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Hello,
We are building a 6x10m open plan extension with lounge, kitchen and dining areas. I want to have a set of soft lighting controlled by a single wall switch for each of the three areas.
Each area will cover things like LED strips above kitchen cupboards, leds set into bookcases, overhanging lights on shelves, and traditional free standing lamps that would otherwise be plugged into a wall socket. In the dining and lounge areas there will definitely be a mix of lighting types.
Unfortunately, I'm not clear on the exact design for any of the three areas, nor the specific light fittings that I'd want to use. I'll end up doing a lot of the subsequent construction (and low voltage) electrical work myself - when money permits, but I'm being pressed by my builder to provide detail for the first-fix electrics.
What would be the best way to specify first fix for each of these areas? Noting:
- Each point is £70 a throw and I'm trying to get back in budget.
- Is specifying a single wire to each area sufficient to let me do all the follow-on work without having to cut channels in my soon to be plastered walls? Any specifications in terms of amps/fusing?
- I have read that a 5amp, BS 546, round-pin plug is required for remotely switchable lighting appliances. This I presume would cover my intent to power any standard desk lamps and perhaps some LED strips. In each instance I would need to change the plug presumably. Is this right? Any obvious constraints? If I had a finalised design (and the money) I could presumably specify a whole bunch of BS 546 sockets in the right places. As it stands, I would either be guessing, or specifying one or two and managing with extension leads (which don't seem readily available to BS 546).
- In each of the three areas there will be a fair amount of furniture, so I have some flexibility in hiding wires on top of units, the back of shelves, behind coving etc.
Grateful for any help.
(And if anyone has suggestions for decent LED strip lighting systems that will be wall switch controlled, would be really keen to have recommendations.)
Thanks!
We are building a 6x10m open plan extension with lounge, kitchen and dining areas. I want to have a set of soft lighting controlled by a single wall switch for each of the three areas.
Each area will cover things like LED strips above kitchen cupboards, leds set into bookcases, overhanging lights on shelves, and traditional free standing lamps that would otherwise be plugged into a wall socket. In the dining and lounge areas there will definitely be a mix of lighting types.
Unfortunately, I'm not clear on the exact design for any of the three areas, nor the specific light fittings that I'd want to use. I'll end up doing a lot of the subsequent construction (and low voltage) electrical work myself - when money permits, but I'm being pressed by my builder to provide detail for the first-fix electrics.
What would be the best way to specify first fix for each of these areas? Noting:
- Each point is £70 a throw and I'm trying to get back in budget.
- Is specifying a single wire to each area sufficient to let me do all the follow-on work without having to cut channels in my soon to be plastered walls? Any specifications in terms of amps/fusing?
- I have read that a 5amp, BS 546, round-pin plug is required for remotely switchable lighting appliances. This I presume would cover my intent to power any standard desk lamps and perhaps some LED strips. In each instance I would need to change the plug presumably. Is this right? Any obvious constraints? If I had a finalised design (and the money) I could presumably specify a whole bunch of BS 546 sockets in the right places. As it stands, I would either be guessing, or specifying one or two and managing with extension leads (which don't seem readily available to BS 546).
- In each of the three areas there will be a fair amount of furniture, so I have some flexibility in hiding wires on top of units, the back of shelves, behind coving etc.
Grateful for any help.
(And if anyone has suggestions for decent LED strip lighting systems that will be wall switch controlled, would be really keen to have recommendations.)
Thanks!