How to Install Downlights With No Access Above | It is Possible!
In this electrical DIY guide i will be showing you how to install downlights when you have no access above the ceiling. I will take you through the process step by step so that you can install spotlights in your ceiling! We will cover everything from drilling through joists to wiring the lights. If you like the video then leave a like, please subscribe for more content like this and check out the other videos on my channel, there are a lot more electrical guides!
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What’s next? Loads planned for the autumn and winter! 😊
I think you should show us how to install glass doors
Can you show us how to tile?
and how to plaster?
Show all the old bulbs from the old ceiling lights
Nice content. Could you please do a video on mounting onto metal stud walls. I do a lot of wall hangings and brick and timber frame walls are ok but these modern metal frame walls do my head in.
Great to have someone to come to who knows what they are doing and can simplify everything for amateurs like me. Many thanks
I saw this video before the first one as I wanted to install downlights in my living room, and I was a bit scared to drill the extra holes and through the joists. However, I saw the first one, got a bit of confidence to attempt it in my bedroom with loft access, then went back to this one and did my living room and it look absolutely amazing. Best guide on here.
You are a top Geezer. This is what KZhead is supposed to be about.
Thanks Cameron, I love learning from all your uploads. They are super helpful.
Glad you like them! Thanks
This is the exact job I have to do this week, the timing is perfect! Thanks for a great video.
Great, you got it!
Brilliant! I felt I was actually there in the room doing it. Many many thanks. Best wishes Peter
Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers
Great video, another time saver tip, if you drill your cut out holes on the joist, then notch your joist for cable then use metal box lid over the notch. Plaster board cut out will then go back , less faffing about making good. The hole saw needs to be bigger than width of joist. Also dont need to check both sides of joist, for cables/pipes.
One of your the best videos yet, after serving as an apprentice and alway been given these type jobs you really made that look effortless can’t believe all the gadgets that are available these days. Keep it going.
Wow, thank you!
this is exact guidance I needed. thank you for this @The DIY Guy
Anytime
Great one Buddy this is a real winner of a video from someone who know's what they are talking about
👍
Great video! Thank you so much for posting! We have a couple of jobs come up. And one without access which we were about to leave due to the access. This is brilliant! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Best video ever well and truely explained and very professional job.
Glad you liked it!
Superb video, just done this in my kitchen project! El3ctrician with 44 years experience!
Brilliant, thanks 🙏
Great video, and I have done this exactly like you, several times. Honestly, the toughest part for me is what you show at the end, the Drywall patching. On a Ceiling you need the drywall repair to be pretty much perfect. Seriously. You almost always view a ceiling from an obtuse angle and that shows the flaws much more than a wall does. Anyway... when you patch, I always use a Primer like Kilz or similar. Otherwise you will see the Mud thru the paint, it will be slightly off color. I almost always repaint the entire ceiling in a room that size.... Scary the first time you do one, it looks like a Gopher infestation when you cut all the holes you need to wire thru the Ceiling Joists. TOTALLY worth it in the end! Primer is cheap... use something like Kilz over the patch
Some great tips and nice explanations on the job in hand .
Thanks 👍
Nice one Cameron, every detail covered. I'm sure a lot of home DIY'ers get worried about drilling in to the ceiling, terrified of what damage they could cause, but thanks to the excellent explanation of use of little tools you have taken most if not all the fear out of it. Another cracking vid, Paul.
Thanks a lot Paul for the continued comments and support. It doesn’t go un-noticed 👍
@@TheDIYGuy1 I do it as I really enjoy the guides, sadly I'm not rich enough to add to the Patreon (but would do if I was). But yes, dead interesting content that deserves a thank you from us lot.
Yeah and how to kill them selves not to mention empowering mere morals with trade secrets. Way to go big guy!
If your not a qualified part P ot NIC EIC or equivalent electrician you legally cannot do this , take no notice of unqualified Pratt builders ,
@@mikebotta4494 When giving an opinion or point, there's no need for ignorant abuse..
As an electrician of old it’s good to see the advancements in the technology and skills now employed. This video is really helpful to keep up to date. I’ll definitely be looking at the quick wire products. 👍
👍 Absolutely
Very good and helpful advice good video I’ve used them when they first came out and I’m doing the bathroom and I try the downlighting one 👍👍👍👍👍
👍
As a fully qualified spark it warms my heart to hear you call it a CPC 😂 great video as always. My favourite channel on youtube 👍🏻
Haha yep you have to say cpc these days ;). Thank you very much!
Pukka video mate. I've wanted to do this for ages but was never sure how to tackle this. Will definitely give this a go.
