Changing light in bathroom

AuntyJean

Have a standard rose fitting in bathroom with flex about 10 inches long - standard fit for light bulb on the end.

Have bought a new bathroom light that screws to the ceiling. Trouble is I do not know if the ceiling is plasterboard or the old lathe & plaster as it is Artexed.

How easy would it be to remove the rose and screw the new light in place? Is it a DIY job or will I need an electrician?

Muddybloke_2

I'm almost certain that under the new regs this has to be done (or at least certified) by an electrician as the fitting is located in the bathroom.

AuntyJean

All I was told was that the light had to be a certain standard which it is. It is the fitting that is the problem. I have been told it is easy enough but some articles state you have to check the fuse in the circuit box in the ceiling. Trouble is the ceiling is in an extension and there is no access to it from above!

grumbler

AuntyJean wrote:

...some articles state you have to check the fuse in the circuit box in the ceiling. Trouble is the ceiling is in an extension and there is no access to it from above!

Hence, there is no any fuse besides the circuit breaker in the consumer unit.
Regarding what you can and what you cannot do youself see http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/new rules.htm ...

Rhino666

I wouldn't be worried whether or not it was plasterboard or lathe and plaster, as long as there was a small void above, sufficient to house a lighting junction box or the more usual plastic block connector.

To check this all you need to do is pick a light day, turn off/pull out the lighting fuse at the fusebox (then check lights don't work), unscrew the top part of the ceiling rose and finally unscrew the two screws that hold the rose body to the ceiling - all will be revealed.

I would be inclined to replace the ceiling rose with a proper lighting junction box and thread into the ceiling void. The new fitting should be large enough to cover any extra hole you need to make to push the junction box into the ceiling. If the light has a standard 2 wire fitting it will simply replace the two wires from the old bayonet fitting on the ceiling rose.

Plastic block connectors are a bit of a bodge but regularly used with low powered lighting to replace a safer junction box where space is limited.

Make sure you accurately locate the joist/lathe to screw your new light fitting into something reasonably solid.

Good luck !

weekendwarrior

Muddybloke wrote:

I'm almost certain that under the new regs this has to be done (or at least certified) by an electrician as the fitting is located in the bathroom.

The new rules are confusing for electricians, never mind the general public!

Changing an existing light fitting for a like for like replacement is allowed, as is changing a shower like for like or a cooker that is like for like!

Some light fittings can be a real pain to install, I once got one from Ikea that had 5 neutrals and 5 live wires, this was very difficult to put up!