We currently have 9 under cupboard halogen spotlights driven off 4 transformers that are wired into the lighting circuit (I assume lighting circuit, as they are controlled by a 2 gang light switch, with the other gang controlling the kitchen ceiling light).
These lights have never worked that well (bulbs are forever coming loose etc), and I want to replace them with some LED linkable lighting strips. As such I have purchased various lengths of the following LAP Linkable LED Cabinet Striplights to go under the cupboards of either side of our galley kitchen (3 blocks of cupboards in total).
The units come with 3 pin plugs (I suspect detachable VCR type connectors). In the Q&A when asked if they can be mains wired screwfix either say, "no it will invalidate the warranty", "no it is not recommended" or simply "no they cannot be wired into mains". However, lots of the reviews say that they have successfully managed to wire them directly into the mains!
The first, and most important question: is there any reason (other than invalidating the warranty) that the plugs shouldn't be cut off, and these lights then wired into the main lighting circuit? I'm thinking with regards to safety.
Secondly, if there are no safety issues, would it just be a case of:
- isolating the circuit
- removing existing wiring from male side of under cabinet connectors (leaving the female connectors wired into the lighting circuit alone)
- removing existing halogen fittings and transformers
- cutting plug off new lights
- wiring the cables back into the (now empty) connectors
Pictures of existing connections below (1 wall has single T&E cable, 2 walls have 2 T&E cables coming out)
These lights have never worked that well (bulbs are forever coming loose etc), and I want to replace them with some LED linkable lighting strips. As such I have purchased various lengths of the following LAP Linkable LED Cabinet Striplights to go under the cupboards of either side of our galley kitchen (3 blocks of cupboards in total).
The units come with 3 pin plugs (I suspect detachable VCR type connectors). In the Q&A when asked if they can be mains wired screwfix either say, "no it will invalidate the warranty", "no it is not recommended" or simply "no they cannot be wired into mains". However, lots of the reviews say that they have successfully managed to wire them directly into the mains!
The first, and most important question: is there any reason (other than invalidating the warranty) that the plugs shouldn't be cut off, and these lights then wired into the main lighting circuit? I'm thinking with regards to safety.
Secondly, if there are no safety issues, would it just be a case of:
- isolating the circuit
- removing existing wiring from male side of under cabinet connectors (leaving the female connectors wired into the lighting circuit alone)
- removing existing halogen fittings and transformers
- cutting plug off new lights
- wiring the cables back into the (now empty) connectors
Pictures of existing connections below (1 wall has single T&E cable, 2 walls have 2 T&E cables coming out)
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