External Lights

[btgriff]

Hello All,

I want to get some external wall lights fixed up to cover my patio area. As I do bit of computer programming for a hobby, I want the lights be connected up to a velbus home automation module so I can control them automatically (or not, or whatever I want). I just have a couple of questions before I get the ball rolling.

I want the lights to be positioned either side of a set of french doors, about 2 metres up from ground level. This means if the cable is passed through the wall directly behind the fixture it will be below the first floor void. If the cable is passed through like this, can it be chased into the plaster up to the first floor void. Or, does it have to run exposed outside so that it can go straight into the void.

The velbus system uses a data bus to connect up any input modules for switches. Am I ok doing this side myself, just leaving the mains side up to an electrician. Also, can anybody recommend a source of pushbutton/momentary switches on UK sized faceplates.

Thanks,
Ben

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Cables can be chased in to the plaster but must be routed within the permitted safe zones or mechanically protected. But I would personally take the route via ceiling void to external fitting.
//www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:installation_techniques:walls

 

[btgriff]

Perhaps a picture will help explain it a bit better. Ideally I wanted to hide the cable which would be going up into the void. I was wondering if it is allowed to be sunk into the plaster inside. Looking at the link it appears this wouldn't be acceptable.

Untitled

• btgriff
• 17 Nov 2011
• 1

 

[pjcomp]

The way you want to do it (which is understandable, hides the wires etc) would mean live wiring hidden in the wall with no obvious indicator it was there. And given where you want to put it, I reckon there's a good chance of someone, someday wanting to drill a hole there for a curtain rail or similar. As Prenticeboy said you could mechanically protect it, ie chase in deep enough to accommodate a 20mm steel conduit for the wiring - this would then deflect a stray drill bit.

When you ask for push-button/momentary switches, do you mean like the vacuum or (more modern) electronic switches used in, for instance, communal areas of flats?

PJ

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If the cable only drops from the ceiling void within the permitted distance of 150mm it would be acceptable, the cable could be buried to a depth of 50mm or more, providing that the chase is not deeper than one third of the width of brick/block work, run in steel conduit or the cable have integral mechanical protection, such as SWA or MIMs.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Could you put the lights a bit higher up?

 

[btgriff]

OK, looks like I will have to get lights that look good above the doors. I don't want to put deep chases in and I hadn't even thought about curtains.

PJ: the push buttons only need to make a circuit - all the dimming or timer control is configured on the velbus module, see here: http://www.velbus.eu/products/view/?id=383056

bas: I came to that same conclusion just as you posted

Ben

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Is there a reason why you don't want your cable run externally?

 

[btgriff]

The lights are for me. I was just asking before I went and bought anything. I didn't want the cables to be seen because it would look better. I don't like cables running across the brickwork, a purely selfish reason

 

[sparkwright]

Perhaps a picture will help explain it a bit better. Ideally I wanted to hide the cable which would be going up into the void. I was wondering if it is allowed to be sunk into the plaster inside. Looking at the link it appears this wouldn't be acceptable.

Looking at the shaded area on the first diagram of the link, it appears to me that you can run cables on the reverse side of a wall in a cable zone.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Is there a reason why you don't want your cable run externally?

How about because that looks complete sh**e?

 

[sparkwright]

Is there a reason why you don't want your cable run externally?

How about because that looks complete sh**e?

Exactly.