i've installed a light...

jmarko

...and i need your help!

ok, what i've done is this. there was an electric ceiling rose dangly light and we wanted to replace it with a flatter light. something like this one at argos

so, i've taken everything out and am left with the main cable (leccy was off at the main switch!) and then connected everything up. it said in the leaflet that the box thingy that you attach the main cable to should be put up and through a hole in the ceiling. what i've done is gouged out a gap above the light but under the joist thing (so i've gouged the plaster) and put the connector in there. the diagram below kinda explains it...

=== is wood
xxxx is plaster
ooo is the connector
--- is the metal at the top of the light
0 is a bulb
and the bit at the bottom is the shade thingy. (dots are spacers to preserve formating!)


===== |======
xxxxxxoooxxxxxxx
.......---|

---

...../....0..........\
....\___________/

now, i've switched everything back on and it seems to be working fine. the only question is, is it alright to have the connector in the plaster gap or does it need to go above the wood?

all thoughts gratefully received!

ta

jmarko

ukwoody

Blimey, and I thought space invaders was dead,LOL.

I'm not a sparky I'm a chippie, but I would have thought you'd be fine with that. Certainly I've seen many many like it. The only thing to worry about is heat from the light, if it is too close it could theorectically melt the choc block. Have alook in a few days and make sure it's OK.
Hopefully Baldelectrician or one of the others will be along shortly and they can speak as a Sparky. (well, waffle - as sparkies do, heehee).

Woody

moonrakerz

ukwoody wrote: »

The only thing to worry about is heat from the light, if it is too close it could theorectically melt the choc block. Have alook in a few days and make sure it's OK.

Most light fittings like the one you show give a max size of lamp to fit in it, this is nearly always in the form of a conventional tungsten filament lamp. Always see if you can get low energy lamps to fit instead, not only do they save you money on electricity but they run much cooler so you won't get any overheating problems.

I have just put a new fitting in my bathroom: 2 of max 60W lamps - I put in 2 of 18W low energy lamps; uses less than a third of the electricity and runs cool.

jmarko

thanks for those.

it is a 60w max i think it said and it does have a 60w bulb in - mainly because of (a) where it is and (b) it is a odd shape!

will a 60w get that hot?

ukwoody

IT could do yes. But since you've fitted it, run the light for a few hours constantly. Let it go cold then check it. Any sign of distortion or melting, replace it and move it.

woody

agent_orange_2

Shouldn't the connection block be wrapped in insulating tape?

jmarko

Nowhere did it say that it should be! :eek:

espresso

jmarko wrote: »

Nowhere did it say that it should be! :eek:

Because it's not required.

jmarko

espresso wrote: »

Because it's not required.

...and breathe...

jmarko

espresso wrote: »

Because it's not required.

...and breathe...

espresso

Two breaths seven minutes apart!