Turning off electricity for lights

[bronzea5]

I have a question about removing a light fitting when decorating a ceiling. The light fitting is a basic one with only one bulb so its easy enough to remove.

My question is about turning off the electricity. On the consumer unit, there are 2 switches for Lights. By turning off the 2 switches for Lights, is it safe to remove the light fitting or does anything else need to be switched off such as ring, etc..?

 

[SimonH2]

Firstly, do you need to remove it, or just lower it a little ? And how many cables and terminals are in it ? If in doubt - post a photo.
In principle just turning off the MCB or RCBO for the appropriate circuit should do - but you really want a) a means of locking it off so no-one can turn it back on, and b) a means of testing that the circuit is actually dead before you go fiddling.
Depending on how things are wired, you may have to correctly connect up the wires in order to have other lights work - and in any case, you choudl never turn the power back on without having adequately protected the bare wires.

 

[bronzea5]

Firstly, do you need to remove it, or just lower it a little ? And how many cables and terminals are in it ? If in doubt - post a photo.
In principle just turning off the MCB or RCBO for the appropriate circuit should do - but you really want a) a means of locking it off so no-one can turn it back on, and b) a means of testing that the circuit is actually dead before you go fiddling.
Depending on how things are wired, you may have to correctly connect up the wires in order to have other lights work - and in any case, you choudl never turn the power back on without having adequately protected the bare wires.

I need to remove it, but only temporarily while I put the wallpaper up.

I fitted the light fitting myself years ago. I think it has only 2 cables in it.

Does it require a diagnostics tool to test if the circuit is dead?

 

[333rocky333]

Although Turning off the lighting Mcb does isolate the light, you may find that when working on the wires it could trip an Additional Rcd if you have one, causing other unrelated circuits to go off temporary

 

[flameport]

Does it require a diagnostics tool to test if the circuit is dead?

Yes. Essential before working on any circuit.