Question about installing ceiling lights

We have brand new ceiling wiring and we wonder whether we can install ceiling lights ourselves. Is anyone aware a good guide on how to install Swiss ceiling lamps?

This has been asked before. Yes you can do it. If you need a guide, then get someone in who knows what they're doing.

(Tip - it's the same procedure in most countries).

Fully agree. I have a long list of electrical jobs to do at the moment - and only plumbing is more difficult (IMHO).

Papa Goose is your man!

Need DIY help or a spare pair of hands?

Thanks. We'll get some help.

It's not too difficult. I had never done it before so for the first few lights I had someone else do it. However, after watching what he did I know how it works and can do it by myself now. You'll need a drill and some basic tools, but it's logical. Usually the box that that light fitting comes in has some basic instructions too.

It's pretty easy to do. I had some fittings which just screwed into the ceiling so required no drilling.

Here is a direct link to an old post I made:

Light installing information

It's basically a summary of the best links from previous threads.

Make sure you

a) know where the power circuits are

b) have the tools and the knowhow

c) Know your wiring diagram (according to the age of the building) to know what is live etc.

If you fail on any of the above - Call a sparky in to do the job.

speaking of ceiling lights, what do you do if there is no earth wire? i've seen a few cases where there is live/neutral, but no earth wire available.

Just leave it out. You do not need it. I have seen many lights with a 3 pin plug but only 2 cables. Same goes for ceiling lights.

And if you've a nice metal light fitting...?

that's the issue i have. if for whatever reason the wire comes loose, it could mean the exterior of the light fitting could become live and zap anyone who touches it (e.g. trying to replace bulb).

Why would the live and neutral be connected to the metal fitting? It should be wired to the bulb connector. I think I get what your asking what if there was a short. Then yes if you were hanging from the ceiling light when it shorts, you could get a shock, but then your fuse box would trip.

I have to be careful for making more then a couple of posts on one thread but then 'Who dares Wins'

The wires do not become loose unless you did a very bad job of screwing them in...pushing them in. I can only think you would need to worry if you lived in a Country which had frequent earthquakes.

You can buy a electrical tester thing from a hardware store if you are really uncertain and it will still be cheaper then getting an electrician in to hang one light.

I guess that solved that issue then.

Very helpful, thanks for pulling this string together.

Plumbing is much easier, you can see any leaks! I had to change a radiator thermostat in my holiday flat, the water was off so I had no idea if I had done a good job. I was happy to return 3 weeks later & find no floods!

In Germany the neutral & earth would be wired together, I thought the concept most dangerous however an electrician here did not bat an eyelid when I mentioned it. His response was that neutral is grounded at the generating station.

I'm gonna make a fool of myself here, I know it...

But then doesn't the electricity stuff run through the lightbulb, into the neutral wire, into the earth wire and then make the light fitting live?

the wires are ok now, but the wiring is old and brittle, when i was wiring the second wire in, the first one broke off and came out of the holder.

my concern is if over time the wiring breaks off/comes loose and and makes the fixture live. since it might seem like a blown bulb, someone could get a shock when they come to 'change' the bulb. since i know about it, i'm ok and can be careful.

i'm just a bit concerned if i have guests in etc.

i might superglue the wire for additional safety or use some electrical tape to limit the movement of the wire...