Sockets and wall lights in bedroom

[colorado]

Hi, I started thinking about wall lights in the bedroom and the project has grown a bit. Just thinking this through and would like anyone’s opinion on a couple of options

I have a socket on the ring at low level, and i want to retain a socket in this location. I want to add a socket at each side of the bed, above the bedside cabinets to be accessible for phone charger, radio alarm, hairdryer etc. I also want wall lights each side. It’s not easy to bring cables down from the lighting circuit so I’d like to take everything off the existing socket. Currently thinking to spur off the socket to an FCU adjacent, then take two 2.5 T & E from there to the two new sockets. Then spur using 1.5 T & E from the sockets up to the wall lights. The wall lights we’ve chosen don’t have integral switches so for neatness bring another 1.5 T & E down (creating a switched live) to switches adjacent to the new bedside sockets (like you get in hotel rooms). I’m conscious this means the lights are on the same 13A circuit as the sockets, would I be better spurring from the sockets to switched 3A FCU’s which become the light switches, then up to the lights from there. Also is there any benefit in making the first FCU next to the existing circuit part of the ring rather than being a spur from the socket?

As a final extra optional but not essential, it would ne nice to make the light switch on one side a two gang, with the extra switch being a two way for the main ceiling light. I can fairly easily bring the three core down to under the floor and fish it round to come back up again on the other side of the room to connect to the existing main light switch. This might not be possible if I use the switched FCU as light switches option above, at least not in a single faceplate.

 

[pete01]

Just one spur (fcu) will do you, the 1.5mm lighting cable will be fine on a 13 amp fuse.

 

[colorado]

Thanks Pete, that makes it easier, and makes the two gang switch for the ceiling light a viable option too.

This weekend’s work sorted!

 

[JohnW2]

Just one spur (fcu) will do you, the 1.5mm lighting cable will be fine on a 13 amp fuse.

Indeed, but 1.0 mm² cable would also be adequate.

 

[pete01]

Indeed, but 1.0 mm² cable would also be adequate.

Yep, I just went with what he said.

 

[ericmark]

Consider smart controls. I swapped the light switch in dinning room, when we had to use it as a bedroom, use a TP-Link (Tapo) switch, and a smart button so could turn off light at bed head.

Clearly can do reverse, wall light switch at bed head, and a button at the door. The S200D comes with a switch surround

the S200B does not have the square plate. In fact we did not use the button, used voice commands instead, but just trying to give you food for thought.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

I put the bedside light switches, the main light switch (2 way with the switch by the door)and the ensuite light switch the same together just above the level of the headboard then either person can switch the bedside lights or the other lights

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

We have a what I think is called a 'slipper' bed, very tall headboard, plus a toe board. I bought a pair of fittings, which each included a general shaded lamp, an adjustable spot light, and a USB socket. I fixed these either side, of the headboard. Each fed, via a flex, which simply plugs in - where the bed moves to, the lights follow. The ceiling light, I replaced with a remote control 6 speed fan, combined with a very bright ring of remote control dimmable LED lights.

 

[ebee]

Yup, providing you happy just having one circuit running the wall lights as well as the sockets.
and yes you can have switches arranged as ganged so either side of bed gives two way switched lighting or more to either side of bed too but if you running a cable down from the main ceiling light you might be able to run a 3 core and earth down to a switch and again to 2 or more switched ways for that.
The world is your lobster really and there are lots of possibilities including as mentioned smart switched etc.
It`s just a matter of conceiving the different options and the work (and cost) involved.

I did do a few unusual ones along with all the other straightforward ones during my working life.

 

[colorado]

I put the bedside light switches, the main light switch (2 way with the switch by the door)and the ensuite light switch the same together just above the level of the headboard then either person can switch the bedside lights or the other lights

Good idea, hadn’t thought about doing it that way.