Socket from a light switch

[Jon6838]

I know this should never be done in case someone plugs in something that would overload the circuit but here’s my situation.
I have two sets of led strip lights to run around the base of my bathroom which I was planning to run from the light switch. I have used these strips before and taken the plug off to do this but these sets have the transformer/plug as one unit.
Could I take a feed from the light switch to a double socket purely for these strip lights? The double socket would be completely concealed within a unit and impossible for someone to accidentally plug in something else without dismantling it. Any advice would be much appreciated

 

[EFLImpudence]

I know this should never be done in case someone plugs in something that would overload the circuit .

That applies to every circuit, which is why there are fuses etc.

I have two sets of led strip lights to run around the base of my bathroom which I was planning to run from the light switch. I have used these strips before and taken the plug off to do this but these sets have the transformer/plug as one unit.

Ok.

Could I take a feed from the light switch to a double socket purely for these strip lights?

That depends on whether you have a 'feed'.
That is - a line and neutral (and earth) from the supply.


Is there a neutral available at the switch? Sometimes there is; sometimes there isn't.

Neutral is not merely a term for a wire of a certain colour. It is the conductor which completes the circuit from the load back to the supply.

 

[Jon6838]

Yes there are neutrals at the switch. Well, blue wires which I assume are neutral. It’s a double switch, light and extractor

 

[EFLImpudence]

Are these blues all together in a separate connector?

 

[Jon6838]

Yeah two blues and two earths in a connector bloc

 

[EFLImpudence]

It looks like you can do what you want - assuming it is all done 'properly'.

 

[Jon6838]

Good news! Thanks for ur help

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The double socket would be completely concealed within a unit

Which zone would that put it in? And would that make the screwed connections in the socket inaccessible?

 

[sparkwright]

.

 

[Jon6838]

Just to confirm, I’ve built a vanity unit from scratch which has a recess in the front of it. The back panel to this recess I’ve made removable with a few screws and there’s plenty of room in there to mount the socket for the leds. Definitely not possible to accidentally access this socket, but accessible enough for any maintenance

 

[winston1]

Bad policy to put sockets on a lighting circuit. You should really get LED strips with a power supply that is not built into a plug.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Bad policy to put sockets on a lighting circuit.

Dear reader
That is Winston’s personal opinion.
The Wiring Regulations - BS7671 - specifically allows sockets (and FCUs) to be attached to a lighting circuit.

 

[securespark]

Yeah two blues and two earths in a connector bloc

One block for each pair of wires?

 

[JohnW2]

One block for each pair of wires?

I would suspect one 'bit of the block' for each pair of wires.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Jon6838]

Yes one block for each pair of wires! I’d be a bit worried if they were all in the one connection! I worded it wrong!