roxy Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 I hope this is ok to post here. I want to bring a couple of ceiling lights from the UK to fit in France. Would it be possible to rewire them to French requirements or would this be impossible to do or invalidate the insurance? Also, can plugs be rewired for the French system? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anton Redman Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Light fittings are no problem. Ikea sell identical models on both sides of the channel. Ceiling roses are different but at a French celing light point you just have live and neutral plus if you are very lucky an earth. Plugs are no problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo Posted August 12, 2009 Share Posted August 12, 2009 Just bear in mind that UK fittings will not accommodate French lightshades without an adaptor. Ikea sell them.[geek] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 I make table lamps and still have some U.K. fittings that I put into them and I haven't had any problems fitting French lampshades to them yet?What's this about ceiling roses? I have fitted 4 in our place without problems and they are a darned sight more acceptable than the French equivalent of a bit of chocolate block. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 French bulb holders seem to come in two sizes; one the same as UK, and the other more commonly, in our experience anyway, quite a bit bigger, so that a UK lampshade won't go anywhere it. [blink]I'd rather not mix UK and French fittings in the house, but that's a personal preference. Anything I install (electrical) now must have a NF mark on it. One day I'll want to sell and move on (when the garden gets to be too much for me) and I want everything to be "aux normes". [Www]Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 The bigger ones that I have seen are Edison screw fittings and they are not common in England, but the bayonnette fittings should be the same?As for the ceiling roses, when we move, for the same reason as you Sid, the roses will stay there with the cable and socket so there shouldn't be any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 JohnYour reply prompted me to go and check; we have those large ones in the gite bedrooms. You are quite correct, they are Edison screw holders! Apologies for the confusion. [:$]Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 [quote user="Jonzjob"]<What's this about ceiling roses? I have fitted 4 in our place without problems and they are a darned sight more acceptable than the French equivalent of a bit of chocolate block.[/quote]Ceiling roses (UK style) are unusable (as in non authorised) because all junction boxes(which is what a ceiling rose is) must only be openable with a "tool" such as a screwdriver. Remember that it is the householders responsibility to ensure that their property conforms to all the regs...IMHO, French "ceiling roses" (DCLs) are much nicer looking/easier to use than the UK style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 But Nick, you do need a tool to open them. A fair sized ladder 'cause they are 2.7 metres up [:D]Sid, all appologise accepted on several 20€ notes [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Boxes of connection (which a ceiling rose might be considered as an example) should only be openable using a tool (outil) or by a strong manual action (forte action manuelle). Quite a lot of NF compliant JB's are like that. So by my reckoning a ceiling rose wot screws on is OK: it's certainly safe enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Trollope Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 But they ain't. Been through this several times before, but I have changed quite a few at the behest of the house sale diagnostic people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roxy Posted August 13, 2009 Author Share Posted August 13, 2009 Thanks to all for the advice - I am confused though - I was under the impression that a ceiling rose was an ornamental piece of plasterwork surrounding the hole that the wiring came out of - you will all be pleased to know that I am not going to attempt rewiring, myself!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 You are totally correct Roxy they are refering to pendants, not to be pendantic [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Guerriere Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 The pendant is the bit that hangs down. the rose can either be the decorative plaster bit OR the round plastic box in the middle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Known to the trade as pendant sets, what did I say about being pendantic [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 [quote user="La Guerriere"]The pendant is the bit that hangs down. the rose can either be the decorative plaster bit OR the round plastic box in the middle[/quote]I only found out a while ago that a chandelier in french is for the exclusive use of candles and the lighting that hangs from the ceiling (with or without a rose) is a lustre. We live and learn, huh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 Ouch, Jen, the expression "hanging from the chandelier" would never be the same again, don't you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemonimo Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 [quote user="sweet 17"]Ouch, Jen, the expression "hanging from the chandelier" would never be the same again, don't you think?[/quote]Well, SW17, it was only after I had pressed the 'post' key that it occurred to me that someone would pick up on the "hanging from the chandelier" expression, and my money was on Wooly[Www] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted August 13, 2009 Share Posted August 13, 2009 There you are then. I must be at least as bad as Wooly! Come back Wooly, all is forgiven.....really! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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