Changing Light Fitting, extending wire.

[arobinson1984]

Hi,

I am currently changing the majority of the light fittings in our house that we moved into 8 months ago. Most of them were straight forward. One of them, the lighting cable wasn't quite long enough and didn't have any slack in the ceiling to pull some more through.

The only way I was able to fit the light fitting was by taking out 2 screws that fixed the connector block to the inside of the new light fitting meaning the connector block is now loose inside the fitting. I'm not sure how safe/dangerous this is so considering slightly extending the lighting cable by about 2 inches.

What is the best way to do this? Is it using a junction box? If so can someone point me in direction of the correct junction box I would need please. The box would go back up through the hole in ceiling, just giving a bit of extra cabling giving more room for manoeuvre.

The house is 3 years old so classed as a new build. I have enclosed a picture, can anybody tell from the pic whether the cabling is 1mm or 1.5mm?

Thankyou in advance.

Andy

 

[EFLImpudence]

The only way I was able to fit the light fitting was by taking out 2 screws that fixed the connector block to the inside of the new light fitting meaning the connector block is now loose inside the fitting.

That's fine.

 

[arobinson1984]

Thanks, I thought it might be but then thought it's fixed to the inside of the light fitting for a reason so thought I'd better check, if its easy enough extending the lighting cable then I don't mind taking the light fitting back down again and doing it properly. Just thought I'd check peoples opinions.

 

[terryplumb]

Does the fitting also have a small metal tag that was clamped into the earth terminal of the connector block ? If it does you may have disconnected the earth to the fitting .

 

[arobinson1984]

It does Yes Terry but I managed to get the metal tag back in by gently bending it a bit, just couldn't get in with any screwdriver to fix the connector block back to the light fitting, (light fitting is about 11" diameter so difficult to tilt it enough to get access.

 

[securespark]

You need to reinstate the earth connection. Get another terminal block the same size and attach it to the metal tag while the fitting is off the ceiling. Then fit a short piece of 1mm2 earth wire cut from an offcut of T&E to the other terminal and connect that to the earth wire in the ceiling cable. Don't forget to sleeve the earth wire with G/Y sleeving.

 

[terryplumb]

So you now have a loose terminal block ,and its not certain that the lug is still in proper contact with the CPC as you are relying on the terminal screw alone to keep it there ,whilst you have manoeuvred the fitting into position. Not ideal really .as you now can't see it ,and don't know for sure that it is properly earthed. I would suggest you take it down ,refit the securing screws on connector block / earth lug back to its original state and add cable using a 2 nd terminal block

 

[arobinson1984]

Thanks Terry, thats the one thing I was worried about. I considered using something like this wagobox junction box which I can push up into hole in ceiling. Does this junction box look suitable?

Cheers

 

[terryplumb]

With 11 inch diameter base plate on the light fitting why push anything into the ceiling ? You could just use another terminal block as suggested above and and 3 or 4 inches of t/ e linking the two.

 

[arobinson1984]

Yea i guess that would prob be easier lol, I'll grab a terminal block tomorrow and some t&e wire and earth sheath.

Thanks.

 

[terryplumb]

I suppose your missus wants new metal switch plates now to match the fancy new lights !! If so make sure you earth them properly as well !!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I'll grab a terminal block tomorrow

Or some Ideal Spliceline connectors.

 

[terryplumb]

Or some Ideal Spliceline connectors.

Yes even better ,no screws to come loose .

 

[arobinson1984]

Terry, I will eventually get round to changing all the switches and sockets lol. The house is nearly new and had all chrome light fittings already but the previous owners picked different fittings for each room and it looked mismatched lol so changing em all the fitting I've attached below. I'll have a look for the spliceline connectors, If i use terminal blocks, I'm guessing 15A blocks will be fine?

Andy

 

[ban-all-sheds]

15A might be physically too big - they don't need to be that rating.