Problem: Mains Ground Lights and a lot of them!

[hursty]

Hi Guys,

Right a customer has 48 mains voltage ground lights (YES 48!!!) all recessed into the side of a path around the house, and in concrete!
I have been to job twice before to solve faults, all have been water inside units, but something long term needs to be done to solve these, as I've cleaned out and dried out about 10 previously.
I can not find much detail about the lights, and haven't set any myself in concrete, but I believe that to gain the actual IP rating of 67 the lights have to have some sort of drainage underneath, please correct me if this is wrong.

So what I have found so far, each light is 1.8w LED GU10s, 600mm apart, and glanded at bottom in and out which what is a harder wearing rubber flex, maybe HO7 cable? but really should this be underground? surely only SWA OR SY?

Another thing which I wouldnt of done, they are all switch fed, so only ONE feed out to adaptable box and all of them are split into sets of 4. Due to one feed, means any problem anywhere and the LOT goes out.


But I am in conversation with customers about getting kango out and getting it all up, and doing it properly, but really want to make sure i'm covering every possible angle due to the size and labour in this job. So if there are any different solutions or any new type of products which will be better suited i'd be more than help to know??

Any advise or knowledge of this installation would be great.

New lights, less lights, SWA cable, resin joints?

And customer definitely wants ground lights with blue LEDS :S

 

[Octopus]

Replace them with "spike" lights - a far better solution, and being above ground, water ingress shouldn't be an issue.

 

[hursty]

Exactly what my first response was to the customer, but no, he WANTS recessed blue ground lights :willy_nilly:

 

[Octopus]

Exactly what my first response was to the customer, but no, he WANTS recessed blue ground lights :willy_nilly:

Excellent. Just think of the repeat business over the coming years!

 

[R G]

The only solution is to use SWA and to install either post lights or spike lights with all terminations above ground , in the case of post lights the terminations are usually within the fittings , but make sure they are good quality ones...Ray...

 

[hursty]

I know I almost want to shake the customer! customer always right? hmmm!

Even with an perfect installation, years down the line if one goes they all go. just luckily they are on a RCBO!

 

[R G]

Another solution might be to go down the route of installing an led driver supplying the underground fittings , positioned at the supply. this would require the fittings to be replaced though and may require splitting up ...