Plug Socket...Low Voltage ?

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Hi

I have moved into a new house - which had recently been renovated.

Now quite a few of the plug sockets througout the house are a non standard fitting - they look like a european plug socket to me.

Here is a picture ***** REMOVED*****
I am sure they are wired up to a dimmer switch on the wall - seem to remember the previous owners had lamps plugged into them

My questions are :

1) Can I replace them with a regular UK plug socket ? / Or replace the plug on an electrical item with this 'odd' shaped plug.

2) Would they be wired onto a different circuit in my house ?

Just after some general advice and an explanation to what they are...its frustrating as they are where i would like to put an iPod docking station...

Infact the more i think about it I never seen any electrical items for sale in the UK with this type of fitting.

Please help, I am a DIY noob,....many thanks

M
 
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These sockets are for lighting ONLY as they will be connected to the lighting circuit, using smaller cables and circuit breakers/fuses, so unsuitable for changing to 13A plug use.

As you say, they're operated form the dimmer switch - the idea is you have assorted floor lamps/table lamps plugged into these sockets (the round-pin plugs are available from wholesalers, not so often from retail sheds) and then control them with a singlel switch, in the same way as controlling the ceiling lights from a single switch.

You could use them for plugging in low-power items, such as your docking station, but you then have the inconvenience of the on/off switch being on the other side of the room from the plug.

PJ
 
Yes, as said, they are used for free-standing lamps that are switched from a central location (dimmed or otherwise) so if you want to make use of them the typical thing to do would be to buy plugs to match to fit to your lamps, being aware some lamps such as CFLs will not always like being dimmed.

I would not recomend running anything other than lamps of these sockets, this is why they are a diffrent type. Presumably, although i cant see the image work, 5amp round pin.


Daniel
 
You could use them for plugging in low-power items, such as your docking station,

No you wouldn't! I would like to see the effect the dimmer had on the docking station!

Its a lighting circuit.
It is fed from the lighting circuit breaker(s)

Its for lights. End of.
 
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Sorry about the pop up adverts - i never realised they were there


is another image taken from Google

exclusive-get-5-amp-round-pin-socket.jpg
 
Unless the bulb in it is more than 1000W, yes.

Note the earlier comment about CFLs and dimmers though.
 
Unless the bulb in it is more than 1000W, yes.

Note the earlier comment about CFLs and dimmers though.

Thanks...appreciate that.

Excuse my ignorance...but CFL is ? Something Fluorescent Light...?

Dont know why we cant just have normal plugs like everybody else :eek:
 
Yes, CFL is compact florecent light, aka the the things you buy in tescos that screw directly into a lamp with internal balest, rather than needing a special fitting. A quick google will reveal more. Also CCFL is a cold cathode version of the same, common in GU10 CFLs, but again, more avilable via google. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_fluorescent_lamp

They can be normal sockets because if they where the would nothing to stop unknowing people unplugging a lamp and plugging in there laptop/phone/heater with potentially disastrouseffect. Its like having a diffrent size and colour nosel for petrol as deisal. You could use a standard black hose for unleaded, but it would lead to expensive mistakes!

They are the normal socket for the aplication that they are being used for.

Daniel
 
Dont know why we cant just have normal plugs like everybody else :eek:

They are normal SOCKETS!
They are used extensively on lighting circuits exactly as they are installed in your house. Just because you haven't come across them before does not make them abnormal.

In your house you have some of these 5A rated sockets that are connected to lighing circuits. I'll bet that you also have some 13amp 3-pin square pin sockets that fit your docking station? Plug it in one of those.
 

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