Bathroom downlights España

mikell · 16 Apr 2021

Hi guys,
Flat in spain ( but no difference as far as i can see) Bathroom Light fitting has 3 wires brown L blue N green ( checked on other lights connected in other rooms) so looking to set up 4 LED down lights ip65 built in drivers.
Using 1.5 twin and earth joining earths by Junctions and terminating in a single junction box taped as per pictures, no lights yet!
All wires in place holes drilled etc .
Its a floating ceiling easily accessible by moving plaster tiles to gain access.
May tie wrap cables up once all in place as ive read they need securing?
As this is still an existing circuit not a new one does it need signing off ?
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Thanks

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Astra99 · 20 Apr 2021

I would suspect that this is a job you can do yourself. It looks from your pictures that you are using 3-core flex for your new downlights, so you will need a junction box to connect them into the existing lighting circuit. Make sure the existing light is on the breaker marked "Alumbrado" at your distribution board, and note the current at which that breaker will trip. It may be 6A, 10A or, in some cases, even 16A! You may even find some of your sockets on the lighting (Alumbrado) circuit! The junction box you will need to connect the downlights in will need to be of the same capacity as the breaker in the circuit, so 6A, 10A or 16A. As the ceiling tiles can be easily lifted for maintenance, chock-block connectors in an appropriate enclosure would be satisfactory. You should be able to find what you need at the local ferreteria or Chinese supermarket.

PS. The existing cables are probably 1.5mm² solid singles. Spain does not, as far as I am aware, use anything like our T&E which has a smaller uninsulated conductor for the earth.

mikell · 20 Apr 2021

Thanks astra, yes at least one socket is on the same breaker as the lights!
How to tell the capacity of the breaker? No real information on the mcb , added a photo here .
Can I not just feed the wires in and out of each light, daisy chained ( with the earth wire run parallel linked in a single screw choc terminating at last light?)
The cable i purchased was 1.5mm twin with a sheathed earth ,so hopefully that is suitable too.
Thanks for your input

FrodoOne · 21 Apr 2021

mikell said:
No real information on the mcb , added a photo here .

The photo indicates that the MCB for the "Lights & TV Socket" is a Siemens 5SY65-C10-2P, which is a 2-pole 10 A (C Curve) Miniature Circuit Breaker.

mikell · 21 Apr 2021

Thanks for that Frodo
as I asked astra, is it ok to daisy chained without a junction box at any point?

Astra99 · 21 Apr 2021

Thanks FrodoOne for your input. Yes, the lights can be daisy-chained, just join the earths together using the frame of the downlight (if there is an earth connection point - possibly a screw) or a chock-block. The fact that you have 1.5mm² flex or cable means that you are good for 16A, so more than suitable with your 10A breaker.

winston1 · 22 Apr 2021

Don’t know you have posted the same question again a few days later. Here is my answer again.

No idea of the rules in Spain regarding new or existing circuits, nor do I know if a spark can “sign off “ work s/he did not do. They can’t normally in the U.K. though. When you say twin and earth do you mean UK stuff with a bare earth lead? If so it is almost certainly non compliant in Spain.

mikell · 22 Apr 2021

Hi Winston,
I did reply to you on the original post then saw this " outside of the uk page" so made sense to repost here!
My reply was the cable was bought here and the earth is sleeved .
I'm thinking of leaving the final connection for him to do , check it all etc ,hopefully sign it off then. Sorry bud,
I really did reply though!

mikell · 22 Apr 2021

Thanks guys,
I have put connectors JB on as the ip65 lights only have tiny holes to connect to.
What core wire would I use from JB to led
, 0.75 ?
Here's a pic or two , first light is connected alone, nothing else as yet

Astra99 · 22 Apr 2021

The fact that your OPD (overcurrent Protection Device) is 10A means that you should be using 1mm² cable/flex. However, as each downlight is "quite low wattage" it is unlikely that 0.75mm² flex/cable would be overloaded by a single downlight. Do ensure that each and every connector block is in an enclosure (a plastic box) with restraint for the cables.

mikell · 23 Apr 2021

I am leaving it at this point and getting a spark in to complete the job so everything in place but he can connect it all and test it so I have just done the basic labour for him.
If needs a plastic box I'm sure he will supply one for the Junctions as he is completing paperwork for the job for me.
Thanks astra , frodo and Winston, will post after he finishes

mikell · 23 Apr 2021

Hi
I Had 2 electricians in today they have completed the job they said, they will email me their invoice details as proof of works.
Apparently they said they removed my pushfit connectors and replaced with screw connectors.
Will have a look when I'm home later on.
Fingers crossed all is good

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