Help with lighting for garden gazebo

angelboy · 2 Apr 2020

I built a hot tub enclosure last year for one of those blow up hot tubs (which is why it's enclosed so the dogs don't burst it!) and I never got round to roofing it or putting lights in it - so I'm looking for advice.

Everything is plugged into an RCA protected outdoor socket so I wanted to run another plug out of that and maybe have a twin light switch that controls two (or more?) sets of lights.

My initial thought was to get a low-level exterior grade 10m LED colour changing strip light that goes around the cill and then either some festoon/fairy lights or maybe a couple of corner lights.

Has anyone got any ideas on what might look best and what kit I might need? I was thinking 12v LEDs with the transformers in a watertight box then plugged into the wall socket.

Taylortwocities · 2 Apr 2020

What is an RCA socket?

angelboy · 2 Apr 2020

Taylortwocities said:
What is an RCA socket?

Same as an RCD just 3 letters better......

flameport · 2 Apr 2020

An RCD socket is entirely inadequate for a hot tub.
Shoving a load of lights in as well just makes a bad situation worse.

angelboy · 2 Apr 2020

flameport said:
An RCD socket is entirely inadequate for a hot tub.
Shoving a load of lights in as well just makes a bad situation worse.

I’ve followed the manufacturers guidelines for the hot tub and the socket was fitted by and electrician specifically as an outdoor socket.

What’s the point in fitting a socket if you can’t plug things into it?!?

chivers67 · 2 Apr 2020

Have you got the Rating of the Hot Tub ?

Low Power LED would be the best option but as long as the circuit isn't overloaded...

do the Instructions for the Hot tub say you can use a Socket?

angelboy · 2 Apr 2020

chivers67 said:
Have you got the Rating of the Hot Tub ?

Low Power LED would be the best option but as long as the circuit isn't overloaded...

do the Instructions for the Hot tub say you can use a Socket?

Yes, it’s a Lay-z-spa Hawaii I think. The square one.

From the manual
•The spa must be supplied through an isolating transformer or supplied through a residual current device (RCD) having a rated residual operating current not exceeding 30mA.

• The spa must be connected to a grounded mains supply socket with a supply cord fitted with a plug and PRCD with a tripping current of 10mA.

• Warning: For electric safety, a PRCD is incorporated in the power cord, if the leakage current is detected more than 10mA, the device will operate and cut-off the power supply, in such case, please unplug and stop using the spa at once. Don’t reset the product by yourself. And you must contact the local service agent to check and repair the product.

SUNRAY · 2 Apr 2020

I'm thinking the Hawaii is part of the range which uses the 2.1KW unit, if that is the case it has a cable about 20ft long with the additional RCD built into the cable. It is designed to be plugged to a 13A socket.

If I have the correct information and you have a double socket and it has been wired in to a supply rated at 13A or higher then you should be able to safely add around 800watts or so of lighting. These days 10 to 20% of that of LED lighting will likely be more than adequate.

Obviously only use kit designed for outdoor use.

angelboy · 4 Apr 2020

SUNRAY said:
I'm thinking the Hawaii is part of the range which uses the 2.1KW unit, if that is the case it has a cable about 20ft long with the additional RCD built into the cable. It is designed to be plugged to a 13A socket.

If I have the correct information and you have a double socket and it has been wired in to a supply rated at 13A or higher then you should be able to safely add around 800watts or so of lighting. These days 10 to 20% of that of LED lighting will likely be more than adequate.

Obviously only use kit designed for outdoor use.

That's great, thanks for that!

SUNRAY · 4 Apr 2020

Please double check the rating of YOUR particular Laz z spa, My info is not guaranteed to be correct and they do have a habit of mix and matching units at point of sale.

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Help with lighting for garden gazebo

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