UK Can't get an electrician to come out for a small job! So help needed!

[Novice]

Hi Due to Covid, I can't get an electrician to come out to fit a single semi flush lamp. So I am going to fit it myself.

So some advice would be very helpful - but if you live local to Stratford Upon Avon and happy to come out for a small job, please let me know.

At the moment there is a standard ceiling rose with what looks like 3 (red) loop wires.

I have looked at some online videos and they say use a Way Go connector for the loop wires - is this correct?

Fixing and assembling I can do - but I want to make sure that I am wiring the electrics properly.

I've attached some photos - is there any tips you can offer?

Thanks in advance!

 

[GBDamo]

You have two reds and two blacks, one of the blacks has a red sleeve.
The one with the red sleeve on should be the switched live to the light (to brown). The black with no sleeve should be the neutral to the light (to blues) the remaining two reds to go into a two way wago. As the light fitting is double insulated/class2 the two earths (cpc's) can also go into a two way wago. Ensure all cables are pulled into the new fitting with no wires exposed in the ceiling void.
I do however suggest you employ an electrician to ensure correct polarity

You can't pull the PLs in to the fitting to wago as they'll not be double insulated, it is the black rubber boot and crappy plastic box that offers the class2ness of the fitting.

I hate these, you have to wago box all the cables and run a flex to the light, PITA.

 

[GBDamo]

To be fare. How would John Lewis know. These lights are legal. And they are not electricians. They are retailers.

and don’t knock yourself for this. Another better designed light and you very well may have Ben able to sort it Yourself.

Sorry Pete that's a cop out, they damp well should know, they are selling cheaply made fashion lights at 'designer' prices.

Good money in it if you have no morals.

 

[goasis]

You can't pull the PLs in to the fitting to wago as they'll not be double insulated, it is the black rubber boot and crappy plastic box that offers the class2ness of the fitting.

I hate these, you have to wago box all the cables and run a flex to the light, PITA.

The rubber boot and the rest of the useless connection in these lights is irrelevant for maintaining class 2 if there are manufactured single insulated wires coming out the other side of it. These useless fittings boil everyone's blood. Good luck with anything except a single 1mm cable. While I'm at it... why the hell are the terminations on most dimmer modules so miniscule? 3 plated the switch position or wired in 1.5? Good luck!

 

[freddo]

I hope and pray that the designer of and the manufacturers that use those stupid white connector boxes with the tube sticking out, burn in hell for all eternity.

I've always wanted to visit one of these manufacturers just to ask them what they think they are doing, and to perhaps ask them to demonstrate installing their products to standard wiring systems.

This thread reminds me of a time I first fixed an extension bathroom and bedroom. I knew the lights were going to be chosen with the assistance of a lighting designer, but I did not know what models the fittings were going to be. So being the pessimistic person I am, I wired all the lights in such a way that there was only 1 1mm2 t&e cable at each fitting. Second fix time came, 2 models of light couldn't even be installed onto a single cable, it would only have been possible to install the lights in 0.5mm oval flex, and even then the cable entry was within millimetres of the fixing points...

Of course it's not all bad, you have to commend these lighting manufacturers for their equal opportunity employment policies, employing such large numbers of mentally disabled designers as they do.

 

[Dave OCD]

With lights like these I just take out the horrible black sleeve and worlds smallest connector block, fit decent connectors and earth the fitting. Better put a tin hat on I suppose. ?

 

[telectrix]

With lights like these I just take out the horrible black sleeve and worlds smallest connector block, fit decent connectors and earth the fitting. Better put a tin hat on I suppose. ?

i do the same.

 

[Dave OCD]

I'm glad to hear that !

 

[Novice]

With lights like these I just take out the horrible black sleeve and worlds smallest connector block, fit decent connectors and earth the fitting. Better put a tin hat on I suppose. ?

I totally appreciate all the advice and opinions that people have given - all very valid and it is reassuring to know that there are a lot of electricians out there who are genuinely very safety conscious. However, I was starting to doubt if there was an electrician with a solution to wiring this light in safely - do either you or telectrix live near Stratford Upon Avon ??

 

[ChipFanDave]

I very well may be mistaken, but for my eyes it looks like the singles in the light fitting have a clear heat-shrink or sleaving over them. Is this the case ?

Are you in Stratford as your postcode is Solihull ?

 

[Deleted account]

I very well may be mistaken, but for my eyes it looks like the singles in the light fitting have a clear heat-shrink or sleaving over them. Is this the case ?

Are you in Stratford as your postcode is Solihull ?

There is the clear sheathing over the insulation giving those conductors the double insulation required. It’s the issue of getting 2 cables into the black boot and maintaining double insulation that’s the issue.

 

[ChipFanDave]

There is the clear sheathing over the insulation giving those conductors the double insulation required. It’s the issue of getting 2 cables into the black boot and maintaining double insulation that’s the issue.

I'm not saying it's a good fitting I'm just checking (my eyes) to see if there is a clear sleeve over the wiring or not.

