Another risky project

[fridgefreezer]

lol! Only kidding.

I simply want to know if it would be possible for an electrician (ie NOT me!) to run some of those simple lights you get in wooden decking from a ring main.

The nearest cable that I know of to the decking is a power point in the wall. Can this be used to power lights outside?

Or does the power have to come from a lighting circuit?

Thanks.

 

[1john]

yes, you can, fusing down will be required though.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Unless they're ELV lights with a wall-wart indoors..

 

[fridgefreezer]

If I go shopping for them, then, how would I recognise 'ELV' and 'wall-wart'?

I don't want to limited by the choice of the electrician, but would like to go to different shops, ie B+Q, Focus etc.

 

[1john]

Your concern is if the lighting plugs in via a plug top transformer, although this isnt impossibe to get around.

 

[fridgefreezer]

Probably sounds best to go shopping and just get the electrician to put them in. This way I can control what we end up with.

Thanks.

 

[wingcoax]

ELV is 12/24v and wall warts are those big black boxes that plug in ie; a large mobile charger. Some lights may have a small plug on the end of the wire that can go through a small hole in the wall(being sealed afterwards)

 

[fridgefreezer]

Thanks for that - so if I got a power point (a proper weather IP one) installed on the outside of the house, could I plug these so-called 'ELV' lights into that?

If so, then I'd be able to use that power point for other stuff like lawn more etc.?

 

[aptsys]

Depends if the transformer is rated for use outside - most are not, and need to be enclosed or used inside.

 

[Steve]

Thanks for that - so if I got a power point (a proper weather IP one) installed on the outside of the house, could I plug these so-called 'ELV' lights into that?

No, because NO IP rated sockets will seal around a wall-wart.

 

[Click-Sure]

No, because NO IP rated sockets will seal around a wall-wart.

Ahem....

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_In...ed/index.html#Timeguard_Powerseal_Outdoor_Box

 

[fridgefreezer]

Hang on! So what you're saying is that I could just drill a hole in the wall, remove the plug from an extension socket of say three or four sockets, pass the cable through from outside (via this sealed box), re-attach the plug and plug into a socket inside the house?

¡No need for an electrician!