The correct cable for making longer lamp pendants.

[DaveyH]

Hi,

I want to replace a few lamp pendants round my granny's house, but new ones only seem to come with 6" cables on them.

I would like them to be longer (about 18" to be precise, because of her high ceilings).

Is this cable suitable for making longer ones?

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/p59619

Thanks in advance.

 

[flameport]

Yes that's ok, provided the lampholder is plastic and does not require an earth connection.

 

[DaveyH]

Yes that's ok, provided the lampholder is plastic and does not require an earth connection.

The lamp holders are plastic and won't require an earth connection.

Cheers

 

[securespark]

Call me old-fashioned, but I used to use 2 core 0.75 HR.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Also plenty of the energy efficient pendent fittings, come with longer lampholder flex.
CEF will supply them.

 

[DaveyH]

Call me old-fashioned, but I used to use 2 core 0.75 HR.

Hi,

I really like the idea of buying heat resistant flex, as my granny loves her old-fashioned 100w bulbs (she still has a stock pile of them). Some of the flex on the current pendants is brittle and it wouldn't suprise me if heat from the bulbs is causing that (as well as years of sunlight, I suppose).

By the way. The ceiling roses and the twin and earth are all in great shape, it's just the flex cables on the drops that's a bit dodgy.

Do you know where I could buy 2 core heat resistant 0.75mm² flex on the high street? I would only need about 3 metres of it.

 

[FrodoOne]

I really like the idea of buying heat resistant flex, as my granny loves her old-fashioned 100w bulbs (she still has a stock pile of them). Some of the flex on the current pendants is brittle and it wouldn't suprise me if heat from the bulbs is causing that (as well as years of sunlight, I suppose).

But does she like paying the bill to run them when 15W LEDs would give as much light (1500 lumens) at 15% of the running cost - and 15% of the heating?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Do you know where I could buy 2 core heat resistant 0.75mm² flex on the high street?

On the High Street, no. But TLC sell cable by the metre. Do you have one near you?

Here's the link to the product
https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/CA0dot75HR2.html

 

[cwhaley]

I also have a stockpile of the old 60w halogen bulbs. I know they are hugely inefficient compared to LEDs, but the cost of getting them (30p a bulb) and the fact they switch on at full luminosity instantly outweighs the few quid it saves a year.

LED is the way forward in the long run though, when the stockpile runs out....

 

[flameport]

instantly outweighs the few quid it saves a year.

Each one costs you £6 extra for every 1000 hours of use.
Equivalent LED lamp is £2 or less.

 

[securespark]

You new-fashioned person, you.

Davey - I always used to use HR. The price difference at the time was negligible and it meant (along with the GET metal-ringed lampholders I used) I didn't get call-out after call-out to sort singed holders/ flexes.

Admittedly, you can get pendant sets cheap these days. But the cheap holders and flexes of today are rubbish.

They seem dearer today, but before I got call-out conscious, I used to get the same pendant that MK bought in and rebranded as theirs for 69p each (10+) plus the dreaded.

 

[mattylad]

B&Q or any of the other big DIY stores would likely sell the cable you are looking for.
Also try Wilkinsons.