Downlights - is this right?

tagz

Hi

Last night I heard a noise from my bathroom and found that the ring that holds the bulb of my halogen downlight in, had popped out. This is the first time I've seen inside one of these fittings and I noticed that there is no back to it. The wires connect to a bayonet type of thing where the bulb goes and a ring pushes the bulb back into the ceiling where it clicks into place. I know these bulbs get very hot and I would have thought that something would have surrounded the bulb and connector inside the ceiling. When the ring popped out, the bulb was left dangling from the ceiling with the connector and wires showing. Is this right?

Thanks for any help.

Chris25

Ours is the same - I was surprised when I had to replace a bulb. I mentioned it to a neighbour and her's was the same too - so I guess that's OK

Incidentally, I don't know where your lights is sited in the bathroom but if they're over a shower, they have to be 'special' ones to cope with excess moisture.

Mikeyorks

Chris25 wrote:

Incidentally, I don't know where your lights is sited in the bathroom but if they're over a shower, they have to be 'special' ones to cope with excess moisture.

Yes, must be low voltage. Normally connected via a transformer between the light(s) and the mains supply

busymumof3

We've recently had some fitted in our bathrooms and hallway. The bathroom ones are low voltage, the hallway ones are mains powered.

After reading about fitting fire hoods on the back of these downlights on another threads on the MSE site here and here , I asked my electrician. He said that this was only necessary if you had a seperate dwelling above the property where the lights were fitted ie. live in a lower level flat. I trusted that this was accurate but have to say now I've read these threads again I'm not so sure.

I know what you mean tagz, they do look a little insubstantial.

tr3mor

If you're feeling worried about them you could get some small terracota plant pots and sit them on top of them (if you have easy access to the loft).

lapat

special caps can be fitted if needed they can be bought from all diy outlets or screwfix the caps are not necessary and they are all the same with the wires hanging/on show.the caps are usually fitted where there is a risk of fire i.e in the lfot lagging etc
they dont have to have a transformer if they are zone 3 compliant

jimmmyc

As everyone has said, they are fine and how they should be. If you are going to fit anything over the lights only use something thats designed for the job.
They should be low voltage as they are in a bathroom and if you can get into the loft above the lights you could make sure the area around them is clean of debris, such as old newspaper which was used for insulation in the old days!

tagz

Thanks for your replys

We don't have access above the lights as the loft has been converted. We have these downlights in all three rooms in the top floor aswell and I'm worried in case those were fitted like these but were recessed into the roof insulation. I'll check those ones today.

Thanks again.

wonka

I've just had downlights fitted in our bathroom.

I removed the loftboards and insulation so the electrician could install them, and now I need to put the insulation and boards back as I use the loft for storage.

According to these threads I need to fit a firehood (or loftcap) over the light, however these are quite large. The loftvoid (i.e. space from ceiling to top of joist) is only 9cm in my loft, yet a loft cap is 16cm high.

What should I do??

Either I make holes in the loftboards so the loftcap/hood protrudes, or cut the cap to size. How much clearance do these lights need?

Help!

tooconfused_2

Tip a cheap and legal alternative to a fire hood is a clay plant pot turn upside down notch the rim for the cable

robby-01

Mikeyorks wrote:

Yes, must be low voltage. Normally connected via a transformer between the light(s) and the mains supply

Not true they can be mains voltage .