move or add ceiling lights - Homebase

how to...
move or add
ceiling lights
A brief guide. Skill rating: advanced
If you are looking to move a ceiling light or want to add additional
light fixtures, this guide offers some step-by-step instructions
and handy hints to help you undertake the work.
Always use the manufacturer’s instructions when fitting any new electrical
equipment. If you are at all unsure, always get the assistance of a qualified
electrician. Homebase recommend the use of NICEIC registered electricians
for electrical installation work.
be aware
This guide is only suitable if you are moving or adding new ceiling
lights if using the existing light switch and wiring. If adding new ceiling
lights, it also assumes you have access to the ceiling void from above.
In the UK, ALL work should be carried out to BS7671 and Approved
Document P of the Building Regulations and it is illegal to work on
electrical installations in a kitchen, bathroom or garden without it
being inspected and approved by a Part P registered electrician or
prior notification to a local Building Control Officer. The replacement
of accessories is deemed acceptable if carried out in a competent
manner.
CLASS 1 equipment (metal fittings that rely on earthing as their
protective measure) can only be installed where there is a reliable
earth at the point of installation.
In some older installations (approx pre 1966) lighting circuits may be
found wired without an earthing facility. On no account should Class
1 equipment be connected to such an installation. Contact a qualified
electrician.
Electrical
1: Switch off the power supply
If you are in any doubt of ensuring that the circuit to be worked on is
dead and appropriately isolated, we would recommend you refer to the
Electrical Safety Council’s “Guidance on safe isolation procedures for low
voltage installations”.
Always switch off the power supply at the consumer unit (also known
as the fuse box) before starting any electrical work.
If you are able, turn on the relevant light before you turn off the power
supply, to check that you’ve turned off the correct circuit breaker or fuse.
Either take out the relevant fuse or ensure that the relevant miniature
circuit breaker (MCB) is in the off position and effectively disabled and
cannot therefore be accidentally switched back on.
2: Preparing the area
Make sure you can reach the ceiling light fittings without over extending
yourself by standing on a safe structure – e.g. a ladder.
Then with the power disconnected and verified dead as detailed in
Section 1, remove the bulb, lampshade and existing ceiling rose cover
(normally you can unscrew) to reveal rose mounting box and wiring.
3: Determine the type of circuit
you have
Wiring colours in the UK were changed in April 2006, (fig. 1) shows the
wiring colours for installations pre and post April 2006.
Where differing wiring identification colours exist, a warning label should
be attached at the consumer unit.
Now you can determine if you are working with a junction box or loop-in
circuit. Junction box circuits usually have only one cable entering the rose
mounting box, however it is possible for junction box circuits to have two
or more cables, where a ceiling rose in a junction box circuit has been used
to loop one or more light fittings into it; loop-in circuits have two or three.
The process for moving or adding ceiling lights varies by the type of circuit
(fig. 2a & 2b).
4: Creating the new light position
Determine the correct position of the new light fitting and make a small
hole in the ceiling using a bradawl, old small screwdriver or nail to
minimise the chance of damaging a hidden cable or pipe etc.
Make sure there are no wires within the ceiling void that you might cut
or touch when drilling through the ceiling into the void.
how to... move or add ceiling lights
New colours (Post April 2006)
Power
cable
circuit
Power
cable
circuit
Switch cable
Two core and earth
Three core and earth
Old colours (Pre April 2006)
(fig. 1) Wiring colours pre and post April 2006
(fig. 2b) Junction box wiring
Mark with
brown tape
Two core and earth
Three core and earth
Light flex
Ceiling rose
Junction box
Switch
cable
Switch
Light spur cable –
to ceiling rose
New spur
Power
cable
circuit
(fig. 4) Typical junction box wiring with new
spur
(fig. 2a) Loop in wiring
Power
cable
circuit
Replace old spur
with new spur
Power
cable
circuit
Switch cable
Light spur cable –
to ceiling rose
(fig. 3) Typical four terminal junction
box wiring
Power
cable
circuit
Switch
cable
Earth
terminal
Light flex
Light flex
Ceiling rose
Switch
cable
Switch
Power
cable
circuit
Mark with
brown tape
Light spur cable
to new ceiling
rose
Power
cable
circuit
Switch
cable, mark
with brown
tape
(fig. 5) Loop-in wiring rose mounting box with
new spur

how to... move or add ceiling lights
Tools for the job...
Screwdriver Small Insulated screwdriver
Electric drill Four terminal junction box
1mm2 two-core-and-earth cable
Light fi tting – pendant set
Bradawl
Ladder
Nails
Different coloured tape
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HBHOWDO44 October 2010
5: Remove the existing light fl ex
Disconnect all of the wires connecting the existing light fitting to the rose
mounting box by releasing from the terminals with a small screwdriver.
Before you disconnect any wires, make a note of which terminal each wire
connects to, so you can refl ect this sequence when you make any changes.
