making safe ends of cables for external lights whilst rendering

[richbraith]

Hi all, having my house re-rendered and we have several outside lights that are going to be replaced. Am intending to remove and bin the old lights whilst old render is taken off and new applied. However, what do I do with the cables that come out of the wall whilst thay are not connected to anything. Do the ends need to be terminated in some way or have electrical insulation tape wrapped around them, etc. Please advise and many thanks in advance.

 

[Sharpend]

Are they all on a circuit of their own ie not with any other lights? 
 

ideally you will need to isolate circuit and/ or terminate in a suitable IP rated (waterproof) box leave hanging on cable. 

 

[richbraith]

Hi, thanks for getting back. No lights are just fed from internal lighting circuit so can't isolate indefinitely (circuit will need to remain live). Can you advise suitable IP rated box for terminating?

 

[Sharpend]

https://www.screwfix.com/p/schneider-electric-round-4-entry-junction-box-with-knockouts-grey-85mm/40613?

 

[richbraith]

Thanks very much!

 

[ProDave]

I presume there is at least a switch inside so you can turn them on and off? So disconnect them from the switch.

Far better for them to be dead than live and relying on the plasterer not nicking a live cable with his trowel.

 

[richbraith]

Shall do that as well - thank you

 

[richbraith]

so if i disconnect switch wire inside switch presumably I have to put that inside a terminal block behind switch inside backbox?

 

[roys]

so if i disconnect switch wire inside switch presumably I have to put that inside a terminal block behind switch inside backbox?

Yip that would do it. Make sure you isolate at consumer unit  first in case the switch is on or you go to wrong side of the switch and touch a live wire. You can then switch your Circuit breaker back on.

Proving dead at the light fitting cables would then be the next step but you might struggle with that.

 

[richbraith]

Yep, will isolate at consumer unit first. 2 questions:

1. Can I test if light fitting is dead by checking for continuity with a multimeter?
   
2. Does it matter which wire in switch is terminated, i.e. switch wire or live (labelled 'L1' and 'com' in diagram attached) - I'm thinking not, though as you said if circuit wasn't isolated at consumer unit live wire would be live? Basically is there a best practice I should following?
   

Thanks again

 

[Sharpend]

Switch off at consumer unit. 
switch light - no light then power is off 

- light on means wrong breaker switched off. 
 

once light is not switching on. 
open up switch and disconnect L1 place core into terminal block. 
refit switch plate. 
 

switch on breaker, operate light switch light should not operate if correct. 
If light comes on then issue with wiring? 
 

ideally confirm circuit has no power test with voltage tester or multimeter on V~ 

 

[richbraith]

Thanks for all the help - very much appreciated!