Joining wires

[Rosa]

No electrician wants to take on the job to fix my ceiling light, so I need some advice please on how to do it myself!
Long story short, I need to join back the cut ends (core wires? Neutral and live) back together after a friend (electrician) cut the flex which feeds power to one of the ceiling light's 'arms'. The problem we had before turned out to be simply that the cheap bulbs I was using kept exploding!

So, anyhow, what do I use as I am confused between the permanent flex connectors ( I'll need two I guess) or the choc-blocks (our friend connected one end of the two wires to one of these) I assume the latter is for a temporary solution or am I wrong?

Any advice is appreciated and any electrician around the croydon area willing to to do this small job would be appreciated even more!

Thanks

 

[jj4091]

Would it not be cheaper just to buy a new fitting & bin the old one, failing that could you post some pics as it is a bit unclear what you are trying to achieve & may be more complicated than you think.

 

[Rosa]

Sorry it was a poor description...I hope these photos help to get an idea of what I'm on about!

Do I just attach the loose ends to the choc bloc? how does this work, do the wires have to touch or do i use permanent flex connectors instead?[/img] View media item 4509 View media item 4508 View media item 4507

 

[ban-all-sheds]

You can use the choc-block to join the cable back together - you can either put the ends in from the same side or opposite, depending on what works best given space and cable length constraints.

You need to strip enough insulation off the cores so that the screws bear down on the copper, but not so much that bare wire is left exposed.

The biggest problem you'll have is that your friend has left you very little flex to work with where it comes out of the arm - it might be worth seeing if you can replace it.

But why the hell did he cut it in the first place?

 

[mattysupra]

the pic with the chock block looks like someone has tried to install onto the flex sheathing and damaged it. looks like you need to cut and strip back past the damaged bit of flex. ( dent in each wire about 5mm from block)

 

[plugwash]

If it were me I'd use solder and heatshrink, given that you have very little flex to work with it will be very hard to get the chock block both solidly attatched and in a place where it won't get in the way.

 

[Rosa]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated... I will give it a go, but if it doesn't work out I will have to call hundreds more elecricians arrrgh!!

 

[Spark123]

I'd be tempted to use the old flex to pull in a piece of heat resistant cable, also check the contacts on the lamp holder have plenty of spring with them whilst they are out.