Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Gaffers on 02 May 2014, 19:04:24

Title: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: Gaffers on 02 May 2014, 19:04:24
I have 2 external lights which are about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.  As part of a CCTV/alarm project I am looking to replace them with PIR lights but that means I have to raise them up a bit.

Obviously the lights were fitted during the build and the wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground but I need the PIRs at about 3m to give an effective flood of light.

Can I just fit a junction box where the wires come out and then wire in the new light?  Can I do it on my own or do I need a sparky to certify the job afterwards?

Mamy TIA  :y
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: Varche on 02 May 2014, 21:47:58
Do you know where the wires are terminated inside the house? I would pull new longer wire through. MMM Just remembered in UK wires are plastered in aren't they?
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: aaronjb on 02 May 2014, 21:49:57
IIRC anything external has to be done by a spark, does it not?
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: Andy B on 02 May 2014, 22:02:25
....

Obviously the lights were fitted during the build and the wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground but I need the PIRs at about 3m to give an effective flood of light.

Can I just fit a junction box where the wires come out and then wire in the new light?  Can I do it on my own or do I need a sparky to certify the job afterwards?

Mamy TIA  :y

have you looked in the loft? It might be that the cables need cutting down a few feet ... not extending ie they're fed down the cavity from the roof space  :-\
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: AndyRoid on 03 May 2014, 18:12:54
Can I just fit a junction box where the wires come out and then wire in the new light?
No.
The cables need to be crimped and secured in an IP65 (or above) rated enclosure.

Can I do it on my own or do I need a sparky to certify the job afterwards?
Sparks required as you are changing an existing circuit.



have you looked in the loft? It might be that the cables need cutting down a few feet ... not extending ie they're fed down the cavity from the roof space  :-\

wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: Andy B on 03 May 2014, 21:09:25
.....
wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground

I know .... I read that  ::). But you only need the cable extending 3 feet if the cable is going UP the wall from 6 ft to 9 ft. But if the cable is going DOWN the wall from the loft, then you can cut 3 ft off it to get to 9 ft instead of 6 ft  :y
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: AndyRoid on 03 May 2014, 21:15:36
.....
wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground

I know .... I read that  ::). But you only need the cable extending 3 feet if the cable is going UP the wall from 6 ft to 9 ft. But if the cable is going DOWN the wall from the loft, then you can cut 3 ft off it to get to 9 ft instead of 6 ft  :y
I also knew that Andy, but Matt stated the cable is coming up from the ground which means it will need extending if he wants to mount the new lights at an increased height.

What he didn't state was whether the cable was internal or external.
If the former then he can use a JB providing he leaves it accessible at all times, if external then my original answer stands.
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: Andy B on 03 May 2014, 22:30:03
.....
I also knew that Andy, but Matt stated the cable is coming up from the ground which means it will need extending if he wants to mount the new lights at an increased height.

What he didn't state was whether the cable was internal or external.
If the former then he can use a JB providing he leaves it accessible at all times, if external then my original answer stands.

.... and the wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground but  ....

 ;) ;) ;)
Title: Re: Electrician Q - Moving external lights
Post by: AndyRoid on 04 May 2014, 08:38:48
.....
I also knew that Andy, but Matt stated the cable is coming up from the ground which means it will need extending if he wants to mount the new lights at an increased height.

What he didn't state was whether the cable was internal or external.
If the former then he can use a JB providing he leaves it accessible at all times, if external then my original answer stands.

.... and the wiring comes out at about 2m off the ground but  ....

 ;) ;) ;)

Matt's post did originally read (to me anyway) that the cable came up from the ground, but unless he lives in a bungalow then it is odds on that the cable runs through the void space between the ground and first floor.
If that is the case, then the only way to extend the cable without making the join outside would be to lift the upstairs floorboards, however that would still be notifiable to BC as it comes under the banner of modifying an existing circuit.