Wall lights - how to remove

DIYhelp76

Hi, 

Grateful for any help with this. 

We'd would like to remove some existing wall lights.  How much disruption would be involved - do cables need to be removed?  Or can the existing cable wires just be terminated in those plastic blocks and then buried in the wall/plastered over?  If so, does each wire get placed in its own terminal?  In one location wejust want to put a picture up over the top, so could mark the wall to indicate there is an old cable there.  

If this is unsafe or not allowed, would it mean channelling out the cable as this may cause a lot of disruption which we don't really want.

We've previously done basic wiring work (changing sockets and wiring in light fittings) - it is something we could do ourselves? Many thx.

bjorn_toby_wilde

They can’t be terminated and left in the plaster as the circuit will still be live.

You don’t necessarily have to remove the cable but it would need to be disconnected. The chances are that these lights are connected to the lighting circuit at a nearby ceiling rose so they could be disconnected at that point. How are they switched?

Just from the questions you’re asking about wiring into a terminal I suspect you don’t have sufficient knowledge to do this. I would respectfully suggest you ask an electrician. It will be fairly cheap and much safer.

Ectophile

If you completely bury the old wire, it remains as a nasty surprise for someone drilling into the wall in future.

As a minimum mark where it is.

If so, does each wire get placed in its own terminal?

If you put them into the same terminal, then something will go bang when you turn the power back on!

twopenny

I was going to get rid of the ones I inherited but people have commented on what a lovely soft light they give making it cosy so I changed my mind.
But you need the right bulbs for that.
My neighbour has replaced hers with modern fittings and they look great.

grumpy_codger

Replace the lights with some small nice junction boxes with blanking plates. Hide the teminated wires inside.
E.g.
https://www.screwfix.com/p/crabtree-capital-1-gang-architrave-back-box-28mm/29025
https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-800-series-1-gang-blanking-plate-white/825XF

Bigphil1474

We had 6 wall lights removed from our house when we moved in. It's a sparky job IMO. The stairs lights were connected to the landing light and he disconnected them from that but left the dead wiring in the wall. Just had to fill the hole left by the fitting. The living room ones were replaced with a junction box of some sort afaik, but we were having the whole walls skimmed anyway. I think the wiring was part of the ring rather than just a spur.