Centralising light fittings

[Jupiter01]

ive got a lounge which has two light points in the ceiling and each is operated by its own switch.

I am re-doing the ceiling and bought it was an opportune moment to do a couple of things:

1. Centralise these lights as this is not currently the case. They are slightly out! However, this will require the cables to be extended and was unsure on people’s view on such a join within the ceiling (inaccessible) and also what you tend to use.

2. Secondly, I’ve always stuck a piece of 4x2 between the joists and then had the lighting cable coming through this via a drilled hole. This helps with screwing on any light fittings at a later date as it has a decent mounting surface as oppose to hollow plasterboard.

Can I please have your views on both of the above please. Thanks in advance.

 

[chivers67]

I'd try to run a cable back to the next Rose to avoid a join unless of course this is not practical - in which case a Maintenance free junction box could be used.

I tend to use wood battens normally two short lengths of wood and a piece of floor board or similar across them with a hole drilled through for the cable where a light fitting / luminaire is going. Can't see a problem with your method - it will certainly be strong.

 

[ericmark]

Most ceiling roses are rated at 5 kg, seems rather high to me, however would not even want 1 kg held by screws into plaster, so would hope no electrician would fit a ceiling rose direct to plaster, although I am sure many are, and where the home owner has done it, they would know the limits so no so bad.

I tend to position rose half on the beam, which is likely why the rose is not central, so I see nothing wrong with what your doing, the Wagobox is designed for maintenance free, and is the way it should be done, however the Ashley J501 box to my mind looks neater, I have had loose screws, but would guess always been loose where some one never tightened them up properly to start with.

As already said new cable is the best option.

 

[Jupiter01]

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[AndyPRK]

maybe there are fitted where they are to be on a beam ?

 

[Jupiter01]

one follow-up: is it best practice to extend all of these cables separately and then have them popping out of the ceiling e.g. live in, live out and switch. Or alternatively, do we marry them up (like you would in a ceiling rose) as part of the maintenance free junction box and then have a single wire coming out of the ceiling to wire into the light, appropriately.

I hope that makes sense!

 

[EFLImpudence]

It doesn't matter functionally but hidden junction boxes are never a good idea - even if allowed - especially when they are not necessary.

For some reason DIYers seem to love junction boxes.

 

[Keithmac]

I had to have all our downstairs roses down to trace a wiring fault, if previous owner had concealed a junction box or two it would have been ceilings down!.

 

[333rocky333]

Most ceiling roses are rated at 5 kg, seems rather high to me, however would not even want 1 kg held by screws into plaster, so would hope no electrician would fit a ceiling rose direct to plaster, although I am sure many are, and where the home owner has done it, they would know the limits so no so bad.

I tend to position rose half on the beam, which is likely why the rose is not central, so I see nothing wrong with what your doing, the Wagobox is designed for maintenance free, and is the way it should be done, however the Ashley J501 box to my mind looks neater, I have had loose screws, but would guess always been loose where some one never tightened them up properly to start with.

As already said new cable is the best option.

Only Hagar J803 and J804 are Maintenance free

 

[Taylortwocities]

Only Hagar J803 and J804 are Maintenance free

And Wago connectors if housed in a Wagobox.

 

[333rocky333]

And Wago connectors if housed in a Wagobox.

Yes sorry, Eric stated Wagos, but then slipped up and put J501 which is NOT maintenance free.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Hadn’t spotted that. Apologies, I just skim read through Eric’s posts, I don’t have the time to read a thesis every time!