Socket through a switch

[Steve]

gridswitches are brilliant.

 

[Tony 1]

Grid switches?? Its starting to blow my mind.

On my diagram cant i just change the 5 amp 3 pin socket to a 13 amp socket as the plug from the plinth lights tranformer is moulded?

Also can i run the cables as shown on my diagram as i am lead to believe you can either run horizontally or vertically but not both?

 

[Steve]

ignore grid switches, we're being silly.

1. yes you can

2. no you cant. The cable must run in safe zones. To accomplish this you can put a blank plate and backbox above the door, on the cables path.

also, if this whole thing is a spur from that double socket, there MUST be a fuse in between!!! The socket circuit is fused to 32 amps, you need a 5 amp fuse on the lighting setup.

 

[JohnD]

the 3A fuse must be before the light switch. You could put it in the wall adjacent to your existing socket, then everything after it will be fused down.

Don't worry about gridswitches.

A simple FCU is what you need if you are running lights off a socket ring.

(or can you get to the ceiling above and take a feed from the lighting circuit?)

edited: well done, young feller, you're very quick

When you get a bit older, and have a girlfiend, she may be disappointed, though.

 

[davy_owen_88]

2. no you cant. The cable must run in safe zones. To accomplish this you can put a blank plate and backbox above the door, on the cables path

Or just run it right up within 150mm of ceiling level. Also you can't come out the side of the wall switch and then go up, exit the switch at the top and go vertically up.

 

[Tony 1]

To accomplish this you can put a blank plate and backbox above the door

Steve, what will that do?

 

[Steve]

To accomplish this you can put a blank plate and backbox above the door

Steve, what will that do?

It will show people there is a cable and stop them drilling, since there are safe zones horizontally and vertically from every electrical accessory (switch/socket) which you must adhere to. There is also a safe zone to 150mm from the ceiling. If you put your cable here, theres no need for the blank plate.

 

[Tony 1]

Really sorry for this as i know this post has gone on and on but i want to be crystal clear before i start putting bloody chases all over the place. I have done a revised diagram of my previous one and would this be a right way of running the cable?

Thanks again

http://img484.imageshack.us/img484/3176/plinthsiq5.jpg

 

[davy_owen_88]

No, there is no safe zone behind the skirting boards. Go left at the 5A spur and then vertically underneath the 2/3 gang switch. The rest is fine assuming the horizontal run above the door is within 150mm of the ceiling.

 

[JohnD]

or you could lift a floorboard.

 

[Tony 1]

Thanks for that. The floor is solid concrete so no option for floor board lifting.

Yes the cable above the door is well within the 150mm safe zone.

Just an idea, instead of running vertically down from the existing socket to the 5 amp switch in the diagram, can i go horizontally left out of the existing socket through the 5 amp switch and then vertically up into the light switch before continuing vertical up to the ceiling, like this?

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2314/plinth2mg0.jpg

Thanks very much.

 

[electronicsuk]

Just an idea, instead of running vertically down from the existing socket to the 5 amp switch in the diagram, can i go horizontally left out of the existing socket through the 5 amp switch and then vertically up into the light switch before continuing vertical up to the ceiling, like this?

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2314/plinth2mg0.jpg

Thanks very much.

No no no no no! No 90 degree bends outside of the safe zones! You need to move the 5A FCU to be DIRECTLY underneath the light switch.

 

[davy_owen_88]

No he doesn't. The safe zones are horizontally AND vertically from any accessory, as long as the cable changes direction within the safe zones it is fine. Of course you need to be aware of the minimum bend radius for the cable you are using... If you can't make the bend within the safe zone without damaging the cable then you should take a different route. Horizontally up to the ceiling and then back down perhaps...

Unless you have x-ray vision and can see through walls you have to assume that there could be cables run within any of the safe zones so a change of direction isn't a problem, although it is best to keep them to a minimum.

 

[Tony 1]

What would be the minimum bend radius for the cable? I was thinking of using 1.5mm twin & earth

 

[electronicsuk]

No he doesn't. The safe zones are horizontally AND vertically from any accessory, as long as the cable changes direction within the safe zones it is fine.

*slaps self in face*

Tony, for 1.5mmsq T+E you're looking at a diameter of around 8mm at the widest part. The bending factor for a cable of this type under 10mm diameter is 3, so the minimum internal bending radius is 8*3 = 24mm. This shouldn't be a problem.