Obsolete electrical fittings

[ericmark]

Major issues with the bayonet adaptors:

• The cable coming from them can have no earth connector But most Christmas lights don't have earth anyway
  There's no way of determining the live from the neutral as the bayonet plug can go in either way round (a switch in the lead must go in the live conductor) Does that matter when both cables are green and have no line and neutral markings
  There's no strain relief for the cable so its easy to pull a wire out There is in the one I have
  There's trailing wires coming out of your ceiling and draping all over the floor Possible but also could be keeping cables off the floor and out of danger
  People plug them in to bathroom light fittings thus bypassing all of the safety things that have been put into electrical installations in bathrooms over the last 50 years. One can also run an extension lead into bathroom so makes no difference. I remember that's how my grandad used to plug in his electric shaver. Bare feet, wet hands, basin full of water and an unearthed metal shaver in his hand. Everybody did it then though...
  Lastly, you can't buy them any more. not even on fleabay.

I do not like the idea of the BA22d to 5A 2 pin adaptors and the main reasons are.
1 - Un-shuttered.
2 - Fuse not correct size as most BA22d sockets are only rated at 2A and MCB is often 5A.
Yes no earth but neither has my lawn mower lead and that has plug and socket (2pin) on it as supplied by manufacture.
There were laws about using lighting supply for power but since they are now both charged at same rate that hardly applies and anyway not being used for power but lighting.
These

and

would both allow one to plug items into the ceiling instead of the light and are allowed so how ever much I would like to say you should not use adaptors I have a problem in giving a really good reason.
All my house is all RCD protected (has been since 1992) and now I would think all new houses are as although lights not in bathrooms don't need RCD protection because the cables are normally buried in walls at less than 50mm they still will have RCD protection.

I think I got mine from Grand mother she use to use it to plug iron into as no sockets in kitchen closest socket was in hall 15A round pin.

My dad had modern house built 1954 and my mother tells me how they had 5 sockets in their house where her mother only had 2.

A lighting ceiling rose is rated 5Kg and some how I think a 5Kg load on a 13A socket would be asking for problems?

So I have given two valid reasons why to comply with BS7671 you can't use a BA22d adaptor both which would not be valid if using a Klik 6A 3 Pin Plug in Ceiling Rose. Can any one add some other real reasons?

 

[sparky716]

why not take the flex out the pendant and wire it direct to the rose if you must use the light fitting. Not ideal but an option.... better to invest in some low voltage lights and find another source to power them

 

[colinone]

why not take the flex out the pendant and wire it direct to the rose if you must use the light fitting. Not ideal but an option.... better to invest in some low voltage lights and find another source to power them

Thank you for that but it involves screwdrivers, step ladders and other dangerous highly technical equipment! H & S and me Mum wouldn't approve!

I only want some fairy lights, roll on boxing day!!

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[Stoday]

Were it not so ubiquitous, I'm sure the bayonet lampholder would have become obsolete years ago, just as the bayonet plug has. It could be considered even more dangerous with its unshuttered live pins.

On the other hand, the population is not dropping dead like flies from the most dangerous wiring accessory in the home.

 

[ColJack]

quite likely because it's not a general purpouse socket and is not having things plugged and unplugged every other day.. you put a lamp in and leave it untill it needs changing.. usually ensuring that it's switched off at the wall before you do anyway..

 

[kai]

Bayonet lampholder. There is another hazard, even with RCD protection, you can still receive a fatal shock between live and neutral contacts, when standing on a wooden or plastic stool - this is a little known fact about lighting fitting dangers!

 

[stunlawless]

Morning Colin,

I saw some for sale at an antiques/fleamarket place called Dagfields in Cheshire. Bit of a long drive from Worcestershire - how desparate are you ?

http://www.dagfields.co.uk/

Further to other posters, I remember my father using one for shaving in the bathroom, and my mother using one for ironing in the kitchen. They survived, despite using "the most dangerous accessory in the home" for many years. Still, that doesn't make it right to do it today.

David

 

[bernardgreen]

Bayonet lampholder. There is another hazard, even with RCD protection, you can still receive a fatal shock between live and neutral contacts, when standing on a wooden or plastic stool - this is a little known fact about lighting fitting dangers!

Applies to all electrical equipment. If you link Live to Neutral via your body you get a shock. If some part of your body is also earthed then an RCD may operate but if no part of your body is earthed then the RCD cannot operate as there is no leakage path to earth.

If you really want the RCD to trip then you have to be earthed. Which may significantly increase the risk of death from the shock. If the shock is finger to finger on the same hand and no part of you is earthed then death is very unlikely ( unless you fall of the ladder ) but if you foot is earthed then you have a Live to Neutral across you hand and a Live to Earth along your arm, across your chest ( hello heart, meet the current ) and down your leg. That might be fatal.

So do not put your self at risk of a live to neutral shock. Or any other shock for that matter........

If your body takes enough current to trip the MCB, which is highly un-likely, then the shock will end.

 

[colinone]

Morning Colin,

I saw some for sale at an antiques/fleamarket place called Dagfields in Cheshire. Bit of a long drive from Worcestershire - how desparate are you ?

http://www.dagfields.co.uk/

Further to other posters, I remember my father using one for shaving in the bathroom, and my mother using one for ironing in the kitchen. They survived, despite using "the most dangerous accessory in the home" for many years. Still, that doesn't make it right to do it today.

David

Yes I know David. I've stopped buying needles just in case I stick one in my eye!!!!!!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've got things in my kitchen which would cut my flesh down to the bone if I did something as simple as hold the wrong end.

Am I at risk?

 

[stunlawless]

Yes, mortal danger, unless you're a competent person and have carried out a risk assessment....

 

[aptsys]

Probably shouldn't post this, but:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bakelite-BC-p...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ?hash=item19b84a613c

 

[zebedee2001]

I found one of them while I was digging a hole in my back garden for a drain! Still have it, slightly greened. Offers!

 

[colinone]

I found one of them while I was digging a hole in my back garden for a drain! Still have it, slightly greened. Offers!

Very kind offer but I think I will give it a miss!

Cheers! Colin