Marking each wire with different coloured tapes and using a digital camera or
mobile phone camera could help you.
6: Relocating a light (junction box wiring)
a. Using a screwdriver, carefully release the junction box light spur cable wiring
from terminals on the rose mounting box and then unscrew the rose mounting
box from the ceiling.
b. Take the junction box light cable and push it back up into the ceiling void.
c. The next steps now take place within the ceiling void.
d. If the existing light spur cable is long enough to reach the new position, you
could use it to connect the new light fitting to (assuming in good repair). Take
the existing cabling and feed it through the new hole. Now fix your new ceiling
rose to the new location.
e. If it’s not long enough, you will have to replace with a new length of 1mm2 or
1.5mm2 two-core-and-earth cable, extending from the existing junction box
to the new light position, running the new cable to avoid it being in contact
with thermal insulation or a source of heat – e.g. central heating pipe work. If
required, follow steps f to m.
f. Trace the existing light spur cable back to the junction box (fi g. 3).
g. Take the junction box cover off and using a screwdriver disconnect the existing
light spur cable wires from the terminals in the junction box being careful not to
displace any of the other wires. Take a note of the existing terminal connection
points so you can replicate the sequence.
h. Connect the new two-core-and-earth cable to the correct terminals on the
junction box, making sure you sleeve the bare earth wire with a green and
yellow sleeve. Then put the junction box cover back on.
i. Feed the new lighting cable through your new hole and enter the room again.
j. Hold the rose mounting box in place and mark the screw positions for attaching
to the ceiling.
k. Connect the new lighting cable to the rose mounting box. You can now fix the
rose mounting box to the new ceiling position with the screws provided.
l. Screw on the ceiling rose cover, add a lampshade (if applicable) and bulb, then
switch on the power supply.
m. Hide the marks left where the old light once was with filler and paint.
7: Adding a new light (junction box wiring)
For junction box circuits you can either add a new junction box into the power
cable circuit or add a spur from an existing junction box (we only focus on this
option). Alternatively, add a spur from an existing ceiling rose to your new light
location, as per section 9.
more how to leafl ets available at homebase.co.uk
Having created a new light position (section 4), now follow the same procedure
in section 6, but instead of replacing the old light spur cable, attach the new light
spur wires to the terminals into an existing junction box.
Connect the live (brown or red) wire to the existing live (brown or red wire)
terminal; its neutral (blue or black) wire to power circuit neutral (blue or black)
terminal and its earth wire (sleeved in green and yellow) to the earth terminal
(fi g. 4).
8: Relocating a light (loop-in wiring)
a. Using a screwdriver, release the wires from the terminals on the rose mounting
box for each attached cable, then unscrew the box.
b. Push all the loose cables back up into the ceiling void.
c. The next steps now take place within the ceiling void.
d. Take a new four-terminal junction box and connect the wires of the loose cables
you have just pushed through into the ceiling void (fi g. 3).
e. Connect the live (brown or red), neutral (blue or black) and earth (bare) wires
of the power circuit cable(s) to three separate terminals within the junction box,
cover the bare wire with a green and yellow sleeve.
f. Taking the switch cable, connect the live (brown or red) wire to the designated
live terminal, the earth (bare) wire to the designated earth terminal (sleeve wire
as above) and the (blue or black) wire to the fourth terminal that’s currently
unused. The blue or black cable connected to the fourth terminal should be
marked/sleeved with brown tape, to show it’s live.
g. O nce completed run a new length of 1mm2 or 1.5mm2 two-core-and-earth light
spur cable, extending from the location of the new light position and wire it into the
new four-terminal junction box, connect its live (brown or red) wire to the fourth
terminal where the neutral (blue or black) switch wire has been connected; its
neutral (blue or black) wire to the power cable neutral (blue or black) terminal and
its earth wire (sleeved in green and yellow) to the earth terminal.
h. To complete the job, follow steps 6i to 6m.
In line with the requirements of BS7671 the junction box, (with its screwed
terminations) must always be accessible for inspection.
9: Adding a new light (loop-in wiring)
To add a new light within a room on the same light switch, you can simply add a
spur from an existing ceiling rose to your new light location.
Having completed sections 2 to 4, connect a new length of 1mm2 or 1.5mm 2
two-core-and-earth cable, extending from the location of your new light position
to the ceiling rose you’ve chosen to add the spur to.
Feed the new spur cable from the ceiling void into the back of the existing rose
mounting box (fi g. 5). Temporarily take out the screws holding the box to the
ceiling, to give room to manoeuvre.
Connect the live (brown or red) wire to the fourth terminal where the blue or
black with brown sleeving switch wire has been connected; its neutral (blue
or black) wire to power circuit neutral (blue or black) terminal and its earth wire
(sleeved in green and yellow) to the earth terminal.
To complete the job, follow steps 6i to 6m.