5amp round 2pin sockets

[MrJohnson1]

Hello all, this is my first post and just a query,

I'm doing up a house and wondered if it would be possible to have a two pin socket at 5amps supplying lamps by the bed or some such thing (possibly from the light switch). I have a box of 60 NOS bakelite ones, I think its a long shot as they are so old and lack an earth, but I understand that they are just the same as shaver sockets.

Obviously I will have an qualified chap come and do all the electrical tomfoolery, I was just playing with ideas.

 

[RF Lighting]

No.

You will have to install 3 pin sockets.

You can still use round pin 5A sockets for lighting, just not 2 pin.

 

[MrJohnson1]

Any idea if they can be used for anything other than paper weights ?

 

[BS3036]

Sell them as historic nostalgia items on ebay (one at a time)...

 

[Paul_C]

Non-compliant with the current edition of BS7671, but there's nothing to stop you installing them in your own home if you want to.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Other than the law requiring reasonable provision for safety, and I would suggest that a cpc-less circuit installed in contravention not just of the current version of the wiring regs but also old versions stretching back for decades would not qualify as reasonable.

 

[ColJack]

my bedside table lamp doesn't have an earth and is wired in 0.5mm 2 core flex.. so why the need for an earth?

 

[ccam108]

Providing the plugs are of a safe construction and are in good condition, what is to stop them being used, provided only Class 2 double insulated appliances are used?

Of course it would be a bit silly just for the sake of reusing plugs. It would be much more sensible to use these and these.

Colin C

 

[333rocky333]

Your unlikely to get a plug that fits them
Does a shaver plug plug fit them, not sure it does.
Different width between pins.

 

[ccam108]

Your unlikely to get a plug that fits them
Does a shaver plug plug fit them, not sure it does.
Different width between pins.

Shaver plugs are the same as BS546 5A 2pin plugs, but these are physically incompatible with the 3pin version.

Linky

Colin C

 

[Paul_C]

Other than the law requiring reasonable provision for safety, and I would suggest that a cpc-less circuit installed in contravention not just of the current version of the wiring regs but also old versions stretching back for decades would not qualify as reasonable.

Nothing to stop you running an earth to the point and leaving it disconnected behind the socket, in case it's wanted at some future date. If you were using T&E you'd have that anyway.

 

[MrJohnson1]

So we are certain that it is not allowed. If a plastic lamp fitting is used no earth is needed and the sockets are still in use with bathrooms . I could within my mentality see the only issue being the lack of screening . Ofc my mentality and that of regulation is very different :-p The answer might be low voltage supply (12v) , they do fit in rather well with the house you see.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

my bedside table lamp doesn't have an earth and is wired in 0.5mm 2 core flex.. so why the need for an earth?

The OP was talking about installing sockets with no earth, not about using 2-core flex on Class II appliances.

Providing the plugs are of a safe construction and are in good condition, what is to stop them being used, provided only Class 2 double insulated appliances are used?

412.1.3

Nothing to stop you running an earth to the point and leaving it disconnected behind the socket, in case it's wanted at some future date. If you were using T&E you'd have that anyway.

Yes - I guess you could do that, and join it in the box.

There's still 412.1.3 and 553.1 to overcome though...

 

[ccam108]

ban-all-sheds, would you mind telling us what 412.1.3 and 553.1 say? I (and I assume many others) don't own a copy of the regulations.

Thanks

Colin C

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So we are certain that it is not allowed. If a plastic lamp fitting is used no earth is needed and the sockets are still in use with bathrooms.

Those are special sockets, with isolating transformers, and are only for shavers.

The answer might be low voltage supply (12v)

I don't think you would still see that as the answer once you'd done the voltage drop calculations and worked out what size cables you'd need

And FYI:

The IEC definitions of voltage bands are:

• Extra Low Voltage: AC below 50V and DC below 120V
• Low Voltage: 50 - 1000V AC or 120 - 1500V DC
• Medium voltage: 1kV - 35kV
• High voltage: 35kV - 230kV
• Extra-high voltage: >230kV

This is not some pedantic technical point - if you start getting involved in doing your own electrical work, and start learning about regulations etc you'll come across references to "Low voltage", and it'll be no good you thinking that that means 12V...