Swapping a fluorescent tube for a spotlight unit

[Richard Wilkins]

Hello.
I have bought a circular 5 spotlight unit which I am hoping to use to replace a fluorescent tube. I need some advice about wiring.
The unit I have bought has input connectors for live and neutral.
Having removed the fluorescent light fitting from the ceiling I have the cable from the switch (live, neutral and earth) and three more cables from the mains supply, each with live, neutral and earth.
So, can the spotlight unit I have bought be used in this situation and, if so, how to wire it up correctly.
Many thanks

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

What you will have is the permanent lives (live loop) these are not directly connected to the light fitting. So may need a suitable connector, if one has not been provided.

Then you will have neutral loop, which are all connected to the light fittings neutral.
Then you will have the switch line, this could be coloured the same as the neutral, so that needs to be identified. This is connected to the live on the light fitting.
Then you will be left with the CPC (AKA earth). These are all connected together at the earth terminal of the fitting. It is important if you have a class I fitting that the CPC is proved to be in the circuit.

A picture of the existing cables could be helpful, as you only have a connector that also for two cores to be terminated. You will need to do some work on connecting the neutrals via separate connector linked to the fitting.

 

[terryplumb]

only the SWITCHED live and neutral conductors go to the fitting if it is double insulated ,which is what it appears to be in pic. but what is the metal bar in the pic ,is that part of the fitting ? is it going in bathroom by any chance ? and when you took out the old fitting did you identify the switched live conductor ?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

what is the metal bar in the pic ,is that part of the fitting ?

The metal bar, will be the ceiling bracket for the body of the fitting to fix to.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What you will have is the permanent lives (live loop) these are not directly connected to the light fitting. So may need a suitable connector, if one has not been provided.

Then you will have neutral loop, which are all connected to the light fittings neutral.
Then you will have the switch line, this could be coloured the same as the neutral, so that needs to be identified. This is connected to the live on the light fitting.
Then you will be left with the CPC (AKA earth). These are all connected together at the earth terminal of the fitting. It is important if you have a class I fitting that the CPC is proved to be in the circuit.

Richard - only do all of that if you are OK with waiting until after you have done all that to discover that replacing a fluorescent tube with a bunch of torches was a serious mistake.

Better to realise that now, return the light you bought, and look for something which does the same job that a fluorescent tube does.

 

[Taylortwocities]

look for something which does the same job that a fluorescent tube does.

Even if you do that, you'll still need to sort out your wiring conundrum.

Some bedtime reading on the subject can be found in the often overlooked WIKI
https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Lighting-Rose

 

[flameport]

often overlooked WIKI

More like broken and will never be fixed WIKI.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

There are two problems re trying to keep the Wiki up to date:

1. It's a joyless task, so poor are the facilities offered by the new one.
2. People need to jump through an extra hoop of getting authorised to make changes.