Fitting new light pendant flex

flosswoss | 18:01 Thu 19th Nov 2009 | DIY

6 Answers

Hi. I'm going to fit a new flex and ceiling rose cover because the other is grubby. I've bought a ceiling rose kit and the flex only has 2 wires, blue and brown - is this normal as I thought there were usually three! Also, as I don't need the bit that attaches directly to the ceiling with all the wires going into it, will it be OK just to use the flex and round cover - do these things tend to be a universal fit, i.e. do new bits fit onto the bits already there? As you can guess this is my first attempt at such a job but I know to switch the electric off etc and safety is uppermost in my mind :) Thanks.

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heathfield

If there are only two wires then the pendant is fully insulated and will be of an approved design that only needs two wires. The third (green and yellow=earth) wire is only needed where the fitting, or the bulb-holder, has exposed metal components The only way to know whether the ceiling rose cover will fit the exixting fixture is by trying it. If it doesn't, you'll have to put up the new ceiling fixture. An alternative might be just to clean up the old rose cover using something like Cif to clean off the grubbiness.

flosswoss

Question Author

Thanks for your quick reply Heathfield. That's put my mind at rest - I'm used to there being 3 wires from fitting plugs in the dim and distant past. The cover is caked in paint as well which is why I'd like a new one but if the new one won't fit I'll have to clean it and be happy with just a new flex and bulb-holder..

johnk

Be sure to note where the old wires go. The brown should connect with a black that should be marked with a bit of red tape or sleeving to show that it ia a neutral wire being used as a live. The blue should go to black wires and there should be 2-3 bunched together. Don't connect to the red (live) wires as they are permanently live and your light won't switch off.

flosswoss

Question Author

omg, it's suddenly got very complicated. What's the very worst that can happen here if things go wrong?