Hello,
I'm currently fitting a new kitchen and just planning out my wiring. I'm after some clarification on a couple of points:-
1) I would like to wire under cupboard lights to the lighting circuit and have it on a light switch. Most of the ones I've seen in B&Q and Ikea seem to be the sort you plug into a socket and are labelled for 'mains'. Does 'mains' mean 30A socket mains (as I would normally assume) or can it refer to your lighting mains? Therefore can I use this sort of light on my lighting circuit - I was thinking of cutting the plug off and hard wiring into the circuit via a junction box on top of the cupboard - or do I have to buy some other type of light?
2) Assuming I am wiring the cupboard lights to the lighting circuit I shall control it via a 2 gang switch. 1 gang will operate the main ceiling lights and the other gang the under cupboard ones. My question is what is the best way to wire this - via a 3core and earth (1 common live and 2 switch wires as per http://www.flickr.com/photos/8966682@N06/552223479/in/photostream/) or via a twin and earth for each gang?
The main difference I can see between them is with a 3 core the 1 common live wire is effectively powering both ceiling lights and up to 5 cupboard lights whereas with the other option the load is shared over 2 wires. Most under cupboard lights are advertised as 'low voltage' so does this mean they are not placing a large load on the circuit anyway?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Ben
I'm currently fitting a new kitchen and just planning out my wiring. I'm after some clarification on a couple of points:-
1) I would like to wire under cupboard lights to the lighting circuit and have it on a light switch. Most of the ones I've seen in B&Q and Ikea seem to be the sort you plug into a socket and are labelled for 'mains'. Does 'mains' mean 30A socket mains (as I would normally assume) or can it refer to your lighting mains? Therefore can I use this sort of light on my lighting circuit - I was thinking of cutting the plug off and hard wiring into the circuit via a junction box on top of the cupboard - or do I have to buy some other type of light?
2) Assuming I am wiring the cupboard lights to the lighting circuit I shall control it via a 2 gang switch. 1 gang will operate the main ceiling lights and the other gang the under cupboard ones. My question is what is the best way to wire this - via a 3core and earth (1 common live and 2 switch wires as per http://www.flickr.com/photos/8966682@N06/552223479/in/photostream/) or via a twin and earth for each gang?
The main difference I can see between them is with a 3 core the 1 common live wire is effectively powering both ceiling lights and up to 5 cupboard lights whereas with the other option the load is shared over 2 wires. Most under cupboard lights are advertised as 'low voltage' so does this mean they are not placing a large load on the circuit anyway?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks, Ben