Tools required :-  Side cutters (snips), a medium posi and flat screwdriver depending on the plug top, a Stanley knife and if you have them a pair of wire strippers.

Remove approximately 5cm of outer sheath from the flex, to do this score around the flex with your knife taking care not to cut into the conductors inside, just bend the flex at the score mark once or twice and it should pull off (fig1).

fig 1

Prepare the plug top by unscrewing the top and loosening the cable grip inside. Now place the flex where the cable grip will hold it in place and mark the live conductor (Brown) for cutting, cut and strip sufficient insulation from the conductor to provide enough copper for the terminal screw to screw down on securely.

If you are connecting a small flex, say for a portable stereo, then it is good practice to strip twice the length of insulation you need and double back the copper conductor on itself, to give a better connection (more copper will help the terminal screw to achieve a tighter connection on the conductor). 

Once the live conductor (Brown) is terminated I normally fit the cable grip around the flex to hold it in place ( fig 2 ), this is down to personal preference, you can of course fit it last if you prefer. Now measure the neutral conductor (Blue) to length, strip and connect (fig 3), and finally measure the earth conductor (Green / Yellow) to length and again strip and connect (fig 4).

Now fit the appropriate fuse to suit the appliance (see fuse ratings in plug tops post) and put the top back on securely (fig 5).

fig 2

fig 3

fig 4

fig 5

Making your home more secure to deter burglars doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Fitting a security light is a great deterrent against burglars and can be very handy as the Winter nights draw in. You don’t need a mega-wattage fitting that will scorch the grass from 10 metres, a 150 watt halogen floodlight with a PIR (passive infra red) detector should be sufficient for the average home and there will be little chance of you upsetting your neighbours when it is switching on and off. They can also be physically set at an angle so as not to be intrusive. The light fitting should have instructions for all the settings, e.g. ‘on’ time duration and light level before it operates.

These fittings are inexpensive, cheap to run and fairly easy to fit. With the Part P regulations that are in force you may need to use the services of a qualified electrician. I would supply the unit via a 13 amp switch fuse spur with the fuse downgraded to 2 or 3 amp dependant on the lamp wattage, this is for two reasons : -

1. If the fitting develops a fault due to water ingress, etc, the fuse in the spur will blow rather than the circuit fuse.
2. These fittings usually have an override facility which enables you to switch them on for as long as required, say for an evening barbecue in the Summer, this is done by switching the supply off and on within 2 or 3 seconds at the spur, and when you have finished using the light, simply switch off, wait 10 seconds or more, and switch back on, the light fitting should return to its normal mode.

Don’t forget when the halogen lamp needs replacing make sure the fitting is switched off and the fuse removed, and never touch the glass of the new lamp with bare fingers, use a cloth or tissue as the oil / grease in the skin can create hot spots on the lamp and reduce its working life.

Turn off the consumer unit and remove the appropriate circuit fuse / miniature circuit breaker first before working on any electrical circuit, once the cable is installed make the connections to the two way switches as shown. Fig 1 and fig 2 show the original switch connected with original (old colours, twin Red and earth) switch-wires and the additional two way switch linked with cable in the new colours, which in the case of three core and earth are Brown, Black, Grey and an earth-wire which should be covered with Green and Yellow sleeving, this is because electrical cable is only available to purchase in the new colours. Whenever an electrical installation uses both colours of cable, a self adhesive warning label should be stuck to the front of the consumer unit, the label normally reads :-    CAUTION     This installation has wiring colours to two versions of BS7671   Great care should be taken before undertaking extension, alteration or repair that all conductors are correctly identified. These labels can be obtained from most electrical wholesalers for a few pounds as a cash sale.

Replace the original one way switch for a two way switch, connect the wires as shown ensuring you tighten up the terminal screws fully. Make sure to connect the earth wires even if the switches are plastic, so there is an earth present throughout the length of the new cable, this also ensures there is an earth to connect to should the switches be changed for steel or brass in the future.

fig 1

fig 2

The diagrams in fig 3 and fig 4 are the same as fig 1 and fig 2 with the exception of the one way switch, which is shown connected using twin Brown switch-wires and earth (new colours).

fig 3

fig 4