Alarm outlet in storage cupboard

[Londondude2]

Hi all

I’ve got a panty / cupboard in a new (20 years old) flat, with an alarm outlet, plus a covered electrical point with a bunch of various wires, which I have no clue what they are for. I’m trying to find a spot to plug in my cordless vacuum for charging, it wont be pulling very much power.

Could I just swap the alarm box, for a 1gang socket? I’m not sure what circuit the wires connect to, I’ve read most of the time it’s the lighting, but I haven’t tested yet.

I will put a ’Low wattage’ warning on the socket, so nobody plugs in a high power device into it In future.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Yes you can do that. You may find that the circuit has it's own supply MCB, back at the consumer unit. Just swap the fuse unit, for a 13amp socket, and add the warning notice next to it. Isolate the circuit from the supply, before you begin.

 

[SUNRAY]

First thing is to identify which MCB it is on and cable size, if 16A (or more) and 2.5mm² cable then no requirement for 'low power' warning.

 

[Londondude2]

Thanks chaps.

It was oddly on one of the two electric radiator circuits in the flat. The circuit it's currently on is powering a 1200w electric radiator in the main bedroom, 800w in the spare room, and a lamp (the hallway radiator removed and is used for this light instead). Those radiators are rarely used.

I guess in theory, if all the heaters were drawing max power, plus I stuck an iron onto the new socket, it might overload.

I stuck the socket on and its working.