New Hallway Light

[sparky_monkey]

Hello, I want to add a new light in my hall way. Currently there are two on a two way switch. I want the new light to be on the same switch as the others so, can i just connect the new light into the nearest ceiling rose and the same live and nuetral binding posts as the nearest light? Thanks in advance

 

[Rockingit]

Having firstly isolated (turned off at the consumer unit) the mains supply to them, if you unscrew the rose covers (I'm assuming that they're pendants) you'll probably find that one of them has a bunch of cables, and the other just one - this is a spur (piggy-back) from the other. That's the easiest one just to take your new cable to, parallel off the L,N & E terminals.

Now - other things to realise about doing it - we've not said whereabouts it is, if it's a bathroom then other conditions exist (unlikely with 2 way switching though), nor have we said about whether you've got earthing in place on the circuit and if the new fitting needs it (class 1) and/or suitability of the circuit to add more to it/rating of the switches......etc etc.

 

[sparky_monkey]

So, if the nearest light to where i want to put my new light is the spur, it's ok to just connect into the circuit in the same way as the existing pendent is connected to that rose? No junction box or anything like that needed?

No earth is needed for this light but I will earth it if the circuit already has an earth connection.

How do I find out the rating of the switches?

 

[Octopus]

Out of interest how do you plan to run the cable from the existing light, to the new position?

 

[sparky_monkey]

In trunking across the ceiling, the walls and ceiling are solid so no chance of putting it out of sight. It will be about 3 feet away in an alcove off the hallway.

 

[trev]

The rating of the switches will be written on the back of them mate but are you absolutely sure you are able to carry out this work?
Do you know safe isolation procedures? Cable selection criteria (There's no way of knowing that the existing cable is right)? Testing?(to ensure that it is safe to energise the circuit once you have completed the job)? The additional load could exceed the capacity of the protective device(unlikely but possible)of which there are several types.
I'm not trying to pee on your fireworks here,I actually applaud your willingness but would you be so willing to repipe the gas supply to your central heating.
I just think it's worth pointing out that there's more to this than a few boards up and a bit of cable.

 

[sparky_monkey]

Do you know safe isolation procedures?

I would turn the power off and use portable light to be safe.

Cable selection criteria

I would use the same cable as already exists in the circuit

Testing?(to ensure that it is safe to energise the circuit once you have completed the job)?

I'm not altering the exisiting so circuit so how would it become unsafe?

No i woulnt mes with gas but elctricity is not gas. this is all theoretical at the moment. i'm not just going to jump in and mess with it. i will make sure i'm doing what right before i start.

 

[trev]

A portable light will not protect you, there is a procedure for proving that a circuit is dead
As I previously said there is no guarantee that the cable feeding the existing light is correct for the job. I have seen loads of places where a circuit is fed correctly by one CSA cable then gets tampered with over the years and ends up in a different sized/type of cable
You are altering the circuit by extending it and it could become unsafe very easily. There was a case recently where a plumber was killed by an socket with incorrect polarity no doubt installed by an enthusiatic DIYer. Testing proves the safety of the circuit.
Once again, I'll say that I applaud your willingness to have a go but to get an electrician to do this for you thus giving peace of mind would not cost very much at all.
Without wanting to sound aggressive or to start an argument, why do you think it's not ok to "mess with gas" but electricity is fine?

 

[telectrix]

whilst i applaud your enthusiasm and asking for advice on this forum, i think tah , by asking, you are showing that you're not sure of what youj are doing, so, my advice is to get an electrician to do it for you. you say" electricity is not gas " but it will kill you quicker than a dose of methane.

 

[trev]

whilst i applaud your enthusiasm and asking for advice on this forum, i think tah , by asking, you are showing that you're not sure of what youj are doing, so, my advice is to get an electrician to do it for you. you say" electricity is not gas " but it will kill you quicker than a dose of methane.

And it'll hurt more