Electrical - Wiring Attic lights into ceiling light circuit

pealy

I want to put some fluorescent lights in the attic and ideally wire them into the existing ceiling light circuit. I want to put in something like 4x58W or 4x70W tubes.

Not being an electrician my plan is to find the permanant live from one of the ceiling lights (already exposed on the attic floor) and create a spur via a pull on/off switch. Is it a bad idea to just tap in like this or should I be trying to include them in the 'ring'.

Also - anyone know whether a fluroescent tube 'no power factor correction' is suitable. I notice it's cheaper so probably not..?

shockingmoment

The lighting circuit is the way to go however...

From your post you appear (and acknowledge) to know little about electrical wiring, so the best advice is..get a professional to do the work.

A job like that won't be expensive, and you will be able to rest easy knowing that its done properly.

Get a minor works certificate on completion.

weekendwarrior

You do not need to notify building control or get a minor works certificate.

But you must ensure that you are not going to overload your lighting circuit, to do this count up the number of lights on this circuit and add all the wattages together. The total load on the lighting citcuit should be below 1200watts!

There are some diagrams of different lighting diagrams here that should point you to the correct wire- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/lighting_circuits.htm

This is a relatively easy diy job, but ensure you turn off the electricity before doing any work on it and if you are unsure get professional help!

pealy

Thanks for your comments..

shockingmoment wrote:

so the best advice is..get a professional to do the work.

Always the best advice I reckon but this is something I'm going to do. I reckon I know enough about electrics to make it safe even if the solution isn't elegant.

weekendwarrior - thanks for the link, I think that's going to help alot.

millsc_2

Due to new EU laws you have to be careful when doing electrics yourself. Now sure of the rules but my Brother in Law (who is an electrician) has talked about the new qualifiations they have to have and all the certification which MUST go along with electrical work now ... not really an issue if you are not planning to move, but lack of certificates may hinder surveys etc. Citizens Advice will probably be able to help.

Alan_M_2

Most of the regulations are in place to stop cowboys doing the electrical work, and rightly so. However legally there is very little restriction on the homeowner doing anything they want to do. There is however a requirement of competancy, how you measure this and who measure this has never fully been explained.

mepone9

do you know there is a permanent feed at the lights and not just a switched live. if there is a permanent feed best look for the last light in the circuit it would have only 2 cables into it not 3, take a cable from here to a switch and wire to your lights and connect. job done.

shockingmoment

Moneysaving at what cost?
Your house, your family, your choice.
As another MSer mentioned - its a question of competency. You acknowledge you are inexperienced with electrical work....

Good luck

pealy

shockingmoment wrote:

Moneysaving at what cost?
Your house, your family, your choice.
As another MSer mentioned - its a question of competency. You acknowledge you are inexperienced with electrical work....

Good luck

Let's keep a sense of proportion here, I've had electrical work done by professionals which is downright dangerous. Just beacuse they're qualified doesn't mean they have am unerring committment to quality. It's nonsense to say that only an eletrician can do a job safely. I know enough about electricity, wiring and lighting to ensure that whatever I do is safe. Just because I haven't been to the local college for one morning a week to get my city & guilds doesn't mean I'm a danger to myself or my family.

(Can I have that on my headstone when It all goes wrong..?)

shockingmoment

Keeping a 'sense of proportion'
The cost for this job is small.
The consequences of a mistake are high.
You acknowledge you are not electrically trained.
You mention a 'ring'. Lighting circuits are generally radial circuits
You probably have no means of testing the finished work (apart from switching it on).
Can you be sure its electrically sound? Assuming you fit a metal cased flouerscent - has it been earthed? Has a grommet been fitted to protect the cable? Simple checks if you know about them.

A competent electrician would carry out basic checks and issue a test cert for his work

As my previous post - its your choice.

Good luck

BTW - Not sure who mentioned that only an electrician can do things safely?

The key to this is competency.

If you do choose an electrician - choose one who is registered - for example NICEIC - your local free weekly rag lists these. They proudly display their registration (which costs a small fortune and takes a little bit longer than a morning a week in a local tech college to acquire!)

Last point - flourescents are not generally suitable for 'through' wiring. PVC Cabling (FT and E) that runs past the choke can burn as the choke can get hot. PVC is not rated for these temperatures.

pealy

shockingmoment wrote:

Last point - flourescents are not generally suitable for 'through' wiring. PVC Cabling (FT and E) that runs past the choke can burn as the choke can get hot. PVC is not rated for these temperatures.

I still think you're a scaremonger but I realise your intentions are entirely honorable, I did ask for advice after all. Thanks for the tip about the chokes getting hot, I'll make sure I avoid them.