Recent content by SamHandy

Yeah I need to look at the dates more often ! :roll:

If you didn't want to make your own boxes then you could use these ones from a company called Aurora lighting http://www.aurora.eu.com/ProductPages/SearchResults.aspx?s=dig340 The insulation could then lay over that. The only problem with home made boxes is that they often collapse...

Agreed, but pee BCO's off and they'll find 5 other things they want done to get back at you. They sign the building off at the end of the day. Unless you want a big fight on your hands do what is required.

That what Electricians train for. The part 'P' is to stop people doing just that and killing themselves and/or others. It always amazes me that people 'Won't touch the plumbing as I might flood the house' but will happily play with the electrics which could burn it down or kill people...

building control officers around the country all seem to be working to different rules. The Fire rated can, type downlighter is to 'reinstate' the fire break which was your ceiling before you cut a 70mm hole in it. It will also help stop debris dropping on the lamp but is a minor point...

I came accross these the other day, they require a 110mm, but with air gap 135mm which is about your 5". http://www.aurora.eu.com/ProductPages/LampProductDetails.aspx?g=5960&c=375&b=71&oc=375 They also do mains voltage ones AU-DLM901 Maybe that will help. Just be grateful that he hasn't...

Yeah the Megaman is an 11w dimmable (240v) for downlights (I think they were discussing linear tube fluorescents though so slightly off topic). It is good but doesn't meet the 40 lumens per circuit watt that is required by building regulations, also it can only be used in ambient temperatures of...

See us Sparkies are worth every penny. Was asked by a DIY'er just last week how to connect SWA, asked him to stick to photography it paid better and if he messed it up it wouldn't kill him.

Only if they were originally bought with a dimmable ballast and not a standard one. It usually goes down to a 1-10v dimmer module (I.e. switch line/drop) from the ballast it's self. I would agree that the answer is probably no.

Lamp Life is a bizarre thing. Nor is there such thing as '5 years' lamp, as it will depend on many things such as burning time. A standard 50w halogen for instance has a 2000 hours lamp life. To explain simply to measure this they get 100 lamps, energise them and when the 50th lamp fails that...

As a general rule of thumb for bathrooms I use 200 lux and in a 4m x 4m room which is very approx what you have 9 MR16 low voltage lamps would be fine. If used in a reception area/Kitchen 300 lux is more common and would mean upping the number of fittings to 12. The fittings should be about 1...