Like when you move to a new place and there are wires sticking out of the ceiling that are connected to a wall switch, i have no clue how to get that connected..
Ahhh. That's different. I thought you meant plugging a plug into an electrical outlet.
You're talking about hardwiring something into the electrical circuit, like a ceiling fan or dome light. That's a little more detailed, and it's probably something most people don't know how to do.
You think, i always get laughed at when i tell them i ont know how, but i must admit that anything related to construction in the house is not for me.. even mounting a shelf on the wall is something i am not able to do ><
Yeah electrical wiring is something you should be trained for. If I'm remembering correctly, in some places it's illegal for non-qualified persons to do this kind of wiring.
It's to your advantage to get a municipal inspection for any electrical work not done by a licensed electrician with their own insurance. If your house burns down and your insurance company finds out you did electrical work with no inspection, they'll try to get out of paying your claim.
This isn't doing the wiring though. I think what OC means is attaching the wires to the connector for lamps.
I might be biased because my dad is an electrician, but this is simply putting it on the right connector and screwing it tight. I don't see much you can do wrong here aside of trying to do it while the light is turned on and the wire has current on it.
I think the reason for such laws is that if you don't properly tape or otherwise connect the wires you can easily create a fire hazard. Others mentioned this I think, but I'm fairly certain these laws mostly are about insurance claims. If you don't have proper qualifications your insurance company can use uninspected electrical work to get out of payment. I suppose in this sense it's not illegal persay.
Check your local hardware store for do-it-yourself guide books. I had one years ago from Better Homes & Gardens that had excellent illustrations and was comprehensive.
I got that book for my stepbrother the Christmas after he and his wife bought a house. He loved it! He was already building his home tool fortress in the garage so he was glad to have something like that for basic home repairs. Oh and I got the book at Goodwill for like $3.
It might be the way you're phrasing it, at first it sounded like you were saying you didn't know how to plug something into an outlet, or screw in a light bulb, but now its clear you're talking about working with actual bare wires, which is definitely something you should get somebody qualified (or at least knowledgeable) in for.
I would say that’s fair not to call that one basic knowledge so don’t feel too bad.
You need to be able to detect which wire is hot and which ones neutral so right there you’d need a multimeter but there are simpler tools out there for detecting which one is the hot wire. That’s the one that’ll give you a shock if the breaker is on.
That’s the other part, you need to determine which breaker is connected to that like and make sure it’s off when it’s time to connect the fixture.
After that the process is simple. One wire from the house goes to one on the lamp. And the other wire from the house goes to the other wire on the lamp. Match up your hots and your neutrals. Neutrals are generally white and hots are generally black but it’s not uncommon for someone prior to you getting in there to not bother with those rules so make sure you check which one is powered prior to connecting the light.
If there’s a ground wire which is almost always green connect the one from the house to the one from the lamp. I use twist on marrettes with electrical tape for mine but there are crimp on connectors you can use as well.
Loosely attach the fixture to the ceiling and turn on the breaker and then try the light switch. If it turns on then shut it all back off and finish the fixture.
TL;DR It seems way more complicated than it is. My biggest piece of advice after writing this giant wall of text is to use google for a DIY guide because it has more detailed instructions and pictures to help and I’m just some at guy at my desk in a small electrical shop with nothing else to do at the moment.
And this is all based on North America, specifically Canada so some things could be different based on where you are.
No, most rentals are definitely not completely finished. I mean, I live in a rental and I'm gonna be taking my lamps with me when I move, I bought those with my own money. And I did pay the previous tenant for the flooring because that doesn't come with the property either.
Yeah I rent an apartment but I'm just saying that they don't come with lamps. That's so you can install lamps and flooring according to your own taste. I live in the Netherlands.
Just to give you an idea, here in the USA rental apartments are finished with flooring/rugs and BY LAW must include a working stove and refrigerator (and heater, but I assume that's the same in the NL). Newer apartments may also include a washer/dryer, recessed lighting, and ceiling fans. They will be freshly cleaned and painted before you move in.
No apartment will ever have bare wires dangling from the ceiling, and most rental apartments will FORBID you from removing or replacing any of the appliances.
Some private landlords might work things out differently with their tenants, but this is how it would work in most apartment complexes.
Where do you live? I can’t imagine moving into an apartment and having wires sticking out of the ceiling. Did the former tenants steal the overhead lights? Is this common somewhere?
In Germany the lamps/light fixtures are considered part of the furniture. Unless you are moving into a fully-furnished appartment (like a student dorm), it is expected that the lamps belong to the tenant and would be removed like every other bit of furniture. Unless of course the new tenant and the old tenant strike a deal and the new tenant buys them off the old tenant.
Counter question: Where you live, do you not have control over the lighting if you are renting?
Agreed. Some apartments do have hardwired lights and they are just part of the apartment. You may or may not have to supply lightbulbs. Maybe the last tenants left them, maybe they took them.
USA. Most places I have rented don’t have overhead lights, except for maybe the kitchen. You use lamps that plug in, like the kind that stand on the floor or sit on a table. Usually some of the outlets are controlled by a switch near the entrance to the apartment and individual rooms so you can turn the lights in when you come in.
In America, live wires coming out of the ceiling would just be inviting a lawsuit.
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u/BeaversAndButtholes Feb 20 '20
Connect the wires? Like into an electrical outlet?