Replacing bayonet fittings with E27 fittings (UK).

[SeanA]

A friend of mine is German and is used to using E27 light fittings rather than the standard Bayonet B22 fittings that are used in the United Kingdom she uses an adapter to convert B22 to E27 for her fixed ceiling lights as very few installations in the United Kingdom have E27.

She has asked me if it's possible to replace the B22 fittings with E27 fittings. I have managed to get some E27 fittings from a large well known DIY store (E27 fittings can be quite hard to get) and I plan to install them. I was wondering however if there was anything I needed to know before installing? I am aware that unlike Bayonet fittings it does matter which way it's wired up as the screw holder is neutral and the center pin is live.

 

[littlespark]

If all you’re doing is changing the b22 lamp holder on a pendant to a e27, then you’re right, live to centre pin, neutral to the outer screw.

a lot of UK decorative fittings come with e27 lamp holders anyway, so it’s not unusual.

 

[westward10]

In Europe ES lamp holders should comply to en60238 and have no polarity bias. Manufactured to this srandard it should be irrelevant where you connect the live conductor.

 

[telectrix]

as above. it's always been convention to connect L to centre contact, but mre recent fittings are manufactured so that it soesn't matter. however us old farts still connect L to centre. i might change when i run out of red/black cable.