Any Electrician's in Leighton Buzzard on here?

[pmanson]

Hi All,

As the title says - i'm in need of an Electrician to install some spot lights in our kitchen and lounge. Probably half a dozen in each room.

Just wondered if anyone would be able to come round and give us a quote. The plan is to get the ceilings replastered in both rooms so you can make as much mess as you need to!

Thanks,
Phill

[gbbird]

Don't know mate. But welcome to LB anyway.

I know a good gardener if ever you need one though.

Lets meet up for a beer soon

regards

greg

[Flying Toilet]

pmanson said:

Hi All,

As the title says - i'm in need of an Electrician to install some spot lights in our kitchen and lounge. Probably half a dozen in each room.

Just wondered if anyone would be able to come round and give us a quote. The plan is to get the ceilings replastered in both rooms so you can make as much mess as you need to!

Thanks,
Phill

Hi,

I know a brilliant sparky in LB. PM me and i will pass the details on.

[Goochie]

Which downlighters are you going for?

Dont go for "energy saving" lamps because they're all hopeless at the moment. We get many many people who have to buy more because they are not bright enough to light their kitchen.

Low voltage lamps require a transformer but product a more intense "sparkly" light (due to the transformer physics). Mains voltage lamps dont last quite as long. Some say low voltage downlighters are bad because the transformers break - just make sure you get one with a 5 yr warranty

If you've any questions on downlighters feel free to ask - we sell thousands through a distributor network.

www.scolmore.com

Edited by Goochie on Thursday 19th July 16:38

Edited by Goochie on Thursday 19th July 16:39

[pmanson]

Goochie said:

Which downlighters are you going for?

Dont go for "energy saving" lamps because they're all hopeless at the moment. We get many many people who have to buy more because they are not bright enough to light their kitchen.

Low voltage lamps require a transformer but product a more intense "sparkly" light (due to the transformer physics). Mains voltage lamps dont last quite as long. Some say low voltage downlighters are bad because the transformers break - just make sure you get one with a 5 yr warranty

If you've any questions on downlighters feel free to ask - we sell thousands through a distributor network.

www.scolmore.com

Edited by Goochie on Thursday 19th July 16:38

Edited by Goochie on Thursday 19th July 16:39

Brought some from B and Q which are fire rated and dimmable... 50 watts each if I remember correctly. They also don't need a transformer.

I've brought 15 of them (7 for the lounge and 8 for the kitchen). Currently there is a dimmer in the lounge and 2 switches in the kitchen (one for a strip light and the other for a normal light).

I'd like both sets to be on a (seperate) dimmer....

Am I right in thinking that:

8 x 50 watts = 400 watts (so I need a 400w dimmer switch)

and

7 x 50 watts = 350 watts (so again I'd need a 400w dimmer switch)

Luckily we're going to replacing the ceilings so we can make a mess of what's up there at the moment (also going to be fitting ceiling speakers in the kitchen).

Phill

[pmanson]

Flying Toilet said:

pmanson said:

Hi All,

As the title says - i'm in need of an Electrician to install some spot lights in our kitchen and lounge. Probably half a dozen in each room.

Just wondered if anyone would be able to come round and give us a quote. The plan is to get the ceilings replastered in both rooms so you can make as much mess as you need to!

Thanks,
Phill

Hi,

I know a brilliant sparky in LB. PM me and i will pass the details on.

I'm in Germany at the moment so i'll drop you an email when I get back over the weekend. We're in no real rush it would just be useful to get some prices and look through the options!

[Goochie]

pmanson said:

Brought some from B and Q which are fire rated and dimmable... 50 watts each if I remember correctly. They also don't need a transformer.

I've brought 15 of them (7 for the lounge and 8 for the kitchen). Currently there is a dimmer in the lounge and 2 switches in the kitchen (one for a strip light and the other for a normal light).

I'd like both sets to be on a (seperate) dimmer....

Am I right in thinking that:

8 x 50 watts = 400 watts (so I need a 400w dimmer switch)

and

7 x 50 watts = 350 watts (so again I'd need a 400w dimmer switch)

Luckily we're going to replacing the ceilings so we can make a mess of what's up there at the moment (also going to be fitting ceiling speakers in the kitchen).

Phill

Your calculations are correct.

One thing to watch is the type of lamp (bulb) that is used. Fire rated fittings normally require an aluminium reflector lamp and NOT a dichroic lamp (the latter you will find is more common in the shops).

The aluminium reflector lamp throws the heat out the front and the dichroic sends it back into the fitting - with a fire rated fitting that has a housing around the lamp holder this results in the lamp cooking itself.

This usually leads to the lamp holder failing, the lamp dropping out and you then need a new fitting.

The type of lamp is normally stated on the fitting itself and is something to consider when buying spares.

You want to come in 50cm from the wall then work on one 50w lamp per square meter of ceiling space.

The lamps will last longer if they're not dimmed too much too often - run them at 10-30% all the time and they wont last as long as 70-100% all the time.

Edited by Goochie on Thursday 19th July 17:07

[pmanson]

Goochie said:

Your calculations are correct.

One thing to watch is the type of lamp (bulb) that is used. Fire rated fittings normally require an aluminium reflector lamp and NOT a dichroic lamp (the latter you will find is more common in the shops).

The aluminium reflector lamp throws the heat out the front and the dichroic sends it back into the fitting - with a fire rated fitting that has a housing around the lamp holder this results in the lamp cooking itself.

This usually leads to the lamp holder failing, the lamp dropping out and you then need a new fitting.

The type of lamp is normally stated on the fitting itself and is something to consider when buying spares.

Interesting - you learn something new everyday! The only reason for going for these ones were they were on offer (pack of 3 for a tenner!) and they seemed a reasonable product - dimmerable, no transformer etc

Can you supply the switches we need? We're after some matt chrome remote switches (something like this)

Thanks,
Phill

[Goochie]

Sadly, we dont sell directly to the public - house builders and electrical wholesalers are who we supply.

Generally thats because the public are a PITA

Drop me an email though and I may will be able to sort something out if you dont need very many (looks like you dont need very many)

If you register at www.scolmore.com you can download the brochures. The Deco and Define ranges are the sort of thing you're looking for.

Phil (used to live just down the road from you!)

Edited by Goochie on Thursday 19th July 17:21

[pmanson]

Goochie said:

Sadly, we dont sell directly to the public - house builders and electrical wholesalers are who we supply.

Generally thats because the public are a PITA

I can understand that! Thanks for all your help - i'm a bit new to all this house stuff and i'd rather learn it myself then get someone in to do it all for me.

I've got a very good mate who's a sparky who is helping me out but he's not qualified to work on houses anymore (does all the big switchgear stuff for Eastern Electric I think).

It's all a steep learning curve but good fun at the same time!

[Goochie]

I was busy revising my post while you were typing (See above)

[pmanson]

Goochie said:

I was busy revising my post while you were typing (See above)

Would that be in Wendover or Leighton Buzzard where I know live? Must update my profile slightly.

I'll download the brochures when i'm back from my business trip and SWMBO can take a look!

I think i'll need:

2 x 400w remote dimmers
1 x remote dimmer for 2 50w wall lights (expect that will need to be a 400w one as well)
2 x 1 Gang light switch (To control the landing light - one at the bottom and one at the top)

And that's it for the time being!

[rsv gone!]

You need to know what type of transformers you have in order to select dimmers;

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/S...

Also, your switches for the halway lights should be '1-gang 2-way' if you intend controlling the same lights with more than one switch.