Light fittings, er ...
 

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Light fittings, er fittings - they're just getting daft

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 IHN
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Last night I had the pleasure of fitting a new light in the bathroom. Said light expected me to pass the ceiling wires into a small box by way of a gland on one end, connecting the wires to the fitting in a tiny connection piece that literally needed a micro driver to tighten the screws, seal the lid onto the box, and place the box in a particular part of the fitting. All with one hand, as the other hand was holding the actual light fitting. Whilst up a ladder, obviously.

Who TF designs these things? Every time I buy a new light it seems to be more ingeniously designed to be ridiculously difficult to fit, with no thought to actually having to do it, or to the fact that the person trying to fit it might not have the luxury of a brand new electrical installation and might only have two inches of existing cable to work with.

Anyway, in the end I got rid of all the stupid fitting bits and chocolate-blocked it to the ceiling wires. Like the previous fitting had happily been for 20+ years.

and breathe.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 10:44 am
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Hate most modern light fittings for these exact reasons.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 10:49 am
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Yup, replace silliness with Wago connectors, and breathe.
edit, sometimes I temporarily hang the fitting on some dinky chain and s hooks that lurk in my tool bag, two hands - what luxury!


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 10:54 am
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I know right. It's like people want ip certification and shiz in bathrooms just for the fun of it.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 10:57 am
spooky_b329 reacted
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Who TF designs these things?

Arseholes, that's who.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:04 am
 IHN
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I know right. It’s like people want ip certification and shiz in bathrooms just for the fun of it.

I get that (although the previous fitting hadn't killed anyone), but if the connections need to be more convoluted, then design the light in such a way that they can actually be done by the person trying to fit it.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:04 am
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I know right. It’s like people want ip certification and shiz in bathrooms just for the fun of it.

Safety should be simple - you don't build in complexity to make the job more difficult on the pretext of deterring the DIYer. That's just stupid.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:09 am
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Light fittings designed to be fitted by electricians...

...with four arms.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:15 am
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I know right. It’s like people want ip certification and shiz in bathrooms just for the fun of it.

It's true, they're just sadists.

When was the last time you electrocuted yourself on the bathroom ceiling light fitting? Is it fitted inside your shower? Is your shower often pointed at the ceiling?


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:25 am
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When was the last time you electrocuted yourself on the bathroom ceiling light fitting?

I lick mine twice a week to check the rcd works

Is it fitted inside your shower? Is your shower often pointed at the ceiling?

A lot of bathrooms do get a bit steamy, I've seen plenty of very rusty light fittings etc in bathrooms.
Of course you don't touch them generally but it's a pita when all the power goes off because of water in your ring 😉


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:38 am
 IHN
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Light fittings designed to be fitted by electricians…

…with four arms.

Yeah, exactly. It's not that it was technically difficult to fit, it was logistically impossible.


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 11:40 am
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There’s no special requirement for IP ratings if your ceiling is above 2.25m from floor level. It’s sounds like the connection box you had issue with was to make it a class 2 fitting and as you’ve now binned it off it’s become a class 1 and needs earthing


 
Posted : 10/10/2023 3:33 pm

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