splitting double insulated lighting circuit

[stevewoody]

I have 6 downlights with no earth, just red and black wires running from a switch. Currently there is one switch far away from the lights in a different room, which controls all these lights that illuminate 2 different rooms.

I want to remove old switch and have 2 new switches in the actual rooms, 1 in each room with 3 lights on each. Can I just rejoin the cable at the original switch, remove switch and then split the cable above the rooms, drop down to 2 switches and out to 3 daisy chained lights on each? I will use double insulated lights and plastic switches.

 

[sparkwright]

A drawing or photos of exactly how it's currently wired would be extremely helpful.

 

[stevewoody]

Red and black wires from switch to 1st downlight, red and black out to 2nd downlight, repeated in daisy chain, terminating at 6th downlight. Thanks.

 

[Echo the husky]

Can you post some photos? What lamps are currently fitted in the downlights?

 

[sparkwright]

So is there a red and black feed at the switch too?

Presumably there is a supply cable to the switch, then another outgoing cable to the 6 lights?
Neutrals in a seperate connector block perhaps?

 

[deadshort]

What you propose is fine. i would advise you to rewire the lot and add an earth for safety and future use.

Regards,

DS

 

[sparkwright]

Seems odd there is no earth though, would have expected downlighter wiring to be of an age where earth wires are present.

Perhaps the earths have been cut off, or it's been wired in some more non-conventional cable.

Or perhaps it's pre-1966 cable which served some other kind of lighting once.

 

[Echo the husky]

That was kinda why I wanted to see some photos, it just doesn't sound normal.

 

[stevewoody]

 

[stevewoody]

I don't have access to the switch right now. Rewiring with earth is not really an option. Current light are low voltage, but I was hoping to go double insulated and replace with mains fire rated downlights or spots.

 

[sparkwright]

Looks to me like the earths may have been chopped out...

 

[stevewoody]

You're right! I cut back the sleeve to find an unsleeved earth in there. Thanks.

 

[Risteard]

You're right! I cut back the sleeve to find an unsleeved earth in there. Thanks.

That doesn't prove that it's actually connected to the Main Earthing Terminal though...

 

[stevewoody]

If earths are connected at the switch then can I assume it is?

 

[stevewoody]

So stick with double insulated then?