television
- Thread starter cadet
- Start date
Ah - you're back.
Re the TV - it's electrically safe - worst that will happen is that the lighting circuit breaker will trip, plunging him into darkness.
Re the TV - it's electrically safe - worst that will happen is that the lighting circuit breaker will trip, plunging him into darkness.
Depends on the TV type and it's load in watts.
We've just got a 37" Panasonice LCD and that is 120w, so about 0.5 amp
Lighting circuits tend to be max 6 amp via the breaker / fuse on the board, so take an old CRT and it will over load the circuit.
Big danger about having a socket on a lighting circuit is the fact that a normal socket could have anything up to 13 amp plugged in. It's best to have fuse spur between the lighting and socket to restrict the load to 3 amp to cover such stupidity.
We've just got a 37" Panasonice LCD and that is 120w, so about 0.5 amp
Lighting circuits tend to be max 6 amp via the breaker / fuse on the board, so take an old CRT and it will over load the circuit.
Big danger about having a socket on a lighting circuit is the fact that a normal socket could have anything up to 13 amp plugged in. It's best to have fuse spur between the lighting and socket to restrict the load to 3 amp to cover such stupidity.
My first reaction in such circmstances is to say exactly that - but when I start thinking, I wonder how much it stands up to much scruitiny - since the lighting circuit wiring is, by definition, already adequately protected by its MCB. The worst that could happen if a large load were plugged into the socket therefore should be operation of the MCB, taking the lights out - and I don't think one can actually be too sure that a 3A fuse would always operate before the MCB, anyway. Suitable labelling of the socket is probably the best 'protection' against large loads being plugged in.
I'm also not sure that it's fair to of 'stupidity' in relation to people plugging a large load into such a socket - unless they are the person who installed it, they may well have no reason to know, or even suspect, that it can't take a full 13A load. Hence, if this is done, the desirability of labelling the socket.
Kind Regards, John.
A
Alarm
I can see a nice 2 bar heater being plugged into this 
Whereupon the MCB trips, the lights stop working, the penny drops and the heater is not plugged in there again.I can see a nice 2 bar heater being plugged into this
Yes, that's one solution, and a solution I've frequently used. However (unless used in conjunction with an FCU, which would rather defeat the point!) it does leave the cable of whatever is plugged into protected only by the circuit's OPD, which could theoretically be inadequate protection with smaller cables (e.g. 0.5mm²).
Kind Regards, John.
Some of the newer 5 amp plugs do have fuses fitted.
Interesting - I have wondered why such things never emerged. Do they use standard BS1362 fuses (I wonder if they could be made to fit!)? Can you indicate any source?
Are they compliant with any BS?
Kidn Regards, John.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
