downlights intallation help

[shamoo]

Hello guys/girls,
I am no electrician nor do i claim to know anything other than what i read or am told, hence why I'm here asking for your help. I have in the past added plug sockets coming off a spur, and that's about it. My goal is to replica my single light in the kitchen to 8 downlights. Ideally i would get an electrician in to do it, but i just can't afford it. So the plan now is to do all the labour and wire it up myself (with your help ) and before its connected get a qualified electrician to certify it.
I have spent the last few days trying to get some information on how to wire it up and all the other things needed to make sure it's done correctly. I know about leaving enough space because of heat issues but my main concern is the wiring. Can you correct me or just confirm that what i plan to do is correct before the electrician comes and checks?
The downlights are 240v mains lights gu10, with 50W GU10 Halogen bulb, at the moment there is only 1 light in the kitchen, i have got 1.5mm twin and earth cable, is that the right wire? The information i have obtained from various web sites it that a "daisy chain" set up is best but surely it cant be as easy as wiring up from the 1st light to the last light one after the other? or would a junction box be better? Last question and i know I'm probably going to make myself look a bit daft but i just need this to be confirmed. To get the "daisy chain" wired up do you wire the 1st light from the mains (the wire that is feeding the current light) and use the same live and neutral sockets of the 1st light to feed the 2nd light with the twin and earth wire i bought? so essentially each light will have 2 wires in the live and neutral socket, a feed in and out, or am i way off the mark?
like i said i am going to get a sparky to check it all out before it goes live and just want to do the work my self to keep the cost down.
Any help would be much appreciated. thanks

 

[imago]

DIY Bob as you put it must get fed up of visiting for advice and getting abuse from some forum members that think wiring downlighters is some sort of secret work that can only be achieved by studying for 5 years. IMO

I understand your point, and sympathise with the keen and/or experienced DIYer.

However, as has already been mentioned this work requires RCD protection testing and notification according to the current building regs. So bunging in some T&E cutting holes in the celing shoving in the downlights and nipping up the terminals doesn't really cover it. So when a person comes to this forum anyone answering his "have I missed anything/have I got this right" type questions we are all duty bound to point out these issues.

Professional electricians not only have to jump through the hoops and hand over the cash, but on the forum or face to face owe a duty of care to anyone seeking professional advice. The answers may not be welcome, but they should be both accurate and complete IMHO.

 

[AP Electrical]

Could do with a DIY help desk so any forum members who signed up to give up there time and proffesional opinion for free can go and help joe public, and everyone who can't be bothered can stay this side of the fence. Ps I'll be staying this side......

 

[shamoo]

thanks Fin, i will def look into getting the right lamps.

 

[mayfair]

I understand your point, and sympathise with the keen and/or experienced DIYer. Nice to Know

However, as has already been mentioned this work requires RCD protection testing and notification according to the current building regs. So bunging in some T&E cutting holes in the celing shoving in the downlights and nipping up the terminals doesn't really cover it. So when a person comes to this forum anyone answering his "have I missed anything/have I got this right" type questions we are all duty bound to point out these issues.

Professional electricians not only have to jump through the hoops and hand over the cash, but on the forum or face to face owe a duty of care to anyone seeking professional advice. The answers may not be welcome, but they should be both accurate and complete IMHO.

Which in my opinion and its only my opinion and i know i live and work abroad is crap people have been putting lights in for years and its worked just fine. RCD protection is standard here so i cant comment. Over regulated bloody britain....full of jobs worth's

 

[mayfair]

There's alway going to be people that are prepared to help others and those that dont.

Could do with a DIY help desk so any forum members who signed up to give up there time and proffesional opinion for free can go and help joe public, and everyone who can't be bothered can stay this side of the fence. Ps I'll be staying this side......

 

[AP Electrical]

I'll help anyone but to be honest when I look on here it's more for chat, and to pick the brains of other sparks not to walk people through DIY tasks.

 

[imago]

Which in my opinion and its only my opinion and i know i live and work abroad is crap people have been putting lights in for years and its worked just fine. RCD protection is standard here so i cant comment. Over regulated bloody britain....full of jobs worth's

There are plenty of rules and regulations which many people don't agree with, but once you choose to ignore one or a few where does it stop? I certainly don't agree with everything in the regs, some parts are ridiculously over the top, some don't go far enough. The point is though that if the OP goes ahead and something goes wrong there's a very real chance that the "where there's blame there's a claim" mentality will take over.

"Well I was given advice by an electrician that this was all I needed to do. Look, here's a print out of what I was told." = The person giving the advice is screwed.

If you take the alternative scenario.

"Yes, I was told it should be done by a professional, but I ignored the advice." = The person ingoring the advice is screwed.

 

[shamoo]

I understand your point, and sympathise with the keen and/or experienced DIYer.

However, as has already been mentioned this work requires RCD protection testing and notification according to the current building regs. So bunging in some T&E cutting holes in the celing shoving in the downlights and nipping up the terminals doesn't really cover it. So when a person comes to this forum anyone answering his "have I missed anything/have I got this right" type questions we are all duty bound to point out these issues.

Professional electricians not only have to jump through the hoops and hand over the cash, but on the forum or face to face owe a duty of care to anyone seeking professional advice. The answers may not be welcome, but they should be both accurate and complete IMHO.

Thats what i wanted to know, is there a lot more than i thought that is required or am i close? i can take getting information that i might not like but constructive criticism is better than attitude. At the end of the day i respect that electricity is very dangerous but all i'm doing is wiring up lights, not a whole house or new circuit board. Anyway Thanks for all those who have have replied and anymore info that you feel is important pls tell.

 

[shamoo]

There are plenty of rules and regulations which many people don't agree with, but once you choose to ignore one or a few where does it stop? I certainly don't agree with everything in the regs, some parts are ridiculously over the top, some don't go far enough. The point is though that if the OP goes ahead and something goes wrong there's a very real chance that the "where there's blame there's a claim" mentality will take over.

"Well I was given advice by an electrician that this was all I needed to do. Look, here's a print out of what I was told." = The person giving the advice is screwed.

If you take the alternative scenario.

"Yes, I was told it should be done by a professional, but I ignored the advice." = The person ingoring the advice is screwed.

Your 100% right, and thats why i wanted to know how hard it is? could i do 80% of the work or leave it?
Everyones point is valid but remember everything i am going to do will be check thats 100% i justed wanted to get a head start to save on cost,

 

[maffa ent]

i've just read through this post, and can see everyone's points - some well made, some not!

if someone asked me to help them install some downlights, but explained that, for their own reasons, they wanted to do as much as poss, i'd be happy to advise on positioning, type of fitting and lamp etc, and either let them help me do the job, or return when holes are cut, and they've bought the fittings etc.

i would insist on doing everything electrical - pre assessment, bonding, wiring, connections, testing etc.

i'd then issue relevant paperwork.

dget someone to do all that and you're sorted!

 

[StuSpiers]

Drill holes (after careful measurement)
Lay in Cables

Call a spark.