Bedroom downlighter help

[spikeyblueeyes]

Hi Guys

Just found the forum, and need some DIY help want to be downlighters in the bedroom i have worked out the locations of the 6 but need help in understanding wiring, I presume i can remove the feed from the current light to feed the first one, can i just loop in and out of the rest ? also if i wanted to fit a dimmer in place of the norm switch can i ? any advice would be very grateful thankyou

 

[AWD]

my advice call a electrician!!

 

[spikeyblueeyes]

thanks for the reply, i was made redundant a few weeks ago so trying to keep myself busy and save some money while i am sure your are right i just need installation advice thanksyou

 

[Marvo]

It's a fine line between saving money and possibly causing harm to you or your family. Maybe you should compromise and install the downlights in the ceiling yourself and get an electrician to just wire them up. It's not a complicated job but like most things there's a right and wrong way to do it and there's numerous ways you could unintentionally leave the installation unsafe by doing your own wiring.

 

[AWD]

ok sorry 2 hear that!, well i would first make sure that your light switch box is deep enough for the new dimmer switch as it may just be a switch box and the new dimmer would not screw back flush, and for the lights i would put all connections at light fitting in a junction box and bring a neutral and a switch wire out and loop in and out!! i strongly advies to call a electrician tho as i do beleve for the sake of a few quid am sure the lifes and safety of you and your family should be paramount!!!

 

[ukpablo]

I know what u are saying bud but if u are extending the cct it will need testing etc for your insurance purposes etc. Also other things need checking like bonding, does the cct in question have a cpc? What is the total load already on the cct in question, will more lights over run the breaker? Only advice i wll give im afraid is to call a spark. Good luck.

 

[spikeyblueeyes]

so bring all light fitting wires to the junction box, and then run to switch, also when i go and pick some lights any recomendations, also the roof is not insulated do i need to put the metal boxes over each one to stop over heating thanks

 

[Adam W]

There's no point introducing a junction box if you don't need to - it's just unnecessary confusion.

 

[nikmet]

As it sounds like your not using a downlighter complete 'kit' it will be notifiable work?

 

[Adam W]

As for choice of lights I'd go for wide angle (60° are available) LEDs, with fire and acoustic rated fittings.

 

[dim_bulb]

also you need a dimmer that can take the load of the d/lights ie. 400w or possibly 1000w

I understand keep busy but this could cost you more in the long run
no disrespect to you.

 

[nickblake]

Feel sorry for you mate nothing worse than loosing your job , what you have said is you want to install down lighters to the bedroom by removing the center light and then looping in and out to the other lights , the easiest way to do this is to use a junction box where the removed light fitting was then loop in and out to each point and a junction box at each point flex to the down lighter Heat resistant(if required some down lighters come with this fitted ),all the junction boxes must be the type that will clamp the cable IE ashley J501 , down lighters must also be fire rated ,to replace the fire integrety of the ceiling , i would recomend the halers down lighters low energy with high output 7.9 watts ,as for the light switch if you want a dimmer you can use the wire thats at the switch at the moment , however the back box may be too small to install a dimmer and will require a deeper back box

i would like to point out this work is not as easy as it may seam , as has been mentioned , assesment of the circuit loads ,type of wiring ,is the circuit in a good condition not VIR rubber , is all the main bonding in place water gas oil etc, also you should if you carry out this work then you could void your insurance ,consult your insurance company , if in any doubt of you compentance please consult a qualified and regestered electrician

 

[dean7828]

instead of using the fire proof metal boxes you can buy some small ceramic plant pots with a hole in the top to loop the cables from, its a cheep alternative and dose the trick.

 

[Marvo]

instead of using the fire proof metal boxes you can buy some small ceramic plant pots with a hole in the top to loop the cables from, its a cheep alternative and dose the trick.

Ceramic plant pots.......are you for real? Do the ceramic plant pots come with a fire rating stamped on them or would you test each one individually in an oven before you use them?

 

[KINKY]

Would have to big some big plant pots to maintain the min distance for air flow.

If fittings are fire rated, maintaining the integrity of the ceiling then what’s the point anyway?

 

[Apollo]

instead of using the fire proof metal boxes you can buy some small ceramic plant pots with a hole in the top to loop the cables from, its a cheep alternative and dose the trick.

That's a wind up right????

Funny though!!!!

 

[Marvo]

That's a wind up right????

Funny though!!!!

Yeah, I thought so too

 

[Amp David]

If cash is tight then why even think about putting new downlights? Would you think about putting in a new gas hob yourself because cash was tight?

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Just buy fire rated downlights 240v not 12v because then you have to mess about with transformers, they are not much dearer these days than the cheap crappy things in the contractors pack.

Cut your holes, drop the lights into the holes, making sure that when you cut the holes you will have enough clearance as per the installation instructions from joists and flammable surfaces etc. then get an Electrician in to wire it all up and test. Should be about 1 to 1 and a half hours work for a spark, as long as there is good access above. You could even get the cable if you wanted to save a few quid, but if i did the job i would probably charge you less for the cable than you would pay anyway.

The dimmer will need to be rated for the load you are dimming, and not all lamps are dimmable. Personally i dont like dimmer switches, why not just fit 20 or 35 watt lamps if you want it dim.

Cheers..........Howard

 

[dim_bulb]

reference to post 13 -what????????

from a garden centre?
just buy fire rated downlights in most cases its cheaper to buy a decent downlighter than a cheap one and then buy flower pots aswell (sorry fire hoods)

 

[SirKit Breaker]

reference to post 13 -what????????

from a garden centre?
just buy fire rated downlights in most cases its cheaper to buy a decent downlighter than a cheap one and then buy flower pots aswell (sorry fire hoods)

Come on, dont you ever watch Blue Peter

I wonder what he can do with a bog roll middle and a cornflake box or 2.........I've just had an idea I am off to make a Consumer unit

Cheers...........Howard

 

[dim_bulb]

and heres one i made earlier........

all you need is an empty toilet roll tube, some selotape, lighter fluid

hay presto :0

 

[nickblake]

Floberlobberlop said bill ohhh flobber said ben

 

[High Tower]

I dont have any flower pots, will saucepans do?

 

[Adam W]

If money is tight you could pinch a few pennies by using plastic plant pots.

 

[nickblake]

I dont have any flower pots, will saucepans do?

only plastic one or you have to earth them

 

[High Tower]

only plastic one or you have to earth them

Plastic saucepans.....interesting!

 

[nickblake]

Plastic saucepans.....interesting!

yes i know its been a long day , after drilling a 25mm hole through a 1 meter thick stone wall and just having the tip of the drill bit poking out of the hole my brains so mashed lol

 

[nikmet]

I find the polystyrene kiddies chip cones work well, but remember to install them upside down, only after the kids have eaten ALL the chips

 

[knasher]

instead of using the fire proof metal boxes you can buy some small ceramic plant pots with a hole in the top to loop the cables from, its a cheep alternative and dose the trick.

i think if you shoved a bit of trailing ivy up there too, it could be a really attractive feature

 

[dim_bulb]

if any thread has gone way off at a tangent...

 

[Marvo]

If cash is tight then why even think about putting new downlights? Would you think about putting in a new gas hob yourself because cash was tight?

That's a fair point, they also cost a fortune in electricity to run unless you spend a packet on energy saving lamps.