Socket from downlight circuit. Is it possible?

[Beverly27]

Is it possible to run a single 3 pin plug socket from a downlighter circuit, safely and in keeping with regulations? We have a speaker we want to plug in and mount on the wall, but we want to hide the power cable and not have it running up the wall. There's a nearby downlight and if we could have the socket in the ceiling void, run off the downlight circuit, then we could plug the speaker into it and run the power cable from the socket through the ceiling void and down the wall cavity to the speaker.
If it's possible then I'll get an electrician to do the work, but first I want to know if it's possible, hence the post!

 

[sxturbo]

Yes you can, you would need to install it via a 6 amp fused spur,

I'd then clearly mark the socket as such so someone doesn't come in and plug a kettle or something into it

 

[JohnD]

is the plug on the speaker essential?

 

[JohnW2]

Anyone got any popcorn?

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

Yes you can, you would need to install it via a 6 amp fused spur,

I'd then clearly mark the socket as such so someone doesn't come in and plug a kettle or something into it

You don’t need a fused spur. The lighting circuit is already fused at 6 or possibly 10 amps. I take it you want to be able to use the speaker without the lights so don’t just connect to the nearest downlight. And use a 5 amp round pin socket not a normal 13 amp one which is bad practice to put on a lighting circuit. It is also not allowed to run cables in the wall cavity.

Are there no ring main cables up there you could spur off?

 

[Beverly27]

Yes you can, you would need to install it via a 6 amp fused spur,

I'd then clearly mark the socket as such so someone doesn't come in and plug a kettle or something into it

Thanks, the socket would be in the ceiling cavity, so only the mice would be able to use a kettle there.

 

[Beverly27]

is the plug on the speaker essential?

It is.

 

[Beverly27]

You don’t need a fused spur. The lighting circuit is already fused at 6 or possibly 10 amps. I take it you want to be able to use the speaker without the lights so don’t just connect to the nearest downlight. And use a 5 amp round pin socket not a normal 13 amp one which is bad practice to put on a lighting circuit. It is also not allowed to run cables in the wall cavity.

Are there no ring main cables up there you could spur off?

Thanks winston1. We do want to be able to use the speaker when the lights are off. Thanks for letting me know about the wall cavity, we can avoid doing that by mounting the speaker higher on the wall, next to the ceiling, rather than in the lower position we'd planned. The speaker plug is a normal 13 amp one though.

 

[JohnD]

The speaker plug is a normal 13 amp one though.

In that case it is not essential (hence my question)

you can use a flex outlet, which is much less noticable than a plug and socket.

If you wish, you can have one with a switch and/or fuse, but it is not necessary.

You should not conceal a socket where it cannot be seen (e.g. in a ceiling cavity)

example flex outlet (they are usually square)

 

[winston1]

Thanks winston1. We do want to be able to use the speaker when the lights are off. Thanks for letting me know about the wall cavity, we can avoid doing that by mounting the speaker higher on the wall, next to the ceiling, rather than in the lower position we'd planned. The speaker plug is a normal 13 amp one though.

You could change the plug on the speaker assuming it is not a wall wart.

As I have already asked are there any ring main cables up there you can spur off?

 

[JohnD]

a normal 13 amp one which is bad practice to put on a lighting circuit

this is not true.

 

[Beverly27]

In that case it is not essential (hence my question)

you can use a flex outlet, which is much less noticable than a plug and socket.

If you wish, you can have one with a switch and/or fuse, but it is not necessary.

You should not conceal a socket where it cannot be seen (e.g. in a ceiling cavity)

example flex outlet (they are usually square)

Thanks JohnD, this is really helpful.

 

[Beverly27]

You could change the plug on the speaker assuming it is not a wall wart.

As I have already asked are there any ring main cables up there you can spur off?

I'm not sure if there are any ring main cables in the ceiling. I'll have to pull the light out and have a look.

 

[JohnD]

one objection to using a socket circuit in the the ceiling, is that, unless you are in a bungalow, it is pretty sure to be the circuit that feeds the upstairs sockets. So an innocent person might turn off the ground floor socket circuit, and work on your speaker socket, expecting it to be dead.

A good electrician is supposed to be wary of such things and test every time, but it is a mistake many people have made, once.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Are there no ring main cables up there you could spur off?

the correct term is ring final ….