Ceiling lighting advice for novice

TonyH28 · Oct 5, 2018

Hi all,
Found myself here as I am looking for some advice on ceiling lights and it seemed like a friendly place!!

I have a very dark kitchen with only 1 ceiling light. I really don't like the commercial spot light fixtures and would like to replace the single light with a few recessed down-lights. As the floor above is not really accessible, I intend to build a partial false ceiling from MDF, paint and attach to the existing ceiling. I figured this would be easier that chasing out the ceiling or trying to drill through joists from the underside. My question therefore is this, can I just wire up 6 recessed down-lights from this 1 set of wires for the existing light? and if so, how do I go about doing this? I guess I need to ask if I am actually allowed to do this also? The idea would be do have all the wiring/connectors in the hollow I would be creating in the false ceiling. I could make this accessible or not, depending on regulations. (for example, I could screw the false ceiling into place, paint but use caps so it's removable if need be.)

Many thanks and look forward to reading any replies. Would be a great help.

MFS Electrical · Oct 6, 2018

TonyH28 said:
Okay, but personally I think that's ridiculous. You have a DIY section. What you are basically saying is we can help but not really, as you want DIY'ers to get an electrician in. I understand that from a H&S point of view, you need to be VERY careful, but I can't buy into what you said at all. Its not for sparks to sparks if you have a DIY section and all info in here is FOC, that's the point?

I really do appreciate the help that was given to me here, but if that is really the forum rules, I will search for future advice elsewhere. Thank you again to 'mr2' gd4u.

The simple answer as to why you need a spark is there is a lot more to wiring lights than meets the eye. A spark spends on average 4-5 years learning his/her trade and for good reason there are many regulations, which exist to keep everyone and everything safe, which must be complied with and there are many things which must be inspected and checked/tested before the circuit is even designed(even a little addition like this) then the circuit has to be designed, making sure that it won’t impair the safety of the existing installation,taking into account the current carrying capacity of the cable which can also be affected by many different external factors for example what type of wall/ceiling it is buried/concealed in in if at all or if it’s clipped direct on a wall/ceiling and then there is the selection of the breaker(fuse) to make sure the cable won’t melt and start a fire under normal and fault conditions the breaking capacity of the breaker to make sure that it won’t explode during a fault and that the earthing to the building is sound and fit for purpose. And the final testing to ensure that the circuit is safe and won’t electrocute your nearest and dearest, fit for purpose and will disconnect within the prescribed times specified by the requirements.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are thousands of requirements that have to be met even for small alterations or additions and it is really the reason that you should get a qualified, competent electrician to carry out electrical work as they should have a sound knowledge of the requirements and these things are second nature to a competent spark and can be carried out very quickly and efficiently the thing that you pay for with a spark is not really the finished product. In this case a couple of wires and a spotlight but it’s the knowledge and work that has went on in the background to get that far and then the finished product. So in reality looking at it from this point of view sparks are really really excellent value for money.

Pete999 · Oct 6, 2018

Why not liase the work with an Electrician Tony? you do the wood work etc and the Sparks can do the wiring, test, inspect and certify, it's a Forum rule not to give step by step advice for electrical work, best advice get a sparky to do the electrical work.

Midwest · Oct 6, 2018

I'd remove the current plasterboard ceiling, or sections of, or drill 100mm access wholes; drill necessary wholes in ceiling to facilitate installation of additional wiring.

At this point employ a competent electrician to install cabling.

Then reinstate plasterboard, section(s) of plasterboard or access circles, noting location of wiring for each down light.

At this point employ a recommended plaster to blue grit, tape (you can do that bit yourself) & skim the ceiling. Then paint the ceiling yourself, before or after cutting holes for new down lights.

Then get your electrician back to test & install new down lights. Removing the plasterboard also helps in locating the down lights away from obstacles in the ceiling void, such as wooden noggins or pipes or other services.

Alternately, you could install track lighting, as suggested. I did this in my own new property, where I was banned by her indoors, doing the above. I used some Philips Hue lighting to switch on different spots & pendants. It was rather pricy, but save chopping the ceiling about.