Fixing Wall Lightings

A wall light is fixed by its baseplate either to a box sunk into the wall or it is fixed direct to the wall. The box, termed ‘BESA’ box, is a termination box to contain the ends of the circuit wires from which the sheath is removed, and a flex connector which joints the wires to the flex of the fitting.

Only wall lights having a baseplate with 50 mm (2 in) fixing centres to match the lugs in the box can be mounted on this circular box. Most wall lights have other types of baseplate of which there are many shapes and sizes. These generally will not cover the circular box nor can they be fixed to it. As a box is essential to contain the ends of cables and wires and the flex connector, another type of box is used. This is a narrow metal box designed for use with architrave switches. The base- plate covers the box, which is sunk in the wall and the wall light is fixed to the wall itself in plugged holes.

Slide-on wall lights

One lighting fitting maker produces a range of wall lights which have a special base-plate in two sections. One section is a backplate with socket terminal connections for the circuit wires and is fixed to the wall. The other section forms the base-plate of the fitting and contains two contact pins which plug into the socket tubes of the backplate.

The fitting slides on to the fixed back- plate and can be detached at any time (for cleaning) by sliding it off.

Switching a light from two positions

To switch a light from two different positions a 2-way switching circuit is installed. There are a number of ways of doing this but the most simple is to wire the light as for one way switching. Connect the cable to the first switch and from this switch run 3-core and earth cable to the second switch position. At each position fit a 2-way switch.

With this method two cables run down the wall to the switch. One is the 2-core and earth sheathed cable, the other is the 3-core and earth sheathed cable. Both cables are run side by side in the one chase cut into the wall and are plastered over using plaster filler.

Two lights switched at one position

Where two lights are switched from one position, for example the ceiling light and wall lights to be switched from the entrance door, the two switches can be a 2-gang assembly mounted on a one gang box and supplied by a 3-core and earth PVC sheathed cable. Where both switches of a 2-gang unit are 2-way switches but both are used as one way switches, only two of the three terminals of each switch are used.

In the hall where the 2-way switch for the landing shares the same assembly with the hall light one-way switch, one is used for 2-way operation and the other for one way operation. With this arrangement, two 2-core (and earth) cables are needed because of the extra wire for the 2-way switch.

With this arrangement it is essential that the hall light and the landing light are supplied from the same circuit.

Switching a light from three (or more) positions

A light can be switched from three positions by fitting a special 4-terminal switch in a 2-way switching circuit. The switch, termed an intermediate switch, is connected at any point in the cable linking the 2-way switches as shown in the diagram.

Further switch positions can be made by adding more intermediate switches, one for each additional switch position.

When one of the switches of a three- switch circuit is to be a cord operated ceiling switch, the ceiling switch must be one of the two 2-way switches. This is because there are no intermediate ceiling switches. In practice the ceiling switch is usually the last switch in the circuit, as in the diagram, and connected to the one cable.

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