Has anyone fitted a Class 2 exterior wall lantern recently that was good and not too expensive? Struggling to find any "drop" type in white.
The story:
Simple job for Friday afternoon I thought - swap two wall lanterns and add a new one. 50's Bungalow, but had consumer unit updated to a twin RCD one 5 years ago or so and the rear lights done by the same electrician. (Some of you will see where this is going).
Take the front lamp off which had seen better days, to discover that the earth is cut short in the flex - grumble but extend it and test with voltmeter - 100V or so to earth....grab the Megger to do a Zs and get no reading.
Decide against crawling over the well insulated loft to find a junction box, and suggest a Class 2 fitting rather than the cheap Wickes one the client has ready.
Go to replace the back ones, which were all nicely done with IP rated switches etc (though since covered by a roof). All nicely connected in twin and earth and flex with earth - and no Zs...
Finally take the consumer unit off to look and of course the lighting wiring leaving it is earthless... Though it is at least PVC and not nasty VIR.
Needless to say the CU changer hadn't put the relevant sticker on the board, or notified the client about the issue.
Fortunately all their switches are plastic, though they do have a couple of ceiling lights that look suspiciously metal.
I've since discovered how little relevant information most of the suppliers have as to whether their lights are Class 1 or 2. Even the 'specification' sheets often don't list it - this includes several of the electrical wholesalers, who should know better.
A few of the online lighting only companies do specify which are Class 2, but they tend to be either expensive or have nothing similar to what the client wanted.
The ones they had chosen were a simple black traditional lantern for the front, and I've managed to find an Eterna Lighting equivalent for a tenner, but I'm struggling to find anything in white that drops down like the Philips Robin ones they wanted at the rear. For once I'm actually looking for cheap plastic tat and can't find it! There are a few white half lanterns, but the one's I've found have PIRs which aren't needed. Seems like white fittings are currently out of fashion?
Anyone fitted one recently or can point to good sources for such things?
The story:
Simple job for Friday afternoon I thought - swap two wall lanterns and add a new one. 50's Bungalow, but had consumer unit updated to a twin RCD one 5 years ago or so and the rear lights done by the same electrician. (Some of you will see where this is going).
Take the front lamp off which had seen better days, to discover that the earth is cut short in the flex - grumble but extend it and test with voltmeter - 100V or so to earth....grab the Megger to do a Zs and get no reading.
Decide against crawling over the well insulated loft to find a junction box, and suggest a Class 2 fitting rather than the cheap Wickes one the client has ready.
Go to replace the back ones, which were all nicely done with IP rated switches etc (though since covered by a roof). All nicely connected in twin and earth and flex with earth - and no Zs...
Finally take the consumer unit off to look and of course the lighting wiring leaving it is earthless... Though it is at least PVC and not nasty VIR.
Needless to say the CU changer hadn't put the relevant sticker on the board, or notified the client about the issue.
Fortunately all their switches are plastic, though they do have a couple of ceiling lights that look suspiciously metal.
I've since discovered how little relevant information most of the suppliers have as to whether their lights are Class 1 or 2. Even the 'specification' sheets often don't list it - this includes several of the electrical wholesalers, who should know better.
A few of the online lighting only companies do specify which are Class 2, but they tend to be either expensive or have nothing similar to what the client wanted.
The ones they had chosen were a simple black traditional lantern for the front, and I've managed to find an Eterna Lighting equivalent for a tenner, but I'm struggling to find anything in white that drops down like the Philips Robin ones they wanted at the rear. For once I'm actually looking for cheap plastic tat and can't find it! There are a few white half lanterns, but the one's I've found have PIRs which aren't needed. Seems like white fittings are currently out of fashion?
Anyone fitted one recently or can point to good sources for such things?
