are needed over your "planning to take over the world evil mastermind table work area" so you can plot and scheme in a better light?

 

[wade88]

if i was you i would just wear the head lamp in the dark spots if you already have one of those. save a lot of grief

 

[Ryan_Moore]

An evil mastermind works in the shadows....but likes the options of more light if it is necessary