Wall lights to mains plug socket

[pornking58]

hi all newbie here i have a small problem i have built a partition it has no electrics running into it what i want to do is run 2 wall lights from the nearest mains plug which is around 3 feet away from the partition but with their own switch i.e a standard light switch.

Firstly is this possible?

Secondly can someone post a diagram for me to follow if this is possible?

Thanks in advance

Mark

 

[Chri5]

Lighting circuits have a much lower value (6a) fuse as a standard.

The ring has a 30a fuse

If you are absolutely sure you can't take a feed from above via the lighting circuit you can take a feed from the double socket to a f/spur unit.

You could then fuse that at 1a and either run a switch wire or use a switched fused spur as the switch.

As for wiring it up, look at the DIYNot Wiki diagrams and that should be clear enough. If it isn't then I suggest you consider getting a pro in.

 

[electronicsuk]

It would be far better to extend the lighting circuit. Using an FCU from the ring final will work, and it's safe to do so, but from a good workmanship point of view, it should be seen as a last resort. It will probably entail significantly more work than using the existing lighting circuit, and may also be confusing to a future occupant should they wish to isolate the lighting in that room for any reason.

 

[Chri5]

It would be far better to extend the lighting circuit. Using an FCU from the ring final will work, and it's safe to do so, but from a good workmanship point of view, it should be seen as a last resort. It will probably entail significantly more work than using the existing lighting circuit, and may also be confusing to a future occupant should they wish to isolate the lighting in that room for any reason.

Could be a flat

and I did say

If you are absolutely sure you can't take a feed from above via the lighting circuit

 

[pornking58]

hi again it is a house, i have looked at the nearest ring and it is very confusing.
so this cannot be done by fitting a mains plug to flex to wall lights to switch i thought it may have been simple but by the sounds of things it's not,

 

[electronicsuk]

hi again it is a house, i have looked at the nearest ring and it is very confusing.
so this cannot be done by fitting a mains plug to flex to wall lights to switch i thought it may have been simple but by the sounds of things it's not,

For the love of god and all that is decent, please please please don't do that. It will work, but look absolutely horrible, and will almost certainly be something you regret unless it's to light something along the lines of a shed or store room.

Lighting circuits really aren't that complicated, if that's all that's putting you off (as opposed to it being physically difficult to get to/run the new wiring) then either engage the services of a competent electrician, or tell us more about the job and let us advise.

 

[pornking58]

it is being done in a hallway which has been built but not finished yet so all wiring etc will be hidden in the plasterboard walls

 

[barcelona]

it is being done in a hallway which has been built but not finished yet so all wiring etc will be hidden in the plasterboard walls

Hiding a plug and socket behind a plaster board wall is not permitted.

 

[electronicsuk]

it is being done in a hallway which has been built but not finished yet so all wiring etc will be hidden in the plasterboard walls

You'll still see a mains plug with the cable disappearing into the wall, it really would look a complete DIY botch in my opinion. If you have access to the walls then I can't see the difficulty in extending the lighting circuit properly.

Exactly what is it about the existing circuit you don't understand? I assume you've had a look in the Wiki?

 

[pornking58]

what it is is the lights were left here when we bought the house there are 3x3 core wires all wired into choc boxes to add the wall lights etc i would need to channel the ceiling out then i'd need to add a switch etc just sems so complicated

 

[electronicsuk]

what it is is the lights were left here when we bought the house there are 3x3 core wires all wired into choc boxes to add the wall lights etc i would need to channel the ceiling out then i'd need to add a switch etc just sems so complicated

Why would you need to channel out the ceiling? Are you in a flat, is the ceiling concrete? Usually you would be able to gain access from above either via the loft if it's the top floor, or taking up a floorboard or two in the room above.

Having three cables is common with the loop in/out at ceiling method of wiring, although it's usually done within the light fitting rather than in a separate terminal box.

 

[pornking58]

can't go in through floorboards as the carpet was only laid a few months ago so don't really want to rip that up i'll try to upload a pic of the wiring in the nearest light tomorrow

 

[Aragorn84]

Surely carefully lifting some carpet and a floor board is easier than gutting a channel across the ceiling and replastering the place!?

 

[1john]

ease the carpet back from a corner, roll it back and dont crease it. you can fit it back afterwards with a bolster. if you think it doesn't look right after you can always get a carpet fitter to stetch it back, that shouldnt cost much.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

OTOH..

It would be far better to extend the lighting circuit. Using an FCU from the ring final will work, and it's safe to do so, but from a good workmanship point of view, it should be seen as a last resort.

I disagree - I don't see why it should be viewed as a last resort. Provided it's done by putting an FCU on the socket circuit, then running to a light switch (i.e. not the hideous idea of a plug & socket), and the cables are all in the right zones, I don't think that would be poor workmanship.

It will probably entail significantly more work than using the existing lighting circuit,

If there's a new wall going up, then by the sounds of it it won't, even if lifting the carpet upstairs isn't a hassle.

and may also be confusing to a future occupant should they wish to isolate the lighting in that room for any reason.

Easily remedied with a bit of documentation. And it can be useful to have lighting on 2 separate circuits.

it is being done in a hallway which has been built but not finished yet so all wiring etc will be hidden in the plasterboard walls

• http://www.voltimum.co.uk/files/gb/attachments/niu/l/attachments/c5-43.pdf
• http://web.archive.org/web/20061110111450/http://www.niceic.org.uk/downloads/concealedcables.pdf
• IEE article
• IEE Article on 17th Edition requirements for concealed cables.

Secondly can someone post a diagram for me to follow if this is possible?

That, and some of the other things you've said, make me think that part of what's going on here is that you don't really know what you're doing, and that is not a sensible basis for electrical work.

You are at the stage where you need to get this work done now, but you aren't yet at the stage where you can confidently and competently tackle it yourself.

I suggest you get an electrician in, and in the meantime start learning a bit more so that in the future you will be able to DIY.

• //www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics
• //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=75416#75416
• http://web.archive.org/web/20080213151445/http://www.kevinboone.com/electricity.html
• http://web.archive.org/web/20080213151445/http://www.kevinboone.com/domesticinstallations.html
• //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7553[/list]