Lighting in the garage - How to?

[MrOizo]

Hey peoples,

I've got 3 x Double and 1 x single flouros that i was to add to the single Incandescent light bulb.

Whats the best way to doing this? I got some new 3 core wiring today and have three of them hooked up and now want to hook the 4th up and some how into the switch.

First question, Can i run in a mix of parallel and series like here?:


And also, how can i have it switched off the main garage switch?
Reading the code it says if no earth is present then seek advice from professionals - surely there's a pro on here with some advice

Cheers!

[Stott69]

Im not a pro, but have recently done similar. I just replaced the old wiring too, specialy as it was old and cracking. One note, your not ment to wire into the board unless your ticketed.

[samlloyd]

Dont to any weird series/parallel stuff.

I don't fully understand what you are getting at, are the fluoros existing? Or the Incandescent?

If you want them all off the same switch, just take your 3core (twin + earth) to the existing light and piggyback off that. Make sure there is an earth at that incandescent though. If not, check there is one at the switch, and take your new wiring back to the switch.

[fielderz]

I'm just a lowly electrical service tech, but you shouldn't be wiring them "in series", they should all be in effect wired in parallel. Your line diagram isn't exactly a circuit diagram so gives the impression of parallel and series components, but they should all be just piggy backed in parallel, you just have to work out the load drawn by each and decide how many individual circuits you need to support what you have. However this is all fairly moot point however as you should not be doing new wiring or running fixed conductors if you are not qualified, especially if you don't know what you are doing. Wiring back to the board is a definite no-no. This is all prescribed electrical work and needs a certificate of compliance, unqualified people can be and are regularly prosecuted for carrying out prescribed electrical work in NZ.

[Stealer Of Souls]

Technically the previous peeps are correct. The final connection back to the existing circuit should be completed and signed off by an electrician/electrical inspector.

However. If I were to think about how to do it I would say...
Lights are always in parallel in a house.
Phase to phase, neutral to neutral, earth to earth. All three conductors should be completed on all lights.

Using the previous diagram as a guide (and wiring as above) I would think the best path would be:-
Incandescent to first fluoro to the right. That fluoro to the next one to the right. Then up the page to the top right fluoro. Then to the top left fluoro.
You can actually do any path you want. But my point is there are are two sets of each conductor in each light, putting three into the one connector can be a pain.

I think a wire is missing in the diagram... the return "blue" wire from the switch?

[MrOizo]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I personally don't want to hook up the lights to the mains. I want to do as much as i can to minimise cost if/when someone comes in.

I realise i shouldn't have said series. it is all parallel, but i have one having two lights off of it. I'll keep it like Stealer Of Souls said, "But my point is there are are two sets of each conductor in each light, putting three into the one connector can be a pain."

I'll try find some one to hook this up for me.

Anyone in AKL that can help? Beer/Cash?

Churs!

[d1 mule]

just wire it up to the existing incandescent fitting, easy peasy.

pull the lighting fuse / flick the mains / just turn the switch off.

[KinLoud]

Technically the previous peeps are correct.

Hey Lyndsay
Long time!

[ee904age]

just wire it up to the existing incandescent fitting, easy peasy.

pull the lighting fuse / flick the mains / just turn the switch off.

Just be sure the existing fitting isn't "top fed" when using the turn the switch off method otherwise you will be working on a live circuit still. In fact check that regardless as that will affect the rest of your plan. How many wires are in the switch? Just one two core cable or two pieces of three core joined at the switch?

Edit: I'm no sparky, but had a crash course on basic stuff from one when helping him do our renovations.

[d1 mule]

just wire it up to the existing incandescent fitting, easy peasy.

pull the lighting fuse / flick the mains / just turn the switch off.

Just be sure the existing fitting isn't "top fed" when using the turn the switch off method otherwise you will be working on a live circuit still. In fact check that regardless as that will affect the rest of your plan. How many wires are in the switch? Just one two core cable or two pieces of three core joined at the switch?

Edit: I'm no sparky, but had a crash course on basic stuff from one when helping him do our renovations.

While that is a possibility, 99% of stuff in NZ that i came across is done in the "traditional" way of the feed at the switch. I've never seen a garage with twin/triple plate (what you called top feed) wiring like that.

That is generally used when doing renovations on houses where old lead conduit has been removed and the holes down the wall aren't big enough to get all the wiring down for the "traditional" wiring.