Replace Loft Batten Holder Light with LED Strip

[Door7000]

I want to replace the loft light, which was installed from new on an 8 year old house. Currently it is a single lamp on a batten, and is about three foot up from the loft floor. The single light is not bright enough, and being 3ft up the light throw is not good at the ends of the loft (width 29ft). I was thinking of putting up a 6ft LED batten light at the top near the ridge.

Does this sound good? Does it have to have an IP rating? Can I just replace the current batten with a junction box and run a new length of cable to the LED light in the ridge?

Also note the double socket that they installed. I am curious as to what purpose it could be used for.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Does it have to have an IP rating?

No - but everything has an IP rating even if IP00.

Can I just replace the current batten with a junction box and run a new length of cable to the LED light in the ridge?

Yes.

Also note the double socket that they installed. I am curious as to what purpose it could be used for.

Well - for anything they wanted to plug in.

However, it might be on the light circuit so no good for hadron colliders.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The single light is not bright enough, and being 3ft up the light throw is not good at the ends of the loft (width 29ft). I was thinking of putting up a 6ft LED batten light at the top near the ridge.

You can do that - replace the batten holder, with a joint box, so you can add a suitable additional length of cable. 1.5mm twin and earth would be suitable. Of course, make sure the circuit is isolated first.

Also note the double socket that they installed. I am curious as to what purpose it could be used for.

Best to check what circuit that is on - plug a load of some sort in it, and try turning off individual MCB's/RCBO's one at a time. A mains portable radio, would make that easy. Hopefully, it is a spur from the upstairs ring, or the end of a radial, so you can use it for almost anything.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

Use the batten holder as the junction box

 

[AndyPRK]

I've got 2 battern lamp holder in my loft.

They face downwards, and the lamp is away from the wood, so the light can shine outwards as much as possible.

They are a 1/4 of the away from the ends of the wall.

Having 2 reduces shaddows.

Are you able to get upto the top ridge, to where you want to fit this light?
Socket, could be for TV amp.

 

[securespark]

I was surprised to learn when fitting a three plate batten lamp holder that it was marked with the F mark, but with a cross through it.

Well, that's no good for cellars, garages, lofts, sheds, etc .....

I wonder how many people fitted them without realising?

 

[AdrianUK]

A topic for discussion:

LED battens contain an electric power supply. As a general rule heat is the enemy of electronics, leading to a vastly reduced lifetime. Is the loft a suitable place for an LED batten?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

A topic for discussion:

LED battens contain an electric power supply. As a general rule heat is the enemy of electronics, leading to a vastly reduced lifetime. Is the loft a suitable place for an LED batten?

A good rather point! Most electronics, are fine up to 70C. A loft temperature can rise up to 40C in the height of summer, if there is no ventilation, add to that the waste heat from the LED. No one would be happy for long in 40C heat, so providing the LED is not left on, when there is no one up there, it should be fine, but it might be prudent to fix the lights, spaced a few inches down from the maximum - to ensure there heat has some cooling air-flow.

 

[securespark]

However, it might be on the light circuit so no good for hadron colliders.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Use the batten holder as the junction box

The OP, would have to be sure the pins in the BC lamp holder, could never become live.

 

[SUNRAY]

The OP, would have to be sure the pins in the BC lamp holder, could never become live.

Easy enough to disconnect it.

 

[morqthana]

Is the loft a suitable place for an LED batten?

Is the loft in the photo a suitable place for people to be in?

 

[SUNRAY]

Is the loft in the photo a suitable place for people to be in?

That's luxury compared to many I've been in.

 

[morqthana]

I meant is it strong enough?

 

[SUNRAY]

I meant is it strong enough?

I would think so, it looks like fairly standard preformed roof trusses to me.

Rather messy due to the shape of the roof though.