Connecting a lamp might sound difficult, but in practice, it is easy to do yourself. To complete the job, you will need the following items:
- A lamp: for example, a pendant light, ceiling light or wall light
- A light source (bulb)
- A screwdriver
- A wire stripper
The colors of the cables/wires
We are often asked how to connect various wires. The wires that need to be connected to a lamp are the electrical wires of the lamp itself and the wires of the power cord; these are the wires coming out of the ceiling or the wall.
Most lamps have two wires, usually one black (or brown) wire and one blue wire. The power cord also has two wires, usually one brown (or black) wire and one blue wire.Sometimes the power cord also has a third wire, which is green or yellow in color and is called the earth wire.
To connect the lamp, you must connect the black (or brown) wire of the lamp to the brown (or black) wire of the power cord. The blue wire of the lamp must be connected to the blue wire of the power cord. If an earth wire is present in the lamp, it must be connected to the earth wire of the power cord. The table below shows the colors, abbreviations, and names of the different cables.
How many wires do you need to connect?
The neutral wire and live wire must always be connected for a (LED) lamp. However, people often wonder if the earth wire also needs to be connected.A distinction is made here between lamps with a metal and a plastic housing:
- Metal housing: for a lamp with a metal housing, it is advisable to connect the earth wire. In this case, you connect the yellow/green wire to the housing (of the lamp). In many cases, it is possible to connect the earth wire to a small screw or bolt. The function of the earth wire is to prevent any unintended voltage on the housing; the earth wire ensures that this flows away.
- Plastic housing: with a plastic housing, it is not necessary to connect an earth wire. With these lamps, you can neatly tuck the earth wire away in the terminal block, which prevents short circuits.
The steps to connect a lamp
Below you will find a general step-by-step guide for connecting a lamp.Please note: always consult the manual of the specific lamp and turn off the power before you begin connecting the lamp.
Step 1: Gather the necessary materials: lamp, voltage tester, power cable, screwdriver, wire stripper, terminal blocks, and optionally a ladder.
Step 2: Turn off the power. You can do this by switching off the main breaker. You can optionally use a voltage tester to check if the area is free of voltage.
Step 3: Pull the power cable through the central junction box and tidy up the wires. Use the wire stripper to strip the cables.
Step 4: Attach the mounting bracket of the lamp to the ceiling. These are included with the products.
Step 5: Connect the cables from the central junction box to the terminal block of the lamp. Ensure that the wires are fully inserted with the copper part inside the terminal block. Then, securely tighten the screws of the terminal block.Often there is a sticker on the terminal block indicating how the cables should be connected.
Step 6: Attach the lamp to the ceiling.
Step 7: Install the light source (bulb) into the fitting.
Step 8: Turn the power back on and test whether the lamp works by turning the switch on and off.
