Installing switched downlights in the kitchen

[Sgt Bilko]

Hi!

I am about to replace the kitchen, and taking the opportunity to install halogen under-lights whilst there is the opportunity.

I am unable to utilise the current kitchen lighting supply since the switch is too far away.

I do however, have existing switched 13A wall sockets. Is there some way of making use of these to provide a switched supply to the downlights?

 

[breezer]

yes.

plug them in

or use a switched FCU, see the sticky or wiki

 

[Steve]

Even if you were to utilise the lighting circuit, the switch would not be the place to take a feed from (clue: a lack of neutrals would be quite prohibitive)

 

[ELZ4742]

yes.

plug them in

or use a switched FCU, see the sticky or wiki

using a 3a fuse

 

[Sgt Bilko]

Apolgies, let me clarify - i don't want to te up the 2 x 2 gang sockets currently available. These would be used for fridge, kettle, toaster etc. Also i don't want wires on display where aviodable.

I was thinking of installing a switch next to to current sockets, running a feed from them to the socket, then up the wall to a point just above the wall units and mounting a surface mounted un-switched socket.

??

 

[ELZ4742]

thats fine as long as its a switched fused spur.

 

[Sgt Bilko]

thats fine as long as its a switched fused spur.

Lovely! Ta very much.

 

[Spark123]

You should also note that installing a fused spur unit in a kitchen is notifiable to LABC under part p of the building regs, on the other hand, plug together link lights which plug into an existing socket are afaik not notifiable.

 

[Sgt Bilko]

You should also note that installing a fused spur unit in a kitchen is notifiable to LABC under part p of the building regs, on the other hand, plug together link lights which plug into an existing socket are afaik not notifiable.

Hum. Cheers for that - stopped me in my tracks.

 

[Steve]

An electrician may do the spur for less than the notification fee. Worth a try, IMO. Just do all the donkey work for him, it shouldnt take a good spark more than an hour.

 

[ricicle]

it shouldnt take a good spark more than an hour.

Stop quoting times Crafty, every job is diffrent

 

[RF Lighting]

Took me and an apprentice 6 hours to wire 2no. UCLs recently.

I mustn't be a good spark

 

[Steve]

it shouldnt take a good spark more than an hour.

Stop quoting times Crafty, every job is diffrent

I did tell the OP to do all the donkey work too! By this i meant chasing plaster and backbox recesses, maybe even fixing the backboxes to the wall. Simply running a bit of 2.5 up some capping, wiring each end to an accessory, fixing to wall and testing the circuit is not a big job. Maybe an hour is optimistic, depending on whether any problems are found.

 

[Steve]

Took me and an apprentice 6 hours to wire 2no. UCLs recently.

I mustn't be a good spark

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? Were you using SWA? or MICC? Metal conduit?

 

[securespark]

I mustn't be a good spark

You said it, matey!!

No, you're wrong. Only last month I was in Pizza Hut in Halifax and the people on the next table were discussing a hunky, efficient spark called Rob who did a socket job for them.

Oh, sorry, can't have been you, they said hunky...