Tips on how to install a lamp

In here we will talk about how you can install your lamp and the different terns used such as earthed, non earthed wires and terminal blocks.

The different between ground wire and a non earthed wire

It is important to understand the difference between the cable wires when it comes to lamps, an Earthed lamp has three wires that come in different colours.

• Yellow/Green wire: this is the earth wire, this is double insulated lamp and acts as a protective conductor to prevent electrical shock and/or fire. Earthed wire lights are mostly needed in damp areas of your home to prevent a short circuit from happening, if for example a light short circuits and some form of defect takes place within the lamp, automatically the lamp protects and the voltage is removed and travels to earth; 
• Brown wire: This is the live wire, this is where the main power supply runs through and there is always voltage in this one. This is the Plus Wire; 
• Blue wire: This is the minus wire, there is no voltage in this one and only ensures that it discharges electricity. This is the Minus or Zero wire.

If your fixture is earthed, this should always be connected to the matching yellow/green wire that should be found in the terminal block, this should be connected correctly to avoid short circuits. A terminal block is where all the electical cables are housed in the ceiling and where all cables are connected together. Connect all wires when installing a lamp via the terminal block this is the safest easiest way when connecting a lamp. It is very important to note that the power must be switched off when you are installing a lamp, as the wires that are coming out from the terminal block through your ceiling shouldn´t have any electical charge.

Voltage loss: What is that?

Voltage loss is when a lamp suddenly gives less light. Voltage loss occurs if the wire within the transformer is longer than 2 to 2.5 meters, this means that the lamp will not light up as well and dim over time. It is therefore best to keep the wire as short as possible for voltage to pass through.

What is a transformer?

If you want to convert a high alternating current such as 230V into a low alternating voltage such as 12V light you will need a transformer. This will ensure that the current is converted from 230V to 12V. A good example of a transformer is the adapter of your laptop or the charger of your phone. How does a transformer work? A 230V current is connected to a transformer, in which this ensures that the current is converted from 230V to 12V (safer voltage)