I assume ????? the design idea behind the black boot is that a homeowner just cuts off the existing bayonet fitting from the pendant strips back the two core flex to a shorter length and somehow fits the whole fitting over the ceiling rose, therefore no need for two cables to enter. Very novel!!

 

[telectrix]

I'm not saying it's a good fitting I'm just checking (my eyes) to see if there is a clear sleeve over the wiring or not.

I assume ????? the design idea behind the black boot is that a homeowner just cuts off the existing bayonet fitting from the pendant strips back the two core flex to a shorter length and somehow fits the whole fitting over the ceiling rose, therefore no need for two cables to enter. Very novel!!

in other words, a light designed by someone who does not know the difference between a screwdriver and his arse.

 

[ChipFanDave]

in other words, a light designed by someone who does not know the difference between a screwdriver and his arse.

I suspect as much.

 

[Novice]

I very well may be mistaken, but for my eyes it looks like the singles in the light fitting have a clear heat-shrink or sleaving over them. Is this the case ?

Are you in Stratford as your postcode is Solihull ?

In Stratford Upon Avon CV37.

 

[FatAlan]

In Stratford Upon Avon CV37.

Isn't David Savery and his side kick Nigel in that area? Buy him a few beers, take the ---- out of Nigel and he can make a good youtube video slagging off light fittings ?

 

[goasis]

There is the clear sheathing over the insulation giving those conductors the double insulation required. It’s the issue of getting 2 cables into the black boot and maintaining double insulation that’s the issue.

Fair enough, I hadn't spotted that.

 

[Dave OCD]

I totally appreciate all the advice and opinions that people have given - all very valid and it is reassuring to know that there are a lot of electricians out there who are genuinely very safety conscious. However, I was starting to doubt if there was an electrician with a solution to wiring this light in safely - do either you or telectrix live near Stratford Upon Avon ??

I'm sorry mate, I'm in Cornwall and Telectrix is in Scouseland so from either direction it wouldn't be a cheap job. ??

 

[SparkySy]

Only just seen this thread, which side of Stratford upon Avon are you? I do cover Leamington Warwick and the surrounding area but Stratford is a good hour away from me as I am on the border between Northamptonshire Warwickshire and Leicestershire. If you are not in a major rush I have to look at a job out that way in a couple of weeks I could detour past and fit it?!
Sy

 

[Novice]

Only just seen this thread, which side of Stratford upon Avon are you? I do cover Leamington Warwick and the surrounding area but Stratford is a good hour away from me as I am on the border between Northamptonshire Warwickshire and Leicestershire. If you are not in a major rush I have to look at a job out that way in a couple of weeks I could detour past and fit it?!
Sy

That sounds like a plan - happy to wait, as I can't go back to John Lewis yet because of lockdown. Are you happy to quote via here? Or is there an option to private message?

 

[SparkySy]

Sorry for the late reply had a call out! Yes happy to do it if you are happy to wait, you can pm me with your details by clicking on me and starting a conversation.
sy

 

[SparkySy]

So I visited this job today, really nice customer, not long moved there! I can see why it was difficult to install, the light itself was appalling, as usual 3 hands to fit. So I managed to get a wagobox lite in above the fitting with a flex out looking like this!

And about 15mins later ta-da


I also took a look at some downlights in the kitchen whilst there and oh dear. All the earth's were cut off and the original contractor had damaged the cables while installing them, and done nothing to make them safe.
So the one I took down is now safe and awaiting replacement with some new safe ones!

 

[Novice]

So I visited this job today, really nice customer, not long moved there! I can see why it was difficult to install, the light itself was appalling, as usual 3 hands to fit. So I managed to get a wagobox lite in above the fitting with a flex out looking like this!View attachment 64750

And about 15mins later ta-da
View attachment 64751

I also took a look at some downlights in the kitchen whilst there and oh dear. All the earth's were cut off and the original contractor had damaged the cables while installing them, and done nothing to make them safe. View attachment 64752
So the one I took down is now safe and awaiting replacement with some new safe ones!

I am the original poster and must say thanks to everyone on the forum and obviously a BIG THANK YOU to Sparkysy!! No huffing and puffing or complaining about how horrible the fixing was - he calmly assessed the job and just got on with it. Lesson learn from me though - no more buying nice looking lamps without thinking about the fixings!!

I also asked Sparkysy to look at the light in the kitchen and was shocked at what he discovered. He explained that the previous installer had bodged the job and without charging extra he made the fixing safe.

Genuine nice tradesperson, who I will use for any further jobs and will highly recommend to friends and family.

Thanks Sparkysy!!

 

[DPG]

Nice one! A good result

 

[SparkySy]

No problem at all, glad to hear your positive feedback! Many kind thanks and best regards
Sparkysy

 

[HappyHippyDad]

...... and they all lived happily ever after

 

[littlespark]

Would have been a different outcome if he’d trod mud in on his boots, broke your best cup on his tea break and bunged up the toilet. ?

seriously well done @SparkySy

 

[SparkySy]

Thankfully not @littlespark
Although I do spend a lot of my time on farm work so it is possible and may have happened in the past!?