Help!-wiring downlights into bathroom

[anthonyr21]

Hi

We are about to move into a new build property. We wanted to fit 5 downlights into main bathroom and 4 into ensuite.
The developer wanted £70 to do each one so we have decided to do it ourselves.

Is it as staight forward as drilling the holes, taking a feed from the exsiting roof fitting to the first downlighter, ie switch main, earth etc etc. and then running wires from the first downlight to the second and so on?

Is there anything else that I should consider?

Thank you anyone for your help

[Andy98765]

As always, if you know exactly what you are doing then fine. Do not forget that you need to fit lighting suitable for bathrooms.
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Ind...dex/index.html

[stuart07970]

erm....Yes!

Just remember to make sure you use the correct cable, and junction boxes etc.
Don't be tempted to use 'choccy block' terminal blocks.

I'd also make sure you get mains voltage halogens and make sure you connect them in paralell (not series!!!)

Good luck

stuart

[stuart07970]

just like to echo the comments above, and also recommend TLC!
They're good guys! Good advice if you can get to a store.

[anthonyr21]

thanks guys for your help. good to know that I am not talking complete rubbish!!

can you just confirm what you mean by wiring in paralell.
The other thing I was concerned with was that they meet building regs, do I need to put any fire proof coverings in place, or would the fact that I would be putting in lighting suitable for a bathrooms be enough?

Ta

[Andy98765]

Originally Posted by anthonyr21

thanks guys for your help. good to know that I am not talking complete rubbish!!

can you just confirm what you mean by wiring in paralell.
The other thing I was concerned with was that they meet building regs, do I need to put any fire proof coverings in place, or would the fact that I would be putting in lighting suitable for a bathrooms be enough?

Ta

No being funny, but if you do not know what wiring in parrallel and series is I think you should leave for an electrician. Fireproofing is dependant on the materials next to and in contact with the lighting.

[Alaric]

Hi There,

Correct me if i'm wrong here, but i thought technicaly anything more than changing a light fitting required a qualified Part P electrician these days ??? -

I also though new build came with a wiring cert/package and as such any mods need documenting and certifying otherwise your liable to need an electrician at a later stage to come in and verify your wireing etc ?

I'd be very careful here.

cya,
Lee

[Steve1951]

Hi All
Well I am a part p electrician for my sins.

ANY work of this nature PARTICULARLY in a bathroom is expressly forbidden UNLESS you are part P qualified.

This particularly applies to ouside (gardens etc) and also kitchens.

I agree with Andy...if you dont understand series and parralel.......dont do it.

Contrary to Stuarts comment on getting mains halogens (I assume GU10s) you are better off to get 12v individual transformer fed preferably fire rated bathroom fittings.

If you have a shower you will need a fully enclosed IP rated fitting.

If you do it yourself you cannot get it signed off by an elctrician....this is partly because you wouldnt get one to do it as he would have to pretend he had done it,you have to get the local authority building inspector to do it and they will charge around £200.

It is all actually pretty simple but it has been made part of the building regs and that is LAW.

Have I put you off yet?

Regards

Steve

[Steve1951]

Hi All

Sorry meant to give you this site www.partp.co.uk/consumer/consumer_diy.asp


You can read for yourself.

Regards Again

Steve

[Alaric]

Hi Steve,

The link in my post was to the same document !!!

BTW you say fully enclosed for a shower - However you can (well certainly used to be able to ) get low voltage stuff for above a shower that wasn't fully enclosed - A case in point is my fan light, which is a shower extractor fan with a sheethed low voltage bulb at the centre.

This was installed when we built our bathroom a few years back, thankfully before the Part P stuff, which i do personaly feel is a little OTT.

Ta,
Lee

[Steve1951]

Hi Lee

I too think its a bit over the top!

You are right about the shower /fan light.They are ok.

You CAN even have 240v IP65 GU10 MAINS Halogen in a shower......personally I wont fit them.

Lots of guys now will only use the fire rated downlighters too.

However I couldnt cover it all and was going a bit for simplicity.

To be honest I dont know why they dont have to be fully enclosed as the straight forward lights are.

I will have to find out.

Regards

Steve

[windfall]

Anthony - where are you based?
I have been quoted £35 per light and we have done a deal because we need around 35 of them fitted!!
If you are anywhere near north Bucks then I may be able to put you in touch with a sparky who can do this a lot cheaper.
BTW I have to supply fitments and bulbs and will also probably get them from TLC - they are really good.

Good luck.

Tone

[anthonyr21]

thanks guys

was being a muppet and confusing terms. I have wired in paralell before, was having a moment!!

Thanks for all the advice thou, I think that the best bet would be to get a sparky to do it as dont fancy affecting the status of the new build!

I am near bath so if any of you know of anyone then let me know. thanks again, would have probabily gone ahead and done it myself with the right light fittings had I not known about the regulation nonsense!

[davee]

Out of interest the reason for using fire rated downlighters is not because the lamps and transformers get hot, it is to maintain the integrity of the seperating barrier between floors, should a fire occur. (part B of the Building regulations.)

The fire rated downlight will prevent heat and smoke travelling through the ceiling to the floor above but doesnt help when there is duff wiring which is contained within the ceiling/floor void.

The worst situation is in conversion flats when someone with the best of intentions peppers their ceiling with ordinary open downlights totally oblivious of the potential danger to the flat above

When you use fire rated downlights you must use heat forward lamps as the ordinary diachroic lamps throw the heat back.

[SeanT]

So there would be absolutely no point in using fire rated downlights upstairs, eg. in my bathroom (shh), but should definitely use them if I were ever to fit them in the lounge or the kitchen?