Go for it! Cheers
Another great videos Cameron 👌 nice to hear about the insulation issue as well as im about to do our bathroom ceiling, quick wire looks the bees knees !
Thanks 👍, all the best with yours
Im a fully qualified electrician. Great job mate and brilliantly done. Ive just finished a job like this that had no access above and this is exactly how I do it well done!! 👍
Thanks a lot 😊
Did you check the opposite of the joist for clipped cables?
Yes, I did show that in the video using a ferret pro inspection camera
I wasn't meant to send that. I pasted it in error and the phone died. I enjoy your videos and they are well detailed.
Good video and the way to do it. Would be worth a mention that it would require a certificate, and switching it on is not testing it is it? Bit more to it. But looks better than last job done by a bedroom fitter that I fixed!
Amazing , I wanted to know how to do this since your first video on downlights , thanks so much for this , really useful
Glad it was helpful!
I’m just about to embark on my first house purchase and it’s needs a refurb and I’m defo going be doing the majority of it to save on the costs you make it look so easy cheers Cameron
Brilliant good luck
Great video and great tips. Never been a fan of down lights myself. But great video none the less.
Thanks for watching!
Your vid gave me inspiration to start a kitchen project. I needed all the advice from the brilliant quick wire downlights to repairing the holes. Mine was different as my looping was done at the light switch with no switch live info and at points I had double joists to go through. But it looking good.
Glad I could help, good for you
Love this content. Just bought a new house with lots of DIY to crack on with. Learned a lot so far, ty
Great to hear!
Nice job, thanks for sharing. keep up the great work.
Thanks for taking the mystery out of this task. I'm tempted to give it a go as I've got two single light and they have always looked a bit "lost".
Do it! 👍
This is exactly what I've' looking for for weeks! Thanks
Glad I could help!
Another excellent video! Just one point to add, it's worth getting the ceiling check for asbestos which is dangerous to breathe in, I recently found I have asbestos which prevented me installing downlight until I get it removed. I hope you don't mind me mentioning this, in older houses it is important to check.
Yep I agree 👍
Most artex ceilings are asbestos, it’s how they got the pattern to hold its shape
Excellent video. Did most of this a few months ago. But the ceiling was seriously chaotic with solid insulation, nails, screws... it's a loft extension ceiling under a flat roof. There was space above insulation under OSB with wedges over the joists for the roof slope. Got there in the end. Screwfix had a refurbished Magnussen inspection camera that I snapped up - exactly what I needed. I prefer 1.5mm² but my lamps struggled with it. In this case, I used 3-core flexible cable and ferrules. Still got my dust holder for the hole saw, thank goodness. Took a week for skin to get over the scraping from hand and arm in the holes!
😂 classic example of it not being an easy job! At least you got it done! Thanks
wow seen a few downlight videos and none were explained as slowly clearly and concise as you did and none made it look half as easy as you showed with the connectors and lights ect im seriously considering doing this to my flat im just a DIYer but think i could do this, if anyone has watched and feels the same please reply be ace to hear if anyone has tackled this at there home and how its come out would give me even more confidence to try myself cheers guys and cheers DIY GUY for the awsome vids
The best thing about putting them in yourself is that you don't run the risk of a pushy workman persuading you that you need ½ as many again as truly necessary. Doin myself out of a job here, as was, I don't think that I've been on a site or even watched sthg like Grand Designs, without me shouting "Too many downlighters, it's like a airport runway or office building in here!" Good luck and wear goggles if you're going to do it. Nothing worse than a past owner's inter~floor dust and gubbins in yer eyes or ears even!
@@JP_TaVeryMuch oh yea deffo mate dust mask as well health and safety is key always key and a fibre glass step ladder just incase
Nice one mate, good to see your channel doing well
Thanks a lot 🙏
Ha! Did this job a week before... Exactly like this but I found holes carrying existing cabling I could use. A plugable solution is great for when the plasterer comes in. Great video as always.
Thanks, nice work
Need to watch the wiring part a few more times but very good many thanks!
Glad it helped, cheers
Those connectors are ace. Done a few lights in my time and nowhere as neat as that 👍👍
Yes they are, cheers
Those Quickwire jobbies make for a neat install!!
Indeed!
Always wanted to know how to do this. Now I know. Many, many thanks.
Any time!
Great tutorial video, thanks a lot!
You're welcome!
Fantastic job
Thanks a lot
Really helpful, great detail and easy to follow. Thank you very much. Have you got a video about installing a separate switch for the spotlights? Or converting a single switch to a double switch? Thinking about situations where you want to have a centre main light and spotlights around it that you can switch on and off separately. Thanks in advance.
