Downlights in door canopy

[Pretty Mouth]

I have been asked to fit 3 downlights in a flat roofed GRP door canopy, similar to the one in this youtube vid:

Client want cables concealed within the canopy. 1 downlight dead centre, the others an appropriate spacing to either side. Canopy is, at a guess, 3000 X 900 X 200, and has been there 15-20 years.

I expect getting the cable from the switch into the canopy void to be reasonably straightforward (assuming the door lintel isn't in the way) but I'm wondering if running the cables between the lights will be problematic. I expect there will be noggins in the canopy void, and there's bound to be one dead centre where the middle light wants to go.

I am considering removing the one-piece weatherproof covering from the canopy which would give access from above to survey, and to drill holes through the noggins etc. But, not having done this before, obviously I'm worried about the potential for expensive mistakes.

Has anyone else carried out similar work, and what advice can you give?

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Where is it switched from and how did you run the cable?

It's switched from just inside the front door. There was an existing 2g switch there, one side previously controlled an outdoor light where the solar powered light to the left of the front door is. I reused this switch. The construction is timber frame, so I was able to rod the cable vertically up behind the plasterboard, then straight through the wall into the canopy void. The only damage to decor was one 16mm hole in the plasterboard.

 

[FatAlan]

It's switched from just inside the front door. There was an existing 2g switch there, one side previously controlled an outdoor light where the solar powered light to the left of the front door is. I reused this switch. The construction is timber frame, so I was able to rod the cable vertically up behind the plasterboard, then straight through the wall into the canopy void. The only damage to decor was one 16mm hole in the plasterboard.

If I had been doing that job there wouldn't have been a neutral available at the switch! ?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Ah and if I had been doing that job the house would have been solid stone about 600mm thick with no possible unobtrusive access from inside to outside and exposed stone on the inside that the owner did not want to be drilled, Quinetic switch comes to mind, but still have to get power to the lights. ? My favourite job chasing out the pointing to the external stonework to access the first floor void.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Nice update PM. Sounds like you went above and beyond to get the job done well.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Is nice to see a pride in the job, me I would have crowbarded off the wall. Lol.