Am I allowed to change the wiring on the outside lights

[hztm2008]

Hi, looking for some advice about our outside lights please. Our consumer unit is in the garage that is attached to the house. It has an RCD and a dedicated circuit for the outside lights with a 6A MCB. The front light is wired back to the consumer unit via a time switch which has been there for many years but has now gone wrong. I was thinking about replacing the timer with a single 13A socket and smart plug and wanted to check if this is an acceptable arrangement and something that I am allowed to do myself. I have attached pictures showing the current and proposed new arrangement and would really appreciate any advice. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Our consumer unit is in the garage that is attached to the house. It has an RCD and a dedicated circuit for the outside lights with a 6A MCB. The front light is wired back to the consumer unit via a time switch which has been there for many years but has now gone wrong. I was thinking about replacing the timer with a single 13A socket and smart plug and wanted to check if this is an acceptable arrangement

Sounds fine.

and something that I am allowed to do myself.

Yes - quickly before the police state takes over and you're not allowed any lights.

I have attached pictures showing the current and proposed new arrangement and would really appreciate any advice. Thank you very much for your help.

Looks fine.

 

[ericmark]

Looks fine, I have some lights switched the same way, others use a TP-Link smart switch that has dusk and dawn setting built in.

 

[plugwash]

Make sure the flex is adequately restrained so someone tugging on it does not put stress on the terminals in the junction box.

I'd also put a label on the socket to remind people (including yourself a few decades down the line) it was fed from a 6A breaker.

 

[Robin0577]

Electrically speaking, your plan will work just fine, but it's just not a very nice/tidy way to do it. It would be neater and mechanically better to use a wire-in smart relay module rather than a smart plug. Tidier, and less chance of things being pulled or knocked out.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Looks fine, I have some lights switched the same way, others use a TP-Link smart switch that has dusk and dawn setting built in.

I agree, but there is no need for the 2.5mm, 1.5mm, or even 1mm is adequate, with a 6amp MCB - yes, even feeding a 13amp socket. Using a plug-in smart switch, will likely be cheaper, and makes replacement quick and easy, should it eventually fail etc..

Alexa will happily do the dusk to dawn, or dusk to anytime you prefer, before dawn (11pm?)