Cost to wire two different lights to one 'wiring area'?

scarletjim

I currently have this little light outside my front door:

http://www.dumpyourphoto.com/photo/view/164918/mhSxEGdaUwI8

I want to add a floodlight (maybe 200W or LED equivalent) just on the corner of this wall to point round the corner, so maybe 1 meter away from where this light is. I will get an electrician to do it, wouldn't know where to begin myself. So a few simple questions:

1. Can the same wiring system (terminology?) be used to connect up both lights, i.e. could the electrician use the wiring from the existing light to power both? Even if they have very different power requirements? (Happy for them to be operated by the same switch i.e. both on or both off, no independence)

2. Alternatively, is it likely that I could get a 'two-way floodlight' to beam 200W in one direction, and a lot less in the opposite direction, and do away with the existing light (which to be honest gives out very little light)? Or will a big light need a different wiring system to the little one?

3. How much would you estimate it would cost for the electrician's work (I will buy the light myself online)? I know it's hard to be certain, but hopefully I've given enough info for someone to estimate...

Many thanks

securityman

Looks like a 240v light from the pic.
The cheapest way would be to change the light for one like this with two bulbs. One bulb with a higher wattage than the other.
http://www.iviz.co.uk/floodlights/pir-security/black-twinspot-pir-light.html

The only problem might be the height of the current light.


If not you could run some plastic tube from your current light to the new fitting.

Maybe £200

fluffpot

Has the existing light got a motion sensor (I can't see that it does). If not then then by taking the wiring from this light, the only way the new one (with a motion sensor) will work properly is if the existing one is always switched on.

It would probably be possible to run a cable neatly clipped at high level from the existing light to the new one. Plastic tube (conduit) would look quite unsightly IMO

scarletjim

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

THe new one won't have motion sensor either, I'm not a big fan of it, I think it just helps burglars to see what they are doing! My plan is to be able to control these two lights via internet, and I've found a reasonably priced solution to achieve that.

Unfortunately the 'double light' that Securityman has linked won't be able to do it for me, because the other light needs to be about a metre away and point round the corner from this wall.

Hmm I had hoped this problem would have a relatively cheap and relatively easy solution, but sounds like it won't.

Some good news though - the style of my roof means that I could have neatly clipped or even tubed wire without it being too unsightly, as it could go under the 'lip' of the roof edge and be barely visible.

So are you both saying that, as long as I don't mind both lights be operated by same switch, I can power them both from one set of electrics even though their power requirements will be very different?

fluffpot

Yes - unless you have lots and lots of other lights on the circuit adding say another 200 W (or less for LED) won't make any difference

I would estimate it would take me around 1-1.5 hours to test, run cable and fit new light (supplied by you). How much that costs depends on sparks rates round where you are....