Could anybody help a beginner out please

[mdibb2009]

Hi all, only been an apprentice for 3 weeks and trying to learn myself as much as poss in my spare time.

Today we were at a job fitting 9 downlights in a kitchen, aswell as a conservatory light, which were both powered from a 2 gang switch in the kitchen.

If anybody has time I would really appreciate it if you could draw me a basic diagram on how this all wires up, including coming from the CU, to the downlights, switch, and conservatory light etc...

The guys at work did explain it to me but as im tring to learn so many different things, some things just dont stick at the minute.
I also seem to take things in better when at home and studying drawings and explanations etc.. rather than when put on the spot on site.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[oldtimer]

First of all 3 weeks is not a long time to settle in I worked for 3 months running conduit before I touched a wire so chill out and it will all make sense one day

 

[mdibb2009]

Thanks for the reply mate and I really understand what you are saying about just biding my time and everything will come together, maybe im just been a bit too eager ?
I have done a lot of chasing out, sweeping up etc... but they have also been good to me and had me doing first and second fixing, wiring up sockets, switches etc... which im fine with, I just wanted to have a look over a simple drawin f the work that was carried out today just to see if I understood it.

Thanks

 

[ezzzekiel]

besides there are a different ways of wiring it up, wiring from box to light with drop to switches or to switches first then lights.

as your learning, how about you do the drawing and we tell you if your right.

the light will need a line and neutral with a switch to interupt the line to turn it on or off.

 

[telectrix]

hi mate. your attitude is commendable, but be careful not to try and run before you can walk. at your stage, take it easy, learn as you go. lighting circuits can be a bit daunting at first as there is more than one way of wiring. basically, think logically. you come out of the supply on live, through a switch, through the load ( light ) and back on neutral. on domestics, it is usual to run T/E from one light to the next and so on till the last one. this is a radial circuit. then a T/E goes from the light to the switch. live to the switch on brown and switched live back on blue ( sleeved brown to identify it as switched live ). in your light base/rose/whatever you will have 4 terminals. 1. permanent live. 2. switched live. 3 neutral. 4 CPC. ( earth ). the actual light is wired across switched live and neutral.

 

[mdibb2009]

Thankyou for the reply.
Well, i my head, this is how I see it, please correct me if im wrong.

1.5mm t&e from CU to first downlight, which is then looped to the other 8 downlights ?
Then a live and a switched live, from switch to first downlight ?
Then a live and a switched live again from the switch, to the conservatory light, joining both lives with a loop at the back of the switch ?

I hope this makes sense to you guys.

Thanks very much

 

[mdibb2009]

Thanks telectrix, much appreciated.
I was replying while you posted.

 

[white armour]

Hi there, may be easier to take the supply to the switch, (as wiring a loop into a downlight fitting is not much fun), you can then run 2 cables out of the switch.

1 switched live & neutral + cpc to downlights, the other will be a switched live & neutral + cpc to conservatory light.

So that's a total of 3 cables at switch, 1 supply and 2 switched lives, neutrals & cpcs to be suitably connected in backbox.

Hope that helps.

Regards wa

 

[pushrod]

Have a quick read through THIS , some very useful diagrams on lighting circuits
plus a clever little animation link in post 15.

 

[mdibb2009]

Thanks WA, appreciate it.
Could you tell me ( allthough I know you have told me a different way) if im thinking in the right direction with what I have posted above ?

Thanks again everyone

 

[mdibb2009]

Thanks pushrod, will have a look now

 

[Bradzz]

Have a look and then a little think, this should help.

 

[mdibb2009]

Thanks bradzz ill have a study now mate

 

[VoltzElectrical]

You're an apprentice? You should get the JTL books 1 and 2. They have clear diagrams on all of this. I remember when i was starting out, and the guys I was with would draw lovely diagrams on the walls. don't worry, it will all come in TIME. Applaud the effort. keep it up, and well done for getting a start in these straitened times.

 

[mdibb2009]

thanks very much voltzelectrical, appreciate the comments.
I will get the books ordered this weekend, I know where your coming from with the guys drawing me diagrams on the wall etc... and at the time i think, yes I undersand, but then when I get home im questioning in my head some of the things.
As you say im sure it will all fall into place in time.

Thanks again.