Convert outdoor wall light to plug socket

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Hi all,

I want to change an outside wall light to some festoon / string lighting. They both run on 240V but the festoon lights have a fixed plug on the end. Can I convert the outside wall light to an outdoor socket? Does it have to be RCD socket? I would have taken the plug off and hard wired it in but apparently it invalidates the warranty. Would this be a better option?

Cheers
 
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It’s a normal plug. I was thinking of just getting an outdoor single plug socket from screwfix and doing it, but given it’s maybe 2.4 metres up it might be a faff.

If I opt to take the plug off and hard wire it in an outdoor junction box, should I fix to the wall and then silicone over the top of the box to stop water ingress?

I am in East London and thankfully about two minutes from Screwfix!
 
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You can get IP rated boxes, Wiska do some and stuffing glands to
 
It is also bad practice (though surprisingly allowed) to put a 13 amp socket on the lighting circuit.
 
It is also bad practice

It is Winston's opinion that it is bad practise, an opinion based on the probability that someone could plug a high power appliance into the said 13 amp socket and thus trip the 6 amp MCB

It maybe that Winston is a ( founder ) member of SEPSAFM

Society for the Ensured Protection of Six Amp Fuses and MCBs
 
It is also bad practice (though surprisingly allowed) to put a 13 amp socket on the lighting circuit.

I read this on another thread I found using the search function. It makes complete sense really. Whilst in this case it would be abit ridiculous for somebody to plug in a tumble dryer using an outside socket that is 2.5m high up the wall, I can easily imagine power tools or a lawnmower being plugged in...

The only other option is to strip the plug and connect in the junction box.

You can get IP rated boxes, Wiska do some and stuffing glands to

I'll look at these also, thanks.
 
I read this on another thread I found using the search function. It makes complete sense really. Whilst in this case it would be abit ridiculous for somebody to plug in a tumble dryer using an outside socket that is 2.5m high up the wall, I can easily imagine power tools or a lawnmower being plugged in...
True, but the worst that would happen if someone did plug in high-powered power tools (more than about 1,300W) or a lawnmower is that the 5/6A fuse/breaker protecting the lighting circuit might blow/trip - that's what they're there for.

Kind Regards, John
 

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