Downlight - No Transformer (Wiring Help Needed)

[diyjack]

Hi

I bought a downlight from Wickes some time ago in a sale for the cupboard under my stairs. There is a socket in the cupboard and I want to run a spur from the socket to a fused unit with a 3 amp fuse in it. Then I would wire the light to the fused unit.

However, I have lost the instructions and the connector block only has two wires, neither of them are coloured. All I can remember is that a transformer was not needed.

There no indication to where the live or neutral go, like most new lights or room for the earth.

I can wire the fused unit to the socket no problem and I know that the light will be the load for fused unit.

I just unsure about the downlight.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[sparkticus]

A little confusing. Either you need a transformer or you don't.

What is the rated voltage of the bulb in the lamp fitting?


If the bulb is rated at 230V then there is no polarity to worry about other than making sure that the live conductor is switched by the fused spur.

 

[diyjack]

Like I said no transformer is needed.

The voltage of the bulb is 230v.

So, what your are saying is basically the live can go in any of the two connections on the light with the neutral in the other?

What hapens to the earth?

 

[Alarm]

Clamp/screw it to the fitting.

 

[riveralt]

Like I said no transformer is needed.

The voltage of the bulb is 230v.

So, what your are saying is basically the live can go in any of the two connections on the light with the neutral in the other?

What hapens to the earth?

Firstly, socket in the cupboard - just make sure it is not already a spur from a ring final circuit - you cannot run a spur from a spur on a RFC.

It is only edison (screw in) type lights that need specific line netural connections. As for your cpc (earth) you will need to check on the light unit that it is double insulated - normally with two squares inside each other. If it is double insulated then put a sleeve on the earth and connect it to a terminal block and wrap it in insulation.

 

[sparkticus]

Like I said no transformer is needed.

The voltage of the bulb is 230v.

So, what your are saying is basically the live can go in any of the two connections on the light with the neutral in the other?

What hapens to the earth?

Is the lamp double insulated? Does it have the square within a square symbol? If yes then you do not not need to connect the earth to the lamp. Just leave 20mm of earth, sleeve it with green/yellow sleeving and fold it back. (you may need the earth for a future lamp)

 

[diyjack]

Yeah, there is a symbol of a square within a square.

Thanks for your help sparkicus!

I'll give it a go tomorrow.

 

[diyjack]

In reply to the spur question.

Yes, it a spur from an existing socket but I have no idea if I have ring final circuit.

I do have a light switch that is on the wall of the cupboard, I suppose I could spur of the that if its better?

 

[sparkticus]

In reply to the spur question.

Yes, it a spur from an existing socket but I have no idea if I have ring final circuit.

I do have a light switch that is on the wall of the cupboard, I suppose I could spur of the that if its better?

A light switch may not have a neutral?? If it does then you could use it.

 

[sparkticus]

Yes, it a spur from an existing socket but I have no idea if I have ring final circuit.

If the socket contains two cables (two sets of twin+earth) then it is probably a ring or a radial and it will be OK.

If there is only one cable then it is either the end of a radial or a spur. If it is a spur then you are not supposed to branch yet another spur from it.

 

[diyjack]

Ok thanks.