Chasing cable in a ceiling.

[Bobble23]

I need to convert a pendant into three downlights in the hallway of a ground floor flat. No access available from above, so the simplest way I could come up with would be chasing the cable into the actual ceiling and plastering it in. All RCD protected, so was thinking that I'm just treating the ceiling as a horizontal wall, but the problem would be that I don't think there are any safe zones in a ceiling so anyone could come along later and not know where my cables are.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[PEG]

Just a thought from a few posts ago,do not notch joists from underneath,bad practice,remember Laurel and Hardy sawing the tree branch they were sat on?....:74:

 

[GLENNSPARK]

9 times out of 10 when we're wrecking ceilings for access we reboard and have them skimmed. Always a top finish and taking on a spread for a couple of hours is a damn sight cheaper than a spark filling holes badly for half a day!

Average ceiling 4-5 boards? = £35
Drylining screws? = £5
Bag of multi-finish? = £7
Plasterer? = £60
A finished job that doesn't look like a bag of excrement? = Priceless!

had one the other day damian....we had done some work for this un in the past...he had been telling us how well his property development business had been going...how he was a consultant for this, that and`t other...

so it came as a surprise when he announced that he wanted cables moving across the ceiling at his latest `project`...as when we got in there all the ceilings had been plastered....i took one look in the loft....full of the kinds of shyte that them too lazy to take it to the tip collect...together with those tongue & groove chipboards to store it all on....

balls to that i thought....and out came the hammer....
there...stitching made easy......

he didn`t like it....so i had to remind him that he should have called us out...before plastering the ceilings...
what a dimmer...
consultant....my arse....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Listen:

i`v been on a rite site the last few days.....how it should be,,

theres a head electrical contractor there who i have direct contact with....and i supervise on 2 other lads......youngsters that are there to learn...
its good...this is how it should be......

 

[nickblake]

see if you can find which way the joists run and where the joists are , where the existing light fitting is rod in the direction the joists run up to the wall , you can find this by measuring drill a hole and fish a cable from the lighting point to the wall pull cable through the hole after you have fished for it of course and if it looks neat put some mini trunking in the opposite direction the beams run then you can measure out to between the beams and have the wiring in the trunking where it crosses the beams so position the down lights on the main runs , between the joists , MF junction box where the existing light is ,stick a smoke detector where the hole is or CO2 detector , time consuming method but works , oh and I would not use halogen down lights if the ceiling is lath and plaster

 

[the pict]

I want to fit 20 downlights in my caravan how should I go about it
Pict

 

[Des 56]

I want to fit 20 downlights in my caravan how should I go about it
Pict

Mark the holes on the roof,(using bread crumbs glued to the metal)then just wait for the seagulls to peck the holes out

 

[telectrix]

so, des. now we know that chasing cables in a caravan roof is not the same as chasing sheep in a meadow. :daisy:

 

[Des 56]

so, des. now we know that chasing cables in a caravan roof is not the same as chasing sheep in a meadow. :daisy:

No need to chase them around the meadow,they are pleased to see a friendly face

 

[GLENNSPARK]

No need to chase them around the meadow,they are pleased to see a friendly face

and where one goes........

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Just a thought from a few posts ago,do not notch joists from underneath,bad practice,remember Laurel and Hardy sawing the tree branch they were sat on?....:74:

Eh?

flat bit....take enough out to get the cable below the level of the board....

think before posting next time...

 

[DPG]

I think he was joking! Daz

 

[Nad61F]

Hi All,

I am renovating my flat in the 1st floor of a council building. the ceiling and floor are both concrete.
Are we allowed the chase the cable in the ceiling for 30-50n Cm to change the place of lights?
My builder says he can do it with an angle grinder but the electrician says its not allowed.

thanks

Nad

 

[telectrix]

Hi All,

I am renovating my flat in the 1st floor of a council building. the ceiling and floor are both concrete.
Are we allowed the chase the cable in the ceiling for 30-50n Cm to change the place of lights?
My builder says he can do it with an angle grinder but the electrician says its not allowed.

thanks

Nad

no chance..... batten out the ceiling, get cables in, board ceiling 3" below concrete. fit downlights.

 

[littlespark]

Just read many of the 7 year old posts in this thread. The electrician is right.

cutting any of the concrete could weaken the structure.

is the ceiling concrete, or is it battened and plaster boarded?

 

[Nad61F]

Just read many of the 7 year old posts in this thread. The electrician is right.

cutting any of the concrete could weaken the structure.

is the ceiling concrete, or is it battened and plaster boarded?

Thank you for the reply, I was just reading them all.
The ceiling is just concrete.