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ceiling light sockets


charlie*
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We have light sockets that I have never seen before. I'll decribe them as best I can.

Thin flat plastic circle on ceiling which has a hook (?) . There is a plastic bulb holder attachment which has a small plastic rectangle 'box' on the side - the bulb holder clips into the thing on ceiling. 

I know that the attachment can be quickly transformed by removing it and turning it inside out or something so it can hold a strip light, although it doesn't look strong enough to me.

The bulb holder does not unscrew to (securely) hold a lampshade as in the U.K.    

Are these designed to have lampshades? Do I need to by any other attachments?

 

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What you have is called a "dispositif DCL", which is basically the "nouvelle French norme" for ceiling light outlets, and is a plug and socket type of ceiling attachment.

http://images.google.fr/imgres?imgurl=http://www.prefel.com/images/lumiere_equipements.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.prefel.com/electricite_Pose_2e_etape.htm&h=137&w=247&sz=4&tbnid=VCnLuPIal9QJ:&tbnh=58&tbnw=105&hl=fr&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2Bfiche%2BDCL%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Dfr%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

The tempoary bulb holder is plugged into the ceiling fitting, and you need to squeeze in a clip on the side to unplug it, and the little "box" on the side is a small plug which breaks/clips off and can be connected to any light fitting you buy. Once connected, you unplug and remove the bulb holder and plug in you new light fitting directly to the ceiling. The hook is designed to hold up to 5kg (if it has been installed correctly).

Being an electrician in France, I fit these for a living so if there are any other queries please feel free to ask.

Paul

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If you have your own light fitting that you want to hang on the hook ( I think they are supposed to take 25kg, not 5kg), you can buy the little connection plug (fiche connection dcl) in a good DIY or specialist electrical shop. The theory is that light fittings can be swapped out without actually having to make / remake connections to the wiring. The dcl's are required on new electrical sytems, even for wall fittings, but obviously not for bathroom or external light fiitings

Jim (50, Oxfordshire, single phase both ends)

 

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Yes Jim, I made a typo - my post should have read 25Kg, and not 5Kg. This means that any connection box for ceiling lights HAS to be fixed to the building structure above. The ceiling boxes are supplied with a threaded insert to take a 6mm stud.

Paul

 

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Unplug the lampholder from the ceiling socket. Fit the mini plug (or fiche) to a flex with a lampholder of your choice and fit your lamshade to this. Most shop bought light flexes have a cover and a plastic hook to hook around the ceiling hook, so as the strain is not on the electrical connections.

Paul

 

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