2007-02-25 00:52:47 · 14 answers · asked by Janice R 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If you have to ask the question you are obviously not a competent DIY-er and should ask someone who is.
The regulations do not require an electrician for an ordinary fitting replacement but it does need someone who knows what they are doing and can do the work safely.
2007-02-25 01:05:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check out the old one first. If there are only two wires and an earth then you are pretty sure to find it easy. Beware if when you look at the old fitting and it contains a multitude of wires to different terminals as this makes the whole job more complicated.
If it is two wires then all that is necessary is to make sure that the light switch at the wall is in the off position. When off there is no electricity being fed to either of the wires. When wall switch is on then only one wire will be live. You can even then touch either wire alone without fear of a shock. Do not touch both.
2007-02-25 01:10:31 · answer #2 · answered by ANF 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I would suggest you ask for a bit of help the first time and learn the wiring system.
Be aware that electrical alterations now form part of the Building Regulations part 'P' and should be done by a qualified person.
Some light fittings can have many wires because they are part of a loop in system where live feeds are taken from fitting to fitting and some may also have 2 or 3 way switching.... even more complex.
sorry..........
2007-02-25 01:02:40 · answer #3 · answered by Tetanus Tim 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, I tried it, with no previous experience, and thought it would be easy. Just a case of copying what was there.
I kept running back and forth to the fuse board to disconnect and reconnect the power and got it out of sequence. Pushing a screwdriver into a live socket is no joke.
Get a DIY book and make sure you know everything there is to know, if you really insist on doing it yourself.
Independence is great, but it also means you lying unfound for days if anything goes wrong.
2007-02-25 01:08:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Janice
It is safe as long as you switch the electric supply off first.
obviously best to do this in the daytime when you have natural light to be able to see what you are doing or else make sure you have a plug in lamp or torch no natural light
2007-02-27 10:04:55 · answer #5 · answered by healer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is safe as long as you isolate the electricity at the consumer unit or fusebaoed first. DO NOT just switch off the light as this does not isolate the live feed to the fitting.
Instructions can be found here-
Read the post by ban-all-sheds, it explains it pretty well!
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/viewtopic.php?p=9879&highlight=#9879
2007-02-25 01:07:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
what kind of light fitting are you changing ?
does it hang down or is it fixed to the ceiling, is it a wall fitting or atube / fluorescent type ? - can you add some detail and i'll try and help
2007-02-25 00:59:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
IF you know what you're doing! Make sure mains are switched OFF before you begin!
2007-02-25 00:56:46 · answer #8 · answered by jet-set 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if theres 3 wires red live black neatrual green earth thats old colours new colours are brown live blue neatral green earth. if its loop wireing forget it can be complcated
2007-02-25 05:02:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I f you need to ask the the answer is frying tonight. Look at www.diydata.com the answers are there.
2007-02-25 02:28:53 · answer #10 · answered by taxed till i die,and then some. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