I'm loving ur videos, being a diyer all the tips are brilliant
Glad you like them!
When replacing the ‘puck’ into the holes you make to drill through the joists it’s a good idea to remove the backing paper from the upper side (that you won’t see). This gives just a little relief for when you a filling the hole to give a better finish. Also using a fine ball-chain on the lead end of the rods makes it easier to fish the rods out using a hook or magnet.
Thanks for sharing your methods
Drill the holes further from the joist depending on the length of your wood bit then use a nice wee angled chuck. That way the holes through the joists are horizontal and a bit easier to get rods through. Also makes it easier to reach the back of each joist if you need to move cables out of the way. Not tried that lighting system yet but it does look handy.
Good tips 👍
Fantastic my man.
Cheers 👍
Those QuickWire junctions are really neat.
Cheers got to do this perfect timing
Awesome
All good chap, but one little tip when drilling holes for downlights, keep the hss drill bit as short as possible in the hole saw, it only needs to guide in the hole saw and keep it from skidding off line, if it's sticking out 2" it asking for trouble hitting unseen cables or pipes.. from my own experience..:)
Very similar to what I did in my lounge. You're right, it's not quick or easy, that cable fishing business! Mine took a full day, but I did also run cables down the wall and fitted a 4 gang switch so each row of 2 lights could be controlled separately. My downlights are quite deep so before drilling I made a small hole and used a single wire from the 1mm cable bent into an L shape and spinned it round to feel for obstacles. Another tip is don't be shy about making as many access holes as needed. Even if like me you're going to use Polyfilla and sandpaper rather than re-plastering it doesn't take long to fill them in perfectly.
Great, thanks for sharing 👍
good video lad keep em coming
Thanks, will do!
Im a builder n i find your videos pure brill. Great advice, easy to follow n I might need to hide this channel from my wife lol
Thanks a lot 👍. 😂 brilliant
Thank you, brilliant tutorial, do you know; if I follow this guide for a new built home, with metal studs instead of wood studs, this would be similar in achieving same results?
Absolutely solid video. Been waiting for a solid DIY downlights with no access above for ages. No one else does the guides like you. Spot on bud, keep it up
Brilliant thanks a lot!
How to recreate that fishfin texture on the patched ceiling area?
Great video - thanks.
Glad you liked it!
Nice one Cameron, another good job. What do you do full time ?
Great video 👍 I need same thing done on my kitchen But worry of the asbestos side It’s same ceiling as showing on n your Video
Don't forget you could hit noggins between the joists. Also floor boards could be attached at the upper level making it necessary to drill access holes at all lights.
I don't think we can use QuickWire connectors in the States. Question though: The QuickWire connector in the center of the room, you probably used two outputs so you could run one separately out to the opposite sides of the room, right? Great show, thank you.
Awesome video!!! Love that Quickwire Kit ;)
Me too! Cheers
cheers guys for the video
Great video !! thanks
Glad you liked it! Cheers
Enjoyed your video
Great video for DIYers, thank you for the tips especially to cover up the extra holes, I have to install some pot lights and I was scratching my head thinking how to deal with the joists and extra holes. Junction connector is good idea but I can't use it, our local code in NYC requires electrical box as Junction connection.
Glad it was helpful!
Hello Really liked your video it helped me install downlights, Quick questions how many downlights can I connect after removing a ceiling rose?
Cracking job
Cheers
Very informative video. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
I've lurned more from you than 4 years in Electrical Installations at college
Awesome 🤩
Effin brilliant = thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Hi Mate, excellent video. how would I connect 4 Downlights around my existing ceiling light ?.
6:29 interesting mix of bulbs in there! It looks like there are CFLs, halogen/incandescent, and some difrent shaped ones lol 😂 can you do a video of all the bulbs and show them working
Brilliant video the house i am in is a old build i am thinking of putting new interior door linings and frames if you could do a video on how to do this be much appreciated 👍
Great suggestion!
Absolutely awsome 😊😊
Thank you! Cheers!
Great video. Just the project I am about to undertake. Is there a limit to the amount of down lights you can add to a daisy chain?
nice tools you have there, i was wondering now im changing my old lamp with 3 pendants light, but the old wires there are 2 wires loop, where should therlse 2 wires goes to? Cause now in the new lights only blue, earth and brown
Very nice job 👍🏻 well explained, but what if you’ve no down light in the room and only have wall lights to feed off? Cheers
It’s do able! But does require a slightly different approach.
