caitejay Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 I am about to embark on my first wiring project (tape wiring the Grosvenor Hall), and am looking at putting a lot of lights in. I have two questions - have you ever wired a house where you later felt like you had too many lights in it? I may have 2-4 per room (15 rooms). Does that just make things too bright? Second question - I'm wondering if it makes sense to have two transformers. I'm thinking maybe that takes some of the pressure off the number of lights that I want, and maybe that might make it easier for wiring? I actually am not sure how it would make wiring easier, but I heard someone mention that in a tutorial somewhere and it's stuck with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Two to four lights per room does not sound excessive to me. I do not know if using two transformers would make the initial installation easier, but it might help with troubleshooting later if that should become necessary. ' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitejay Posted January 18, 2021 Author Share Posted January 18, 2021 Yes, troubleshooting was my other motivation - if I have a bad connection somewhere, at least not all the lights would be affected, and I could always maybe tap into that second circuit. Not sure if I'm thinking clearly on this though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sable Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 (edited) After many experiences with lighting, now I only add one LED Ceiling “high hat” per room. Edited January 18, 2021 by Sable 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 What you need to keep track of is the number of bulbs not the number of fixtures. You can purchase various transformer sizes which specify the number bulbs it can supply power to. I am currently wiring an 11 room house. I have two different tape runs so I can keep track of what is connected where. Using two different transformers sounds like an excellent idea to me. I am only using one very large transformer that is wired to both runs. Be meticulous while you are installing. After you install something new, be sure to check that the lights still work in other areas. I even bump the house here and there to see if there is a loose connection. Most importantly, sprinkle it with holy water, do a rain dance, or lay hands on it in prayer......I'm only half kidding but do whatever works for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitejay Posted January 18, 2021 Author Share Posted January 18, 2021 I successfully made light today! (on my test MDF), so feel more confident moving forward. Now I just have to figure out how to lay all the tape out. I want as many fold-turns as possible (as opposed to cut-turns). I didn't think that planning out the tape would be so difficult! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 Dry fit, dry fit, dry fit! Don't forget to take photos before you paper or panel over your tape runs, BTW. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 I used one of these multi tool saws to cut slits in between floors and thread the tape through. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 2 hours ago, caitejay said: I didn't think that planning out the tape would be so difficult! You may have already thought of this, but I split blue painter's tape in half and used the strips to plot out the complex routing. Can't tell you how many times I pulled it up and moved bits from here to there! When it came to putting in the actual lighting tape, it was so easy just to follow the blue pathway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitejay Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 These both are great ideas - both pre-taping with painters tape, and the multi tool saw. I'm going to employ both. I've got rooms that are going to have four light sources: a chandelier, sconces, and a lit fireplace, so it quickly gets complicated, and I've been trying to figure out what the best path is to tape everything. The painters tape means I can screw up a bunch and not suffer for it. And then the saw makes it easy to jump floors - I wasn't thrilled about bringing tape out over the edges of the floors. It also means I can place my junction near the back of the house, instead of in the front. @Mid-life madness Looks like you were able to use the saw on MDF? That's what I'm working with, so it's great to see your picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitejay Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 Turns out hubby has such a tool, so I am in business! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 Hubby tool chest is the source of most of my tools. Now he comes to me for something instead of the other way around! Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 @caitejay It is 3/8 plywood. TIP: Unroll the entire roll of tape-wire and stretch it out. I kept mine on the roll and as I mitered corners and applied it to walls etc., it started to twist on itself and I had a huge mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 3 hours ago, Medieval said: Hubby tool chest is the source of most of my tools. Now he comes to me for something instead of the other way around! Lol Yes Ma'am! When I use a tool and like it, he has to come looking for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 I found it better to get my own tools as I need them; problem is that the hubs helps himself whenever he needs one of mine and then forgets where he laid it down *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitejay Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share Posted January 19, 2021 Is a box configuration of the tape wire okay (assuming I install the eyelets correctly)? I thought I read someone's post that it isn't okay, but I can't find anything in Cir-Kit's documentation or on the web that specifically addresses it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 The less connections you make the better........Fold the wire over itself Why do you need a square? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caitejay Posted January 20, 2021 Author Share Posted January 20, 2021 (edited) I don't really need one, but accidentally made one while laying out my masking tape and thought maybe a doubled-back connection would mean fewer failure points (though maybe it means more?) The accidental box I made was large, spanning from one end of the house to a second floor. If I need to make a T with the tape, doesn't it then become difficult to fold? Because I can only fold in one direction, and I probably don't want to be punching eyelets through all those layers of tape? Edited January 20, 2021 by caitejay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 I usually run the tape around the lower walls and then across the floor. I use the floor run for chandeliers that are one the ceiling under the run. I drill a hole up and run the wire to the tape run on the floor above. I use the runs that are on the lower wall for table lamps and sometimes sconces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.