DIY Light Fitting

1) Is it possible to safely fit my own lights?

Installing a new light fitting can be a simple job but often it can turn into an absolute nightmare. We know from experience that what can seem like “a 5-minute job” absolutely never is! There can be a multitude of cables in the ceiling, junctions that need fixing and wiring that needs straightening out and making safe. 

A lot of modern light fittings come with a single cable entry into them and this is not compatible with or extremely difficult to mate up with the wiring in our homes. This makes DIY LIGHT FITTING difficult. Depending on how the lighting circuits in your home are wired depends on how easy a job this is likely to be. Most homes will have several cables at the ceiling light and this can make things tricky. 

2) What cables are at the ceiling light?

If there is 1 cable, Hallelujah. All that needs to be done is to connect the 3 wires up, ensure the CPC is sleeved and test the earthing connection back to the main incoming power at the consumer unit to ensure that the light is earthed. Perhaps a quick check of your electric shock protection device and any other testing we think may be necessary to ensure your safety. 

3) If there are multiple cables then the real fun begins!!! 

If the light fitting you want only has 1 cable entry, then its not going to work trying to get a million cables into it is it? We are then faced with having to create a junction and bring a single cable in, this can be easier said than done but don’t worry, we are well experienced in this. 

4) I have taken my light fitting down and don’t understand the wires! 

We feel your pain. At this point it would be genuinely best and safer to call an electrician that knows their stuff! Chances are you have at least 9 separate wires up there possibly more and possibly less. 

There is usually an incoming power cable with three wires, an out going power cable with three wires and a switch cable with three wires. There can sometimes be a fan cable if the light is in the bathroom and this will likely add another 4 wires to the mix. Then of course there is the possibility that there is a two-way switch taken from this point in the ceiling which means even more wires. 

If you don’t understand which is which then connecting random cables up can-do damage to your electrical system. If you don’t have the test equipment to ensure earth continuity once the work is finished then don’t attempt the work. 

Please do not worry though, we are here to help. If you have gotten yourself into a pickle, just give us a call and we will be happy to attend, no judgement, just a good job done. 

5) I have fitted the light but now it’s staying on!!!!

This can happen when a light has been fitted and the power has been turned back on to find the light is permanently on! This means the light has been wired incorrectly. 

Please do not attempt to fix it. It will likely just get worse from here. Give us a call and explain the problem then we will know how best to fix the issue when we get there. We are able to attend urgently if you tell us its an emergency or if it can wait then we will be able to get there within a few days at reduced cost. We can help sort your DIY LIGHT FITTING disaster. 

6) I tried to fit the light but it’s hanging off!

The photograph shows a light fitting that has been done poorly. The screws haven’t held so an attempt has been made to hold it up with silicone. The wiring is dangerous and poor and generally the whole situation is a mess. 
We can help. We can likely repair a disaster and put it right for you. Not only that but we can also carry out the necessary testing on the circuit and earthing to ensure compliance with the wiring regulations whilst we are there.

If you have a had a mishap then pick the phone up. 

Best switch the power off though… If you have a light fitting hanging around then it is most likely not very safe. 
I fitted a light but now the fuse board blows or bangs! 

Sounds like we have a problem then. If the fuse board / consumer unit won’t allow the circuit to turn back on then it is likely that there is a problem. At this point, it may be worth admitting defeat and giving us a call. We can test the circuit with our specialized test equipment and find out what has happened and then put it right. 

Its important that you don’t keep attempting to restore power to the circuit by turning the circuit breaker back on as this will likely result in permanent damage to the consumer unit or wiring. The circuit breaker is continually dissipating a large fault current whenever it blows and turns off and it is not designed to do this repeatedly. 
If the RCD is tripping then there is a similar issue and once again, it will likely require a visit to put it right. But on the plus side we should have it up and running quite quick in most cases.  

7) I have decided against fitting the light myself, do you do this or just fix stuff?

Decided against DIY LIGHT FITTING then read on. 

Yep. We are happy to get involved in electrical work before anything goes wrong. Despite us being electrical faults fixed we also carry out lots of other electrical works too. 

If you would like us to fit one light or several just get in touch and we will happily give you a quote for works.

8) How much is it?

Check out our help sheet for prices. This saves us updating every single web page every time prices change or are added. The help sheet is just here https://www.electricalfaultsfixed.co.uk/helpsheets-downloads

If you cannot find what you are looking for then just use our website contact form on the homepage or give us a call.