Fitting a switch to a cable

[Amateur Plumber]

Hi guys
I have an enlarger for my darkroom and it has a fairly thick length of cable going to the plug.
The problem I have is that the very nature of an enlarger requires that you can switch it on and off when you need to. The problem is that there is no switch in the cable, just a plug on the end. The switch has to be fairly close to the enlarger. My question is can I fit one and how is a switch wired when it's 3 core wire.
One other thing that may be important is that the cable goes through what they call a voltage stabiliser which is a box about the size of a standard egg box.
For non-photographers an enlarger holds your negatives and shines a light bulb though them then through a lens and on to a baseboard and is used for making prints from negs.
Thanks for any help you can give

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What's the power rating of the enlarger?

Can't you install a switched socket near to it and plug it in there?

Why the **** doesn't it have its own on/off switch??

 

[pipme]

Edited.

What about a neat timer unit ?

From www.novadarkroom.com/acatalog/TA_Enlarger_Timers.html+enlarger+timer&hl=en

P

 

[breezer]

either of these in a suitable patress (back box) will work

 

[plugwash]

or you could use a switched extention lead...

 

[MANDATE]

Or of course you could fit a switch to the cable, like on an electric blanket and have the switch next to your enlarger. When you open up the switch you will probablely find 6 terminals ie 2 for each wire.
On the other hand the switch only makes or breaks the live wire so it might be that the neutral and earth wires can be fitted without having to cut them and fit them to terminals to re-connect them.
It will all make sense when you open up the switch.

 

[breezer]

but the rating of the switch is important which is why i suggested the one i did, it is rated at 20 amps, and a plugtop is 13 A max