Thank you, subscribed and liked 👍
Thanks for the sub!
Great tutorial, it's important to mention that all lighting circuits in domestic household premises must now have RCD protection. Reg. 411.3.4 as of 18th edition wiring regs in UK. A lot of lighting circuits in older houses haven't got this as they were installed to older versions of the electrical regs. Yes you can do like for like upgrade of existing light points, but if you are adding new wire, it's classed as an addition to the existing installation and the circuit should be brought up to meet current standards. If the circuit doesn't have RCD protection, then you should get an electrician to assess, test and upgrade the lighting circuit first before doing this work as this is classed as an "addition / alteration to the electrical installation". Sometimes, 2 separate lighting circuits in older houses shared neutrals between 2 or more fuses/breakers (upstairs/downstairs) and this can cause a problem when trying to add the RCD protection to one of the circuits! In addition to this: Class 1 downlights must be earthed, some older historic lighting circuits did not have an earth connection! So you must use Class II downlights or have the circuit re-wired to ensure you have a continuous CPC all the way back to the fuseboard. No basic coloured insulation should be visible outside of enclosure, or termination above the light, If in a special location such as a bathroom they should be suitably IP rated to stop steam from entering the fitting, Loop impedance test should be carried out on the last light on the daisy chain to check continuity of the CPC (green yellow earth) and make sure that, in the event of a fault, the circuit breaker will trip within 4ms, RCD should be tested from the last light as well as the switch point. If you have a bedroom above the room you are installing downlights, I strongly recommend these should be fire rated to prevent the spread of fire from lower floor to upper floor. ....and lets not go down the rabbit hole of led dimmable downlights vs. older dimmer switches and all the flickering and premature failure issues that can cause!
It's mad that this is one of the few comments without a reply from him... Home insurance products can not cover anything not within regs. 50mm noted but no RCD mentioned, easier ways 🙄
'to meet current standards' Sure. But what about the voltage standards ? 🙂 Great comments BTW.
Great explainer video! Well done!! 👍
Thank you! 👍
I have used the quick wire on my house rewire didn't know about the quick wire lights though but the connectors are absolutely excellent also don't forget about the little you can get so you can release your cables just incase you accidentally put a cable in the wrong because you didn't take the time to mark it up 😅
Great point on the disconnection tool. I do have one but didn’t show it in the video. Cheers
Thanks , he’s good.
Mate your ceiling is stunning! How did you do that?
Brilliant
Thanks
I'd suggest you drill/cut an inspection hole each side of the joist where you are about to drill through. Also, I'd suggest your hole saw pilot drill doesn't stick out so much (in case there are wires/pipes resting on the ceiling. What about the Part P aspects (earthing, circuit protection, testing, certification, etc)?
What about Part P ? ?
Good video. Could you do a video on wired wall sconces on each side of a bed?
Great suggestion!
You are a genius...
Very kind of you 😁
Great info although I drilled a small hole first and used a piece of wire bent 90 degrees to check I had clearance for the 70mm hole drill..
👍
Well explained thanks…& he’s good looking…Win Win :P 😊 😅
very good
Thanks
An engineer's view on this: holes should be drilled along the neutral axis of a joist to prevent weakening of the structure. Drilling through the bottom half of a joist weakens the portion that is in tension.
A job well done as usual. will you be installing any smart lights in future videos
Thanks. You never know. So many projects on the go right now!
Brilliant video. Will these go through double thickness plasterboard which I’ve got? 🤦🏻♂️
Should do 👍
Another great video. I know your channel is called DIY Guy but are you a pro helping out DIYers mate?
Excellent video ..i need some f these lights in a small room
You should!
Loved the video. Learned a lot. I have an angled ceiling - are there any light options like this that you can angle the light to point it straight down if it was on a slightly angled ceiling?
Great thanks. You could but you’d be better to use a downlight that can tilt
Great video mate, thinking of attempting this but concerned if there are noggins running perpendicular between the joists, could that happen?
Thanks. It could but isn’t likely in most cases. If that were the case you could just drill more access holes.
Great instruction Buddy. Is that a Norfolk accent!!
Thanks. Yep 👍
Never seen thise Quickwire junction boxes before, they look rather useful and better than a generic junction box.
This is exactly how I did it in my kitchen... New builds offer no access above😂 seems mad cutting loads of holes but those plaster circles just screw into place with a small batten underneath for support then a quick skim of filler... Messy though but worth it.. I also used a camera and fibre glass rods to feed the cables as we had insulation which hindered the cable being pushed.. Joy 😂
Haha well in 👍