Recent content by 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...

Afaict the main impacts of plug in solar will be a marginal increase in the risk of overloading and a reduction in the effectiveness of RCDs but, in TN installations at least, RCDs are already the third line of defense against electric shock, behind basic insulation and EEBADs. Even in TT...

That's true, if you are going to take the "squash them in" approach to wiring".

Looking at the pictures, the part that overhangs when mounted on a normal backbox has a back plate. So it will form a complete enclosure when combined with a standard backbox. The special backbox just seems to be designed to give more mechanical support when surface mounted. I don't think it...

On the isolators that stick out, I can see you could just drill an extra hole to allow them to be locked on as well as off, but is that possible to do that on these ones with the recessed actuator?

You could say very similar things with type AC RCDs given the prevalence of electronic devices, but the power that be don't seem to consider it a big enough issue to warrant a C2.

A big problem is that scumbags can bid very low prices for the initial report, then make up for those initial low prices by some combination of.. 1. Not doing the inspetion/report itself properly. 2. Inventing or exagerating faults, then charging high prices for the remedial work. In an...

No, perhaps I should have, but as I said I abused the thing. The problem with Europlugs in UK sockets (besides the lack of overcurrent protection, which is less of an issue in an extension lead) is they can get caught behind the socket face, exerting a significant force on it when pulled out.

Most of the data sheets I read are for electronic components rather than circuit production equipment, but my experiance is that data sheets almost never talk about features that a product *doesn't* have.

It's all very situationally dependent. I think it's easy to get into a situation with a short run of flex from a plug to a socket, where the clips hold the cable in place, but do not provide adequate resistance against the cable getting yanked. Much less likely with a FCU, because you don't...

A FCU can't be unplugged and yanked on, a plug can. Also flex is less good about "staying where you put it" than T&E is, and this is exacerbated by the fact that clips may be a loose fit. It does require some technique, at the scales of a 13A plug, a 2.5mm² solid conductor is more like a rod...

Agreed. The cable needs to be adequately restrained such that it doesn't get ripped out of the socket. An extension socket gives you this "for free", an ordinary domestic socket on an ordinary patress box does not. Another issue is what type of cable to use. T&E is less than ideal if moved...

Afaict it's not forbidden and there can sometimes be good reason to do it. but care should be taken to ensure that the cable is suitable for the application and is adequately restrained.

Doing anything to a concrete slab in such a confined space will be a massive PITA. I'd think you would be better off either running internally or clipping to the outside wall of the house until you get to the back of the house and have more room to work. Then go underground. Your picture...

I did some searching and it doesn't seem to be clear whether cable assemblies count as "electrical equipment" and hence whether "LV" cable assemblies need to be CE marked. In practice few, if-any of them seem to be. What does seem pretty clear is that ELV cable assemblies do not need CE marking.