Exterior lighting

[Gringoking88]

Hi all,

I have been asked to swap an exterior tube lighting thing to 4 wall lights over a shop front for a friend. My question is what would you guys use for the neatest and tidiest way of splitting the cables e.g. From light 1 to light 2 etc etc? I cant do inside the light fitting as they just have a rubber gromit that would only maintain a seal around 1 individual round cable? I am reluctant to use adaptable boxes as they are so big and ugly.

Any advise or ideas would be great???

Many thanks,

Martin

 

[hightower]

Tend to pop external LED lighting connections in a Wiska box here, you can get them fairly small. Not sure if that's the sort of thing you had in mind?

30 Amp Wiska Junction Box 85 x 85 x 51mm - Black IP66 - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WK308B.html

 

[Spoon]

What lights are you thinking of using?
What cable size is currently used for the light?
What fuse size is protecting the cable?

 

[westward10]

Can you not do the split internally.

 

[Gringoking88]

Tend to pop external LED lighting connections in a Wiska box here, you can get them fairly small. Not sure if that's the sort of thing you had in mind?

30 Amp Wiska Junction Box 85 x 85 x 51mm - Black IP66 - https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WK308B.html

Hi Hightower,

I was hoping for something a bit smaller than that, something that could be used almost inline. The lights are going in a line over a length of wall so using that would mean having to run 4 wires from the box for the entire length.

 

[Gringoking88]

What lights are you thinking of using?
What cable size is currently used for the light?
What fuse size is protecting the cable?

Hi Spoon,

The lights are simular to 3291BK Well glass lantern outdoor wall black - http://www.lights2go.co.uk/outdoor-lighting-c1/searchlight-3291bk-well-glass-lantern-outdoor-wall-black-p16295/s16348?utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=%5BVS%5D+-+%28SC%29+-+Searchlight&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=sk0xa2n2b%7Cpcrid%7C141881565289%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7Cpdv%7Ct%7C&gclid=CjwKEAjw19vABRCY2YmkpO2OzTsSJAAzEt8sFq9KIVw0Urpdb8_V-BA9b_OZpdcigBWPnhNZ6JvJBRoCk5bw_wcB

They are currently on 1.5mm flex on a 6 amp mcb which is protected by a 30ma rcd

 

[Gringoking88]

Can you not do the split internally.

Hi Westward,

On the back of the cable entry (base of the light) their is a simple rubber grommet used to maintain ip rating, dont think it would be big enough to put two cables in through and if I did definitely wouldn't maintain rating or it would just split.

 

[westward10]

Hi Westward,

On the back of the cable entry (base of the light) their is a simple rubber grommet used to maintain ip rating, dont think it would be big enough to put two cables in through and if I did definitely wouldn't maintain rating or it would just split.

Sorry not clear, I meant split inside the building.

 

[Gringoking88]

Sorry not clear, I meant split inside the building.

No problem, I could but no need really. I could get away with having one junction box at the beginning of the 4 lights but what I want to do is run them 1 after the other. I have tried to show what I mean in the attached pic

 

[hightower]

Don't bother using the grommit, just seal the entry after both cables have been entered using a bit silicone. I've actually installed lights (can't remember make but decent quality) that don't even provide a grommit and the MI say to use silicone sealant.

 

[westward10]

I would personally avoid the external junction box. Put it inside and run four cables to each light or if possible run pvc conduit internally and connect at through boxes using Wagos.

 

[Gringoking88]

I would personally avoid the external junction box. Put it inside and run four cables to each light or if possible run pvc conduit internally and connect at through boxes using Wagos.

Westward,

The silicone sealing idea made my brain tick lol, so have been doing a bit of reading, have you ever used magic gel as this would seem the perfect solution!!!

 

[hightower]

Westward,

The silicone sealing idea made my brain tick lol, so have been doing a bit of reading, have you ever used magic gel as this would seem the perfect solution!!!

Never used it although had a play with some - seems an expensive option when silicone will do the job for a fraction of the cost.

 

[westward10]

Never use silicone.

 

[Gringoking88]

Never use silicone.

I had heard silicone is not that great, apart from anything unless it is completely dry it conducts!!!! Also it can eat copper depending on the additives. That said this stuff is not exactly cheap so wouldnt mind an alternative lol

 

[westward10]

It is debatable whether silicone affects the properties of the cable sheath as there are so many different varieties. If you need to seal cable entries use a product suitable for electrical work, best to carry out a job to a standard where it is not required at all. You see silicone used all the time when generally it is not necessary.

 

[1Justin]

Well I often tell customers that I need to see the lights beforehand, and that if they don't support loop-in (or at least 2 cables), it's going to cost them extra and/or they'll be having another box on the wall!

Too many lighting manufacturers don't support the prospective installers. I recently grumbled to "DAR" lighting about a 25mm long "junction box" scarcely adequate for a single and very carefully trimmed 1mm cable, and got the unconcerned reply "DAR lighting don't recommend loop-in".

 

[telectrix]

seal with plasticene or blu-tac.

 

[NDG Elecs]

Try and find lights that have sufficient space inside them for two cables....easier said than done though. And preferably ones you could put a gland on. Keep the cable size down to as minimum as possible. Could use a 20mm conduit round terminal box as they are pretty unobtrusive, with a bush and gland on each exit.

 

[Hellmooth]

Would these work? They are ip68 and I use them for garden lighting where putting in flower beds etc but the could look neat enough for what you're doing.