Hard wiring a plug in light

Startingagainagain

Hello!
I've never ventured over to this board before but hoping someone with more knowledge than me (so, any) will be able to help.


I have been after some wall lights for ages - the current ones are hardwired either side of the bed and are very close to the bed which has limited my choice of replacement. I also hate them.


Anyway, I bought these from Ikea thinking they were to be wired. They are not (please don't judge me, clearly I didn't read the details well enough!) However, they fit, I can afford them and I like them (and I have spent forever looking for something that fits those criteria).


http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/60163881/


So, I thought I could just fit them to the mains instead. This page explains how you do it but didn't thinking I'd take the first piece of advice and wondered if anyone could tell me if it
1. possible
2. safe


to do so.


http://www.firsttimefancy.com/2011/03/nuts-n-bolts-hardwiring-ikea-lighting.html


I'm happy enough with the logistics of it (as long as my toddler goes down for a bloomin nap at some point today!) but would rather not kill / maim anyone for the sake of a bedside lamp.


(I may be back for advice on the following: which kind of drill bit do I use for drilling through MDF? How do I hang heavy shelves on my own? How do I hang a curtain pole when there is a suspected steel / concrete lintel in the way and my B&D has no chance of getting through it? Why do I start projects without considering whether I have the ability / expertise to complete them? That sort of thing).


Many thanks in advance!

PheoUK

So I'm presuming here that you have three core twin and earth cable coming out of the wall where you want to put the light. That is to say a red/black/Yellow&Green or Blue/Brown/Yellow&Green cable.

If so you should be fine to adjust as per the guide, but bear in mind they are talking US wiring I think - so their colours / hot wires aren't our terminology, so make sure you look up the correct colours for the UK.

Also, they look like they are metal, if so, make sure to connect the earth up to all the metal bits properly - again, not something they seem to do in the US.

The only other thing slightly concerning me is that you are removing the fuse protection from he device. However as I see it, pendant fittings and other lighting circuits are not fuse protected, so I don't think this is a problem. However I am NOT a sparky, so one of them really needs to comment on this.

Re your other questions:

MDF = Wood bit
Hanging Heavy Shelves - Most of them are put up in parts, so mark out, drill the holes, attach the supports, then the shelf
If you have a concrete lintel in the way you need a Hammer Drill and a masonry bit, plus the correct raw plugs

Startingagainagain

Yes - coming out of the wall is 2 x live (separate wires - you can switch the light in 2 places) 1 neutral and 2 earth (these are within the same cable though).


Definitely need to look at the earth thing more carefully.


Playing it safe for today and building a chest of drawers instead!


A decent hammer drill wouldn't go through the lintel (already tried)


And...{red face} which one is a wood bit? I have a collection and I know which the masonry bits are but not sure about the rest.


Thanks for all the info!

dave030445

Hi yes the lights will be fine just wire it up the same as the old ones and make double sure that you earth it properly. As for the drill type there are really only 2 types of drill bit in diy (unless you start get a bit more professional) so if you know the masonry one it will be the other type. The wood bits are sharper to touch aswell.

Startingagainagain

When you say earth it properly - how? Do I use a junction box (apologies if that's not what they're called!)


I have three types of bit - masonry, ones that are very sharp on the end and then some that look like 'normal' ones. The sharp ones didn't go through the MDF (homemade blackboard - why???) but there are more in the house so will rifle through and see what I can find.

dave030445

Startingagainagain wrote: »

When you say earth it properly - how? Do I use ction box (apologies if that's not what they're called!)


I have three types of bit - mason ones that are very sharp on the end and then some that look like 'normal' ones. The sharp ones didn't go through the MDF (homemade blackboard - why???) but there are more in the house so will rifle through and see what I can find.

When you take the old light down it will probably be connected with terminal block just replace like for like the colours should be the same On the new light as the old light. Maybe post a photo of your drill bits then we can identify them.

ManAtHome

Decent starter page for drill bit types http://www.diydata.com/tool/drillbits/drillbits.php

Startingagainagain

Yep, it has a terminal block. So just strip the wires, make the whole as it suggests on that page and screw it to the wall? I can do that!

Startingagainagain

ManAtHome wrote: »

Decent starter page for drill bit types http://www.diydata.com/tool/drillbits/drillbits.php

Thank you! In that case I have twist bits, wood and masonry and another box of Bosch ones to look through. That's my Saturday night sorted then