kitchen sportlight lights gone? need rewireing?

ktcoil

Hi out kitchen spotlight that has 4 or maybe 5 light bulbs(couple replaced over last couple of months), we turned the light on yesterday and there was a flash and one bulb went, this morning we turned it on and all bulbs went and it tripped all the lighting in the house, we are deciding tog et a different type of light or spotlight that's maybe cheaper.


Do we need to get our house rewired? if we got a new light is it easy to change over old spot light to new light or spotlight?


thanks

spadoosh

No, doesnt need rewiring.

Yes it is easy to change a light fitting although i would recommend you getting an electrician (im not an electrician fwiw).

magn8p

Fuses (MCB/RCB) trip protect the electricals from any serious issues when there is a short detected.

So, don't be too worried about changing the entire wiring in the house. Simply change the unit and yes get it changed by a certified electrician.

Also, use this opportunity to install LED based spotlights like http://amzn.to/2ApCXWT which will save considerable amount of energy and hence improves your EPC rating as well.

All the best.

ktcoil

Thanks we have been advised led, is it led spotlights or just normal spotlight and use led light bulbs?


Also forgot to say we have dimmer switch so guessing would still work changing to different light?


thanks

TheCyclingProgrammer

ktcoil wrote: »

Also forgot to say we have dimmer switch so guessing would still work changing to different light?

Not all dimmers work properly with LED bulbs and not all LED bulbs are dimmable.

https://www.lyco.co.uk/advice/dimmers-trailing-edge-v-leading-edge/

What fittings do you have currently? How old are they?

magn8p

You have 3 components in every light fitting - The switch, the holder, the light.

The switch - Simple on/off or Dimmable (Yours is dimmable)

The Holder - GU10 (generally used to hold halogen bulbs), Bayonet, Edison screw etc. (Not sure what yours is but I guess it's a GU10 - More information about light holders here: https://www.thelightbulb.co.uk/resources/caps_bases/)

The light - You have either dimmable or non-dimmable varieties of Halogen (which exerts heat + light), Incandescent (Some light, some heat), Florescent (Mostly light but some heat), LEDs (Only light, negligible heat)

LEDs are deemed to be very efficient because unlike it's predecessors most of the energy is converted to light rather that heat - heat is mostly undesirable.

LEDs also come various bases to match various fittings and also various colours (warm white, natural white, cool white) etc to suit the various moods of the room. And finally also in the dimmable or non-dimmable.

You mentioned that you have a dimmable switch and I guess your holder is a GU10 made for 50W halogens, so the best replacement you can have is the Philips dimmables:

http://amzn.to/2AmVS3w

It's warm white as well so will mimic the light of the halogens but will consume only a fraction of the energy.

Once again, discuss this with your electrician and make a final decision.

All the best.

ktcoil wrote: »

Thanks we have been advised led, is it led spotlights or just normal spotlight and use led light bulbs?


Also forgot to say we have dimmer switch so guessing would still work changing to different light?


thanks

ktcoil

Hello


Well we purchased a new spotlight from argos, (smaller on), we turned the lights circuit off on fuse box and replaced and the light still did not work.


We are now thinking its the switch as it had a slight noise to it when the light was working before blowing.






We are now looking at replacing this to see if that's what wrong and if not we will have to get a electrician to look at the wires etc.
We were looking at replacing the switch anyway as its a dimmer and we don't need a dimmer in the kitchen.
We have seen online for screwfix and b&q they have lightswitches starting at £1.99 and some for about £6.49, is this all we need? what is the write behind the lightswitch called which we want to replace? does that come with the lightswitch for £6.49?
If we was to replace this switch/wire behind is it just the lightswitch switch we turn off on fuse box or do we have to turn all electric off?


thanks

magn8p

Since its getting complicated for you, I sincerely recommend getting an electrician to have a look at this. You will save a lot of time and effort that way. Also electrics is DIY only when we talk putting a new bulb on or plugging something new in. It's no longer DIY if you need to fit new switches or alter wiring.

Call an electrician on site I bet he will diagnose the issue in no time.

If you don't know where to find one, try to check your local classifieds like Yellow pages or Thomson Local. You can also advertise your job in https://www.mybuilder.com and get multiple quotes before you choose a well rated tradesman.

All the best.

ktcoil wrote: »

Hello


Well we purchased a new spotlight from argos, (smaller on), we turned the lights circuit off on fuse box and replaced and the light still did not work.


We are now thinking its the switch as it had a slight noise to it when the light was working before blowing.






We are now looking at replacing this to see if that's what wrong and if not we will have to get a electrician to look at the wires etc.
We were looking at replacing the switch anyway as its a dimmer and we don't need a dimmer in the kitchen.
We have seen online for screwfix and b&q they have lightswitches starting at £1.99 and some for about £6.49, is this all we need? what is the write behind the lightswitch called which we want to replace? does that come with the lightswitch for £6.49?
If we was to replace this switch/wire behind is it just the lightswitch switch we turn off on fuse box or do we have to turn all electric off?


thanks