Electricians - Wiring in flourescent lights in garage?

[Barry_M2]

Question for you electrical type people out there....

I've got x4 36w flourescent lights I'm going to put up in my garage, but as I have 4, I'm unsure how to wire them up!? Series, parallel, some other way??

Anyone knock up a quick diagram for me!?

Cheers


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[G]

Parallel; will be the same for 98% of things like that outside a science class.

I never got around to wiring it in, but I got a IR switch that either can be set to off / IR / on. Ended up getting a switch on a multisocket by the door, so never got around to wiring it in.

What I'd really like to do is to have some kind of time delay (unfortunately my garage really isn't /that/ big to justify it ) for multiple lights, ideally with an industrial 'clunk' sound as they come on; so each ones comes on in sequence as they would in a warehouse in an appropriate film .

[Sparks!]

HMmm that's a bit unlike you G, giving out wrong advice!

They wire in series. From one to the next, the final light will have just one cable to it.

Here is how I would do it
So

Supply --> Switch --> Light 1 --> Light 2 --> Light 3 --> Light 4

Take supply to common side of the switch and then connect the outgoing cable to the switch live and connect neutrals together using connector block. Connect earths at switch earthing point or use connector block if there is no earth point.

Each light will have 2 cables at it except for the last light which will have one. All lights will come on when you flick the switch.
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[Sparks!]

[Fawbish]

Sparks, is it necessary to put a CBR on its back wheel and go around in circles?




I reckon it wouldnt be very expensive to wire up (relatively simply aswell) an oldschool timer/relay set up for each fluorescent light, wired in parallel, with a 1 second, 2, second, 3 second timer respectively.

Also, take a feed off each relay to a simple small speaker in the wall that has a "CLUNK" noise to play.


supply* ----->switch** -----> Time Delay/Relay (1s) --->Light 1/BOOM

supply* ----->switch** -----> Time Delay/Relay (2s)--->Light 2/BOOM

supply* ----->switch** -----> Time Delay/Relay (3s) --->Light 3/BOOM

supply* ----->switch** -----> Time Delay/Relay (4s)--->Light 4/BOOM

supply* ----->switch** -----> Time Delay/Relay (5s)--->Light 5/BOOM

* One single supply for all 5 lights
** A single switch for all 5 lights


A little complex for a simple lighting system, but it could be done.
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[G]

Interesting, though it seems there is a bit of argument about this… still my bad, obviously posted from a rather limited point of experience rather than real knowledge (I’ve got them running in parallel fine in my garage fine.)
Surely running in parallel is not really different to having two separate ones plugged into a multi-socket extension that’s plugged in to turn it on?

And, incidentally, you’ll note that I mentioned already have an IR switch. I’m aware the ‘clunk’ isn’t needed, I just like the aesthetic… I’d probably do it with some small sound effects system . I suspect half the time you seen it in films it's done with a sound effect anyway!

[Matthie]

How many plants you growing?


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[Barry_M2]

I get this bit....

[Barry_M2]

Do you mean like this?.......
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[Fawbish]

No Im pretty sure he means each light will have two cables (ie 2 twins (grey sheathing covering 1 brown and 1 blue)) one going in, and one going out.



That last fluorescent light will have one twin cable to it (ie 1 brown and 1 blue in grey sheathing)




supply > switch > light <> light <> light <> light


where <> is one grey cable in, and one grey cable out.


and one grey cable contains 1 live and one neutral.

I think.


EDIT: something like this attachment, I think?

[Barry_M2]

Yeah, I think I get it, although each light fitting will also need an earth too, surely?
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[Fawbish]

Meh, Its ages since I've done it, but im not sure if fluorescents need an earth.

If they do, just use twin and earth cable.

Sparks, any light on using earths with fluro? (pun intended)
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[Fawbish]

I remember something about a general rule that over about 24", or in unfavourable conditions (areas that could get damp, like a garage), you should ground it out.


But realistically, I reckon Sparks (being a proper, legit sparky an all) will most likely ground most situations anyways.
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[SoulRider]

Mains cable is on AC so should be wired in series (only knew as my garage has recently been done with lights). one cable into the light and one out apart from last light which will just have the one cable in.
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[Barry_M2]

Yeah, I think I'll ground it anyway as it a 3 core cable.


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[Sparks!]

Yes it needs an earth connected at each light and at the switch.

The PVC sheathed cable is called Twin & Earth, it has a brown and blue sheathed core and an un-sheathed earth. When you buy the cable, ask for some earth sleeving as well (green and yellow) and place that over the bare core and connect to the earth terminal of each light.

At the switch if its plastic you'll need to use a connector block (you also need some connector block for the neutrals) so also ask for some 5 Amp connector block when you get the cable. (or get that and the sleeving from Homebase/B&Q etc) If you are using metal clad switch boxes etc then there will be a specific earth terminal on it.

Hope that helps.
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[Barry_M2]

Thats great, cheers Sparks.

Got plenty of connector blocks, loads of cable too. It is a plastic weatherproof switch I'll be using, I'm sure there is an earth point in there!? Its a two-way with one spare switch, the other I used for the outside flood lights.

Right, looks like my weekend is going to be busy.... Making up another door for shed, move existing door, make up a frame for that one, putting up the lights. And finally clearing out the shed!!!
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