Help needed with in-loop kitchen system

[Stevel]

Hello,

I have an ordinary halogen strip light that i want to connect to my kitchen in-loop light circuit, but it only has a basic (ie one wire each connection) joining unit. Can I buy expanders suitable for the (nine) wires that I need to link up to this circuit?

Also, how do I distinguish between the main circuit and the switch wire? I do have a meter, if that help?

From an electrical novice (but plumbing king! - you can see the water etc...)

 

[flash bang]

sounds like you should leave well alone mate. I was doing nothing but radials and ring mains for my first two year in the trade. Ya must know a sparky on site ask him nicely to have a look. Otherwise i live nr bromley if thats nr you-save ya gettin a belt.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You'll need a lighting junction box - it has 4 terminals, which you use for Live, Neutral, Earth and Switched Live.

Check out the reference section - it has all the diagrams you need. The easiest way to identify which cable is which is by marking the switch cable before you remove the old ceiling rose. Once that is done the other 2 don't matter, as they are just joined colour-to-colour.

 

[Millennium_Boy]

Another safe, but less aesthetic way, is to use a length of 6 amp (min) rated heat resisting three core flex. i.e. that of your lighting MCB, and link the existing ceiling rose, to the input of the fancy light fitting, connecting the Earth to the respective terminals, then testing the Earth connection etc is sound, before restoring the power.

 

[Stevel]

Yes, the four way junction box was the way to go. Every book I have assumes a level of understanding that, frankly, my GCSE in Physics 12 years ago didn't supply.

Thanks once again. Especially to the guy who offered to come around and have a look for me!! Wow!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

sounds like you should leave well alone mate. I was doing nothing but radials and ring mains for my first two year in the trade.

Slow learner?

Ya must know a sparky on site ask him nicely to have a look. Otherwise i live nr bromley if thats nr you-save ya gettin a belt.

1) Why must he know a sparky?
2) He said "my kitchen in-loop light circuit" - doesn't sound like he's "on site".
3) It is quite possible for someone who's not had the benefit of two years of radials and ring mains training to grasp the workings of a lighting circuit and not grasp any live conductors....