Dropping cables from loft

[KeenPensioner]

Hi, I'm retired, but have worked as an electricians mate off and on - I know my limitations. I've been asked by a friend to fit a "picture light". The wall is plasterboard cavity with insulation, the wall has a 3 inch coving.
I have access to the loft above and there is a single pendant in the room where they want the picture light switched from. What is the best way to run the cable down the wall from the loft (taking a feed from the pendant). Not sure how to identify the wall plate in the loft and drill down through it. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[buzzlightyear]

before you even start working on the light is it going to be RCD protected going in the wall .

 

[James]

Use a cable detector on the ceiling next to where the light will be fitted to ensure you are not about to drill into a cable or pipe.
Stud finder for wall to ensure you are not trying to come down in the same place as a vertical timber.

When you have lifted the insulation in the area you need to drill down, the layout of the room below should be apparent.

Drill down with a 1 inch drill so you can see into the cavity below.

Drill a small hole where the picture light will hang.
Get mate to shine torch in hole whilst you look down from above to make sure there is a clear run for the cable.

Remember, always check that there are no services behind wall where you are about to drill.

Many a 1 hour job have been turned into a 2 DAY job by
“Finding” a cable or pipe with a drill bit.

 

[littlespark]

It’s a job of good measurement and pot luck finding the top of the wall from the attic when all you can see is the top side of the plasterboard ceiling.

I did this once for a switch drop and managed to hit the void behind coving. A matter of 2 inches and redrilled into centre of wall and no damage to decoration.

If the wall has insulation in it, that could be a difficulty. A good set of cable rods or trunking lid. And more of the luck I talked about earlier.

New regs do stipulate RCD protection for luminaries now, so that to consider.

Good luck, and if your luck holds out, you might think about buying a lottery ticket

 

[Zerax]

As a general 'rule of thumb' the hole you want to drill will be in the worst possible place...

 

[KeenPensioner]

before you even start working on the light is it going to be RCD protected going in the wall .

Thanks for all your replies. The lighting circuit is protected by an RCBO
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Use a cable detector on the ceiling next to where the light will be fitted to ensure you are not about to drill into a cable or pipe.
Stud finder for wall to ensure you are not trying to come down in the same place as a vertical timber.

When you have lifted the insulation in the area you need to drill down, the layout of the room below should be apparent.

Drill down with a 1 inch drill so you can see into the cavity below.

Drill a small hole where the picture light will hang.
Get mate to shine torch in hole whilst you look down from above to make sure there is a clear run for the cable.

Remember, always check that there are no services behind wall where you are about to drill.

Many a 1 hour job have been turned into a 2 DAY job by
“Finding” a cable or pipe with a drill bit.

I agree...there's no such thing as a "5 minute job"