cable

[Sparky_Ben]

is it possible to get 2 core in flat pvc cable?

 

[pennywise]

About 30 years too late sorry m8

 

[Sparky_Ben]

oops. I am tryin to find a cable for downlights do you just use normal t+e 1.5?

 

[Amp David]

2 core flex?

 

[pennywise]

Yep 1.5 T+E , then into a JB and then to the light in heat proof flex,two core if the light is double insulated or 12v which usually have their own cable from the tranny , 3 if it needs the CPC.

 

[Jason Smith]

all downlighters that i have ever used have an earth terminal somewhere either in the connection unit or the jb. Wouldnt be happy running the cable with no CPC.

if selv, its cpc to the transformer.

 

[Sparky_Ben]

yes i am in the process or replacing the downlights and discovered that the t+e had the earth cut out which threw me somewhat. I am just an apprentice so wanted to find out the correct way. i couldnt see an earth terminal on the 1's i have taken down and they did not have a transformer so were obviously mains voltage. anyone have any suggestions why that would be.

 

[Jason Smith]

may be old fittings, must have cpc in lighting circuits nowadays, I am gonna assume you havent got the replacement units yet, when you do have a look and all will be revealed. Quite a few regs to consider mate, fire ratings, heat, insulation surrounding etc, proximity to joists ,accesability of any joint boxes etc, if you get stuck we have the answers.

 

[Sparky_Ben]

I am going for the lights tomorrow. I have been up in the loft and identified all the wires and removed the ones from the old fittings however i am sure they are only approx 4 year old surely they should have had earth connections then?. I am going for fire rated downlights so does this meen fire hoods are not required?

 

[Jason Smith]

no it doesnt, fire rated means that they will hold back a fire for 90 minutes that is coming from below, approved doc b. They still get very hot. I was tought, though never seen it written, 150 mil from joists, no insulation within same. They need to be ip rated if in a bathroom, spec. location etc.

make sure your install cables are not touching them either .

 

[chris gray]

id check the job spec, we got pulled up by an inspector when using fire rated d/lts and he said he still wanted fire hoods on them due to potential condensation issues?
he wouldnt sign it off until we fitted them.

 

[Sparky_Ben]

ok so what IP rating would be suitable for a bathroom? and I am just gonna have to go with the existing holes hopefully they will be enough distance apart from the joists i think they should be ok. and as for insulation all that has been removed at a previous date. woudl you stil recommend installing fire hoods?

 

[Jason Smith]

sounds to me like theyhave been daisy chained, hence the cpc cut back. your new lights should havethe connections built onto them, on a metal arm thet you can connect into, like a built on jb. one cable in one out easy. This effectivly is a jb attached to the light, it is the same size as the light and can be pulled down through the ceiling out the same hole the light fitted into, and hence is compliant because it is therfore accessible. MB do a range of downlighter jbs, all of which will come down the hole the light fitted into, if the ones you get dont already have the attachment. .

 

[Hawk81]

To answer your orignal question yes it is possible to get 2 core flat flex. You can get 0.75mm and 1.5mm and maybe more. I have a roll of each in my van.

 

[Sparky_Ben]

in truth it was a complete mess. its my parents house and have asked me to re-do them for practice. all the dowlights have a wire coming from them back to a bundle of connector blocks where the feed and switch wire were taken to. even as an appreitce i know this isnt correct commen sense would tell you that.