Extending a wall light cable running from a double socket

[isabelmac77]

Hello
I purchased a new wall light for my parents bedroom and when I went to install it I found that the existing cable is to short to feed into the new light fitting.

The cable for the existing light fitting is attached to the wall in a plastic casing. When I removed the cover for the casing I saw that the cable for the light fed into a double socket albeit there is a separate on/off switch.

Can anyone please advise me as to the best practise way of extending the cable so that I can install the new light fitting?

Many thanks for your time, any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[securespark]

There should be some fusing down between the socket and the light fitting. Can you post some pictures?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If the light has been spurred from a socket outlet then you would expect a FCU to be fitted between them.
Some thing like this, may not have a switch on it.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/marbo-13a-dp-switched-fused-connection-unit-white/27148

The cables can be extended using connection blocks, within the enclosure of the fitting.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/terminal-strips-5a-pack-of-10/77974
The extended cables will need to be colour compliant to those that are being extended.

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

The extended cables will need to be colour compliant to those that are being extended.

Lost me there Prentice Boy!

 

[rjm2k]

Is the cable fixed inside the wall? If not, you may be able to pull some new cable of the correct length through.

If there is enough space in the light fitting you could also use a connector block to extend.

 

[Chri5]

Sounds like the existing cabling is contained in plastic trunking.

Buy a suitable amount of twin and earth 1.0mm or 1.5mm and rather than do a bodge join replace the cable from switch to the new fitting point.

If you can't find a supplier of short lengths of twin and earth, any cable flex over 0.5mm could be used. You don't say whether the new light requires an earth (it should say on the fitting) if it does 3 core will be required, if no earth required then 2 core will do.

 

[EFLImpudence]

, if no earth required then 2 core will do.

Oh no it won't - you ask any plumber.

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Oh no it won't - you ask any plumber.

Like it!!

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Lost me there Prentice Boy!

Well we don't want that!
Meaning the cables that are to be extended will require to be identified as what they are:
Section 514 & Appendix 7, hope we get you back safely!

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Lost me there Prentice Boy!

Well we don't want that!
Meaning the cables that are to be extended will require to be identified as what they are:
Section 514 & Appendix 7, hope we get you back safely!

Aah! Back on speed! Thought you was meaning that if red/black was used, you couldn't extend with brown/blue.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Aah! Back on speed! Thought you was meaning that if red/black was used, you couldn't extend with brown/blue.

No didn't mean that, but being anal two versions warning notice at board.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

An interesting POV.

If you had a non-harmonised installation, you wouldn't have a warning notice because your appliances had harmonised flex terminated in plugs.

If you replaced a socket with an FCU with a flex outlet, and dispensed with the plug on an appliance, would you add a warning notice?

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

No didn't mean that, but being anal two versions warning notice at board.

Nowt wrong with being anal. Especially when its the right thing that should be done.