Downlight dilemma - HELP!

[rossage]

Hello lecky whizz kids. Hope u can help. Am after a bit of advice... apologies if this seems basic, I'm learning the ropes...

I have a room and want 9 downlighters in a grid 3/3/3. What's the best way to do this? Do I run the feed (from existing rose) to a JB near to the centre light then run individual 1.5mm cables to each light from there (spider stylie) or do I just run them like a daisy chain from one to the next? I've heard that JB's have to be both fixed and accessible... how do I do this if the hole(s) are nowhere near joists?

Also, what's the score with downlighters? Do they have to be fire rated in the whole house or only some? Heard something about 'fire hoods' too.

Am v v v v grateful for advice and comments

Cheers!

 

[Taylortwocities]

The JBs have to be accessible so put it/them so that you can pull them back thru the light holes if & when you need to access them.

Wiring design is up to you, whatever is most practical.
Spiders web not good IMHO.

There lots of previos threads on the firehoods malarky. Basically there's no need unless you are puncturing a fire-rated ceiling.
Personally, if its a kitchen and there's bedroom above, I fit them.
You dont say what room it is - if its notifiable then check what your LABC guy wants to see - some insist on firehoods/fire-rated fittings.

TTC

 

[rossage]

brilliant, thanks! Saved me a few squid on fire rated downlighters. Its the master bedroom with the loft above it, which will eventually have boards put down - prob clearing the lights by 50mm or so, which was why i was asking about the firehood thing.

Just thought.... if i daisy chain the 9 lights and have room in the light terminals for both sets of wires, do i need to bother with JB's? The whole lot will be visible when u remove the light...

Thanks again TTC!

 

[Pensdown]

You haven't said if there mains or 12volt lights? If you daisy chain you wont need JB's. How are they going to be switched?

 

[rossage]

They are mains, seems to be a loop in system with one way switch at the mo, wld like to put a dimmer in too.

Fankooo

 

[Pensdown]

I thought you would be fitting a dimmer which is why I asked.

If you use 50watt lamps your total load will be 450watts which to much for a standard dimmer.

The easiest way to wire and switch them would be in two or more groups depending on your layout. You could then use a standard 2-3 gang dimmer switch

 

[rossage]

Glad someone knows what they're doing hehe. Will knock it down to 8 then have 2 groups i guess.

Thanks for your help fella

 

[Taylortwocities]

If there's a loft and its accessible you could mount a junction box up there - put it somewhere you can get to and not under the loft floorboards!

You must really like the romantic mood lighting stuff. 450 watts in a bedroom? Does it also get used as a car showroom?
Guess you could wear a welding mask to complete the look and feel

TTC

 

[securespark]

If you daisy chain you wont need JB's.

Not if they're LV.

But if they're SELV, how will you connect the cpc's?

 

[Pensdown]

Is there a problem with daisy chaining LV's?

 

[jj4091]

There can be with some transformer terminals.

 

[securespark]

Whether your tx's have flying leads or not, you need somewhere to connect cpc's (and they should be enclosed, too) so a jb (or chocbox)is the practical answer.