Shortening cable from ceiling light

[ihatealldiy]

Hi,
Planning to shorten the cable for a pendant ceiling light. Most advise the shortening to be done only at the rose and not at the bulb end. Is that right ? Any particular reason ?
Kind Regards

 

[EFLImpudence]

Probably easier - the cable won't still be attached to the ceiling when being cut.

No electrical reason.

 

[mattylad]

I agree, it is certainly much easier to do it at the rose end.
Turn the power off, check it's off atthe rose.
Take photo so you remember where each wire goes if not familiar with them.
Undo the two screws for the cable and remove it.
Get off the ladder and then you can strip the cable easily before returning up the ladder and reaffixing.

Much easier on the floor than messing with the lamp holder while up a ladder.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Undo the three screws for the cable and remove it.

Three?

 

[mattylad]

Thats the trick to see if they are reading

 

[blup]

You’ll find it gets shorter whichever end you use but obviously easier at the bulb end.

 

[Taylortwocities]

but obviously easier at the bulb end

No it isn’t. Much easier at the ceiling rose end.

 

[blup]

Not sure, more straightforward for a diyer, just use a hop up, no confusing wiring exposed

 

[Taylortwocities]

Not sure, more straightforward for a diyer, just use a hop up, no confusing wiring exposed

On the contrary, getting the wire lengths just right so that no inners show in the lamp holder is tricky for some DIYers. Much easier at thd ceiling end.
But it’s not worth an arguement.

 

[blup]

Good practice for when you have a flush fitting

 

[ericmark]

It depends on the rose, I find easier at the plug in part of the rose as can be done on the floor. My chandelier would take some effort to reach the cable. But a simple bulb holder likely easier to do at the bulb holder.

 

[SUNRAY]

Personally I find it infinitaly easier to shorten the rose end but we all have our preferred modus operandi, for example I find it far easier to reverse into parking spaces and my drive but most of my neighbours struggle to do the same.

 

[plugwash]

Planning to shorten the cable for a pendant ceiling light.

What exactly do you mean by "pendant ceiling light"?

A traditional UK pendant set is made up entirely from re-wirable components. You can shorten such a pendant set at either or both ends, or even replace the flex entirely.

I would however not be surprised at all to find some fancy pendants with non-rewirable lampholders.

 

[mattylad]

I have indeed come across 2 of those recently, albeit stand lamp versions.
They took some serious effort and a large vice to be able to open them to replace the cable.

So I too would not be surprised to see non accessible pendant lamp holders.

 

[SUNRAY]

Thinking about it, my daughter was in a new build which had pendants with a low energy holder. She purchased a replacement bulb and soon phoned when it didn't fit, the failed bulb had 3 bayonet pins instead of the usual 2. It was 2 half side covers clipped together, I couldn't prize them apart without damage so I didn't spend any time on it.

It may have been undoable but I simply dumped it.