How to connect 3pin lights to light circuit.

[Baal]

In a charity community centre.... our electrician has installed a fused spur light switch from a lighting circuit for some decorative low wattage LED. lights , which we had not bought, at that time.

But then ....., the ones we bought have a plastic moulded transformer built into a 3pin plug. ....

Is it compliant with regulations to connect a 13amp socket to this lighting circuit because it is protected with a 3amp fuse? .

is there a compliant way to connect this in ? ( there is no 13amp socket near by) Or should we buy different lights .? ..

 

[pete01]

Yes you can fit a socket to a lighting circuit, it would need to be rcd protected...but im guessing it already is (maybe) as its new work.

 

[plugwash]

There is no regulation prohibiting putting a 13A socket on a lighting circuit. However,

* you should be aware of the risk that someone overloading said socket could take out the lights. To mitigate this, you may want to install the socket inside an enclosure that requires a tool or key to open.
* all socket outlets need to be RCD protected, on an newer install it's likely that all final circuits are RCD protected but on an older one they may not be.,

 

[pete01]

Put a label on it if ya like, If someone decides to plug a heater in it the worst that will happen is the fuse blow.

 

[Baal]

There is no regulation prohibiting putting a 13A socket on a lighting circuit. However,

* you should be aware of the risk that someone overloading said socket could take out the lights. To mitigate this, you may want to install the socket inside an enclosure that requires a tool or key to open.
* all socket outlets need to be RCD protected, on an newer install it's likely that all final circuits are RCD protected but on an older one they may not be.,

Thanks , the enclosure option sounds good ..

 

[mikehammer69]

I’d be more concerned about the hazard those lights pose

 

[Baal]

Put a label on it if ya like, If someone decides to plug a heater in it the worst that will happen is the fuse blow.

I’d be more concerned about the hazard those lights pose

What hazard are the known for ?

 

[mikehammer69]

What hazard are the known for ?

Might be alright

I wouldn’t be plugging a load of them in my house anyhow

 

[SUNRAY]

I’d be more concerned about the hazard those lights pose

I've been using lights running on units such as that for a long time and currently have something in the order of 4-5Km of lights, they have proved to be the most successful and reliable style by far and to date I've had faults on only 2 strings of lights, the power supplies/controllers have been totally reliable and registered with my public liability insurance for at least 10 years.

So what am I missing?

 

[JohnW2]

I’d be more concerned about the hazard those lights pose

Might be alright ... I wouldn’t be plugging a load of them in my house anyhow

Why not? What particular hazard(s) did you have in mind?

 

[mikehammer69]

Why not? What particular hazard(s) did you have in mind?

Nothing particular

I just assume rightly or wrongly that random plug in gadgets could be hazardous

 

[SUNRAY]

Nothing particular

I just assume rightly or wrongly that random plug in gadgets could be hazardous

Do you mean things like phone/iPad/laptop chargers which are so hazardous they burn down 10% of the populations homes every year?

 

[mikehammer69]

Do you mean things like phone/iPad/laptop chargers which burn down 10% of the populations homes every year?

Im probably wrong in my bias against random gadgetry
That’s the way it appears now

 

[JohnW2]

Nothing particular. I just assume rightly or wrongly that random plug in gadgets could be hazardous

Hmmm. When you say "random plug-in gadgets" you presumably mean "standard plug-in gadgets" - of which we all have (and use) countless. Yes, of course, any such gadget can be iffy (particularly if it comes from a dodgy source), but if we took your view we wouldn't use anything electrical at all!

 

[mikehammer69]

The main issue I had was that there was multiples of these devices plugged in I think ?

That would represent an increased risk as against a single connection point for lighting

In probably just wrong anyway that there’s no major hazard