3 hands required to fit a light fitting

NottmTony · 22 Jul 2016

OKAY... this is more a logistics issue than an electrical issue.

I know how to connect the light fitting, but how can I hold it in one hand (taking the weight of the light fitting) while connecting the terminals (requiring 2 hands) at the same time ?

Any tips?

paulieg1988 · 22 Jul 2016

Years of practice and skill i tend to put the connectors on the light first, then hold the connectors with the light hanging from them slide the connectors over a wire (normally earth first) then as long as the light isn't too hwavy you can let it hang on that while you connect the rest with both hands.
Or just get the apprentice/wife/child/dog to hold the light for you

Taylortwocities · 22 Jul 2016

A very common problem, together with the stupidly short securing screws that are often provided that you have to line up with tapped holes in s bracket. And do not get me started on floodlights that have a machine screw, 3 washers and a nut. This is something you have to assemble and secure while two storeys up on a ladder

There should be a LAW that the MD of any company, that makes light fittings, has to go up a ladder and fit one of his own lights!

But I'm not one to complain......

Nozzle · 22 Jul 2016

Taylortwocities said:
And do not get me started on floodlights that have a machine screw, 3 washers and a nut. This is something you have to assemble and secure while two storeys up on a ladder

Or you could do a rough n ready with just the machine screw & nut initially to take the weight - fit the other fittings properly then go back to the first one to add the spring washer etc.. Not so hard!

Are you started now?!

Nozzle

Taylortwocities · 22 Jul 2016

Yes, yes. Or just use a thin screwdriver to support one end, you can just scoot down the ladder and get that. While you are at ground level you can also scrabble around in the undergrowth trying to find where the washers and nuts have gone.

Or send the apprentice up the ladder to do it.

But I'm not one to complain…

Nozzle · 22 Jul 2016

Pockets are are tremendous invention!

Robin0577 · 22 Jul 2016

I normally use a cable tie or a bit of stiff wire in some way to hold the weight of the fitting while wiring, depending on the design of the fitting either around the ceiling bracket, through a mounting hole, etc.

NottmTony · 22 Jul 2016

I think I'll try to hang the weight of the light fitting using wire on the mounting bracket while I wire it up... sounds good to me ... thanks

333rocky333 · 22 Jul 2016

Robin0577 said:
I normally use a cable tie or a bit of stiff wire in some way to hold the weight of the fitting while wiring, depending on the design of the fitting either around the ceiling bracket, through a mounting hole, etc.

Agree I use 12 inch cable ties, slip on quick and are secure then cut off with side cutters

deadshort · 22 Jul 2016

Yes, the trick is don't swallow

, the screws ……..which are held in your teeth while you try a marathon wiring job without dropping the hideous light fitting your customer has paid a fortune for !

DS

Iggifer · 22 Jul 2016

I did a hideous one a couple of weeks ago that the customer paid £100 from the dreaded B&Q, 12 x 40w G9s, thing weighed a ton, fixing into overboarded lath & plaster. Was a great laugh

I did try and explain to her how much it was going to cost her to run.

deadshort · 22 Jul 2016

Yes, but it heats the room lovely

DS

Iggifer · 22 Jul 2016

That's very true! It was ghastly though!

ban-all-sheds · 22 Jul 2016

Beauty is in the eye of, and all that.

Here is a photo of a couple of B&Q buyers off to source some lighting:

But back to the plot - it is not clear what type of luminaires the OP is talking about, what they are being fixed to, whether internal or external, what access to the spaces where the cable runs is like, whether he has a helper.....

SimonH2 · 24 Jul 2016

Of course, it's even more fund when you can't get the ladder in just the right place - so not only are you doing the "three handed assembly", but you are also using a forth hand to stabilise yourself while leaning off the ladder

ban-all-sheds said:
Here is a photo of a couple of B&Q buyers off to source some lighting

As it happens, the last luminaires I used came from B&Q - they just happened to have what I wanted, or rather, something that readily adapted to my requirements.

diynot

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3 hands required to fit a light fitting

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