Plug added to light switch?

[Jeremy2014]

Hi Expert!


We have this switch ( been wondering what this was for years) and when turning it – we realised it was to switch the external light on.

From this – does that means we could potentially link some external electrical socket to it? So that we can add electrical heater / electric light for the summer?

Done quick google search and it seems that this is not recommenced as it could get overload.

Many thanks

 

[JohnD]

You have a light switch to turn a light on. nothing wrong with that.

If it is supplied from a lighting circuit (I don't know) it is probably fused at 5 or 6 amps.

So it will blow or trip if you connect a heavier load to it.

It is entirely permissible to connect a socket (not a plug) to a lighting circuit, but you need to be aware that a heavy load will trip or blow it. This will not damage the cable. It is sensible to put a label on such a socket, saying "lighting circuit, 5Amp max load" or similar.

If outdoors, it must be a weatherproof socket.

You can plug an electric light or similar into it if you want.

If you have people who insist on plugging a heater into it, it will trip.

You will find some eccentric people who wrongly claim you must not connect a socket to a lighting circuit. This is incorrect. Ignore them.

 

[JohnD]

P.s.

The way light switches work, you will not usually be able to take power from them as there is usually no neutral conductor.

Your cable looks like MICS (about the thickness of a pencil), so do not try to cut or alter it.

 

[Jeremy2014]

Hi, yes cable is pretty thin. What I did not mentioned too is that above that light switch cable, there are another tube with contain two cables that goes to the garage in the back of the garden which contain lighting as well as some plugs - so I guess alternative would be to(if going ahead) to get that external plug linked to that rather than to the electric switch cable.
It might make sense to check what the plug in the garage say - if any max load mentioned on the plug.