Upgrade garage lighting

[MidsTW]

So my new build property comes with lighting in the garage which consists of 1 bulb... which for a double garage is not enough.

There is one cable running to the bulb so I am planning to add 2 LED battens instead.. can anyone think why I can’t just add the second batten in parallel to the first so the switch controls both new lights?

Also, any recommendations for 5ft garage lighting? Quite a lot out there with plugs on...

 

[EFLImpudence]

There is one cable running to the bulb so I am planning to add 2 LED battens instead.. can anyone think why I can’t just add the second batten in parallel to the first so the switch controls both new lights?

No. You certainly don't want them in series.

Also, any recommendations for 5ft garage lighting?

I have no recommendations but think fluorescents just as good/efficient as LED tubes.

Quite a lot out there with plugs on.

Are there?

 

[MidsTW]

Okay so if I add a junction box and then add 2 cables one t each light would that be better?

 

[nickjb]

Junction box is the easy way. Just connect up the battens to the existing supply. LEDs are very low power so you could theoretically connect up loads off one switch before over rating it. I put up 4 4ft led battens in my garage. The light output is great. They were about £25 each.

 

[yorkspark]

Okay so if I add a junction box and then add 2 cables one t each light would that be better?

No! Junction box is also the lazy and unnecessary way of wiring, its a brand new install! simply pull the existing cable back to the new 1st light position and then install new cable to the 2nd,3rd etc position.

LEDs are very low power so you could theoretically connect up loads off one switch before over rating it

except some fittings have high inrush startup and can trip mcbs

 

[MidsTW]

Okay I realise now that I actually meant in parallel not in series.

So I can just trim back the existing cable to the first light position and then add a new cable to the second light.

 

[EFLImpudence]

You wrote parallel.

https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:Parallel-Lights

 

[yorkspark]

So I can just trim back the existing cable to the first light position and then add a new cable to the
second light.

errrm

simply pull the existing cable back to the new 1st light position and then install new cable to the 2nd,3rd etc position.

 

[phatboy]

errrm

You seem rather obnoxious, for someone so new.......

 

[securespark]

Yes.

These are good:

https://www.superlecdirect.com/p-at...65-led-noncorrosive-2-x-35w-twin-fitting-6ft/

 

[phatboy]

Yes.

These are good:

https://www.superlecdirect.com/p-at...65-led-noncorrosive-2-x-35w-twin-fitting-6ft/

Wow the price has certainly come down.... 2 years ago I went for fluorescent as LED was expensive and poor output.

 

[JohnW2]

except some fittings have high inrush startup and can trip mcbs

With two "LED batten fittings"(plus 'a bulb') ??

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

I have three of those fittings in the link (two switched together & a third on its own switch) on a 6A MCB with other lighting and never had a tripping issue.

 

[yorkspark]

You seem rather obnoxious, for someone so new.......

Obnoxious people don’t offer there wealth of experience and knowledge for free on a weekend do they?

I also wouldn’t call 7 years as a contributor as new, which incidentally is longer than you’ve been a member.
Perhaps you should have contributed constructively to the thread instead of jumping in with comments which serve no purpose to the op’s question.

This is why so many long standing contributors no longer bother and only dip in occasionally when threads get highjacked with arguments and off topic rants and degenerate into many pages of pointless squabble.

 

[JohnW2]

I also wouldn’t call 7 years as a contributor as new, which incidentally is longer than you’ve been a member.

Certainly not new in terms of duration of membership and, I suppose, just about 'a contributor' - 111 post in 7 years, of which only about 80 have been since the end of 2011 (i.e. about 1.3 posts/month and 1 post/month respectively).

I wasn't moved to comment, but I'm inclined to agree that the tone of your post which started this was probably less than ideal.

Kind Regards, John