Spotlight

[jcaan]

I've never installed any lighting before other than put up a chandelier before.

I'm thinking of putting 4 spotlights in a bedroom on 1st floor which has a bedroom attic above it...

I'm good at DIY.

Would this be a difficult task? Any tips?

 

[Murdochcat]

how do you think you'll do it?

 

[jcaan]

how do you think you'll do it?

I've seen some vids.

But I just wanted to gage how do other DIYers or Sparkys feel about it? Is it too much faffing in practical sense. I can imagine with searching and locating for joists can be tricky?

Any personal experiences are welcome.

Thanks

 

[Taylortwocities]

Well, you are going to need to access the ceiling void, somehow. There are joists running one way or the other that may get in the way of wiring.
How easy would it be to pull up some of the flooring in the attic bedroom? Does the floor consist of floorboards, or large sheets?

I assume the bedroom already has a working light in it? Were you planning to attach your new spotlights to this existing light, or will they be on an additional switch ?

PS I personally hate downlights in a bedroom, not really subtle lighting, and the glare in your eyeballs when you look up isnt great either. But maybe you need lots of light for creating videos for your favourite Internet channels.....?

 

[jcaan]

Well, you are going to need to access the ceiling void, somehow. There are joists running one way or the other that may get in the way of wiring.
How easy would it be to pull up some of the flooring in the attic bedroom? Does the floor consist of floorboards, or large sheets?

I assume the bedroom already has a working light in it? Were you planning to attach your new spotlights to this existing light, or will they be on an additional switch ?

PS I personally hate downlights in a bedroom, not really subtle lighting, and the glare in your eyeballs when you look up isnt great either. But maybe you need lots of light for creating videos for your favourite Internet channels.....?

It is floorboard in rhe attic bedroom. But I'll have to move a few things and rip the carpet out..

I was going to attach it to the existing light.. as I don't want to be ripping into the wall to out a new cable for a new switch.

 

[Taylortwocities]

You should be able to undo the carpet and toll it back. There shouldn’t be any need to “rip” anything.

 

[jcaan]

You should be able to undo the carpet and toll it back. There shouldn’t be any need to “rip” anything.

Thanks so much.

Would you say doing it from the bedroom directly is too much faffing ?

I saw a video where the guy made the holes for the spot lights. Used his phone to see both sides of the joists. Then used along drill bit to make a hole in it.

 

[Murdochcat]

Does the lighting circuit have rcd protection?

 

[jcaan]

Does the lighting circuit have rcd protection?

I can't see it has RCD from what I can see on there. The bit thats hanging on thw side is a bell transformer.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Mate, your consumer unit is time expired. Spend your money on getting that up to date, and do the lights afterwards n

 

[jcaan]

Mate, your consumer unit is time expired. Spend your money on getting that up to date, and do the lights afterwards n

Thanks for that. It hasn't caused any issues of yet. So I'll leave that for now. Hopefully revisit in the very near future.

 

[Murdochcat]

No changes to fixed wired circuits without rcd protection and earthing and bonding up to date

 

[Taylortwocities]

No changes to fixed wired circuits without rcd protection and earthing and bonding up to date

yes. And there is no RCD protection on that board.

 

[jcaan]

No changes to fixed wired circuits without rcd protection and earthing and bonding up to date

So I will need to put a new Circuit board in before I'm allowed to add the spot lights?

Is that purely from h/s perspective ? Or legislation/regulations etc?

 

[Taylortwocities]

So I will need to put a new Circuit board in before I'm allowed to add the spot lights?

Is that purely from h/s perspective ? Or legislation/regulations etc?

YOUR health and safety as well as Wiring Regulations. If you ignore those , it’s only your house and your family. What could possibly go wrong?