Good advice about installing lamps

Pendants and weight

A pendant lamp’s cable can support a certain amount of weight in proportion to how many wires are in the cable (2 or 3) and their cross-section area (0.75 mm2 or 1 mm2). The number of wires of a certain cross-section in mm2 determines the lamp’s maximum weight in kilograms:

2 wires, 0.75 mm2 each – maximum weight of 2.2 kg

2 wires, 1 mm2 each – maximum weight of 3 kg

3 wires, 0.75 mm2 each – maximum weight of 3.4 kg

3 wires, 1 mm2 each – maximum weight of 4.5 kg

Installation

Before you install your new lamp remember to turn off the electricity. You can be certain that the electricity is really off by leaving another lamp on in the area where you’ll be working. If it goes out when you trip the breaker, it should be safe to work.

Even if the light goes out we recommend double-checking with a voltage test to be 100% sure.

Connecting cables to a pattress box

If the building’s wires come out of a pattress box – or just a hole - in the ceiling or wall you won’t be able to hang the lamp directly from those wires. You will need to use a hook and a weight reliever or a suspension screw.

Step-by-step

1. Turn off the electricity.

2. Remove 3-5 cm of the lamp cable’s outer covering.

3. Remove the covering of the internal wires. Twist together the copper ends of the individual wires and trim them to ca. 6 mm.

4. Insert the wires in the connectors, making sure that all of the copper wire is inside the connector, and tighten the screws.

5. Hang the lamp on the hook and cover with a canopy.

Connecting cables to a rose or lamp junction box

A rose or lamp junction box has dedicated connectors for the lamp’s wires and built-in weight relief. Roses can generally support up to 5kg, but the lamp’s own cable has its own weight restrictions as we’ve explained above. If the lamp isn’t going to hang directly under the rose or junction box you can install a gooseneck or a hook and a weight reliever or a suspension screw.

Connectors

A rose or junction box can contain up to 4 connectors, labelled as follows:

N or 0 – neutral wire

M or M1 – middle wire – current from the wall switch

L, P, F or M2 – phase – normal current from the second switch in a double switch
(See symbol underneath) , J or gnd – ground/earth

Step-by-step

1. Turn off the electricity.

2. Remove 3-5 cm of the lamp cable’s outer covering.

3. Remove the covering of the internal wires. Twist together the copper ends of the individual wires and trim them to ca. 6 mm.

4. Insert the wires in the connectors, making sure that all of the copper wire is inside the connector, and tighten the screws. Pull on the cable to make sure that the wires are secure. Only connect the green or yellow wire if there is a ground connector.

5. Pass the cable under the cable support, making sure that the outer covering is intact. Screw the support down and pull on the cable to make sure it is secure. Screw or clip the rose cover in place. Remember to trim the individual wires down so only 6 mm of copper is exposed, and to make sure that both the rose and cable support are securely attached.