13A Socket on a lighting circuit.

[michael8554]

I have discovered that our Friedland Bell & Chime Isolating Transformer (240v to 8V @ 1A) is powered from a 13A socket, which is spurred off the upstair lighting circuit !

Is there any alternative to ripping up the carpet upstairs and correctly spurring off the 13A ring ?

A 5A round-pin plug and socket ?

Or permanently wired into a 13A Fused Outlet with a suitable rated fuse ?

Thanks for looking

Michael

 

[Geoff1946]

I would just label the socket. Something like "Lighting circuit- for Chime transformer only". Obviously ensure the transformer plug has a 3amp or smaller fuse.

 

[ProDave]

You normally connect a bell tx direct to a lighting circuit, no need for a 13A socket and plug (or anything else)

 

[binky]

As long as the circuit has the correct OCPD, ie breaker, for the cable there's nothing wrong with what you have. TV aerial boosters in attics are frequently run off a standard socket connected to the lighting cct.

 

[Andy™]

I have discovered that our Friedland Bell & Chime Isolating Transformer (240v to 8V @ 1A) is powered from a 13A socket, which is spurred off the upstair lighting circuit !

Is there any alternative to ripping up the carpet upstairs and correctly spurring off the 13A ring ?

A 5A round-pin plug and socket ?

Or permanently wired into a 13A Fused Outlet with a suitable rated fuse ?

Thanks for looking

Michael

why do you think this is a problem?

 

[michael8554]

I didn't appreciate that a 13Amp socket on a 6Amp circuit was allowed.

Now that it's been explained it's obvious to me that if someone did plug in a 3kw heater, of courser the 6Amp MCB would trip.

So no problem.

It just seemed Bad Practice to allow that situation to occur.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[BorisJ]

It is allowed to put a 13 a socket on the lighting circuit but clearly wrong. One of those regs that has not been thought out. As ProDave says a chime transformer is normally connected directly to the lighting circuit. Replace the socket with a junction box or as you suggested a 5a plug and socket.

 

[binky]

It is allowed to put a 13 a socket on the lighting circuit but clearly wrong. One of those regs that has not been thought out. As ProDave says a chime transformer is normally connected directly to the lighting circuit. Replace the socket with a junction box or as you suggested a 5a plug and socket.

It's not wrong, it's just a little confusing for people sometimes, and things like TV aerial boosters tend to be fitted with moulded on plugs that if you cut off to direct wire, or wire to a 5amp plug and socket, invalidates any warranty

 

[Andy™]

I didn't appreciate that a 13Amp socket on a 6Amp circuit was allowed.

Now that it's been explained it's obvious to me that if someone did plug in a 3kw heater, of courser the 6Amp MCB would trip.

So no problem.

It just seemed Bad Practice to allow that situation to occur.

Thanks for all the replies.

bad practice, not really. not ideal, but they do have their uses, especially for smaller loads like bell transformers & TV amplifiers. youd be mad to wire it off the lighting circuit for a socket in a hallway which could easily be used by anything. in a cupboard etc for a specific item? carry on, just mark it as such

 

[Bruspark]

It is allowed to put a 13 a socket on the lighting circuit but clearly wrong. One of those regs that has not been thought out. As ProDave says a chime transformer is normally connected directly to the lighting circuit. Replace the socket with a junction box or as you suggested a 5a plug and socket.

It's no more wrong than a 13A socket on a circuit that is already heavily loaded. In both cases trying to take 13A from it will have the designed effect of tripping the breaker. In this sort of case a label saying "For bell transformer ONLY" and a 1 or 3 amp fuse in the plug will be fine.

"Ideally a SFCU would be used but increasingly aerial amps etc come with wall-wart plugs that are impossible to re wire"

 

[Fleeting]

Prior to amendment 2 if the lighting circuit is wired in 1.0 then it would have been deemed undersized for a power circuit.

 

[binky]

Prior to amendment 2 if the lighting circuit is wired in 1.0 then it would have been deemed undersized for a power circuit.

6 Amp MCB, that's roughly 1.5kW. Remember when we used to wire 250W / 500W halogen floodlights for security to peoples houses?

 

[Mike P]

I think it’s a good thing if labelled correctly. Christmas LED lights with 13A plug transformers is a good example. This allows lights to be controlled safely and switched off at night with other lighting. Rather than overloaded sockets, dodgy adapters and cabling. All being left on 24/7

 

[Murdoch]

Prior to amendment 2 if the lighting circuit is wired in 1.0 then it would have been deemed undersized for a power circuit.

But in this case it’s a lighting circuit with a socket / label so it’s not a power circuit

 

[Fleeting]

It has become a lighting/power circuit but according to amendment 2 this is now irrelevant.

 

[steptoe]

Who remembers these

 

[BorisJ]

It's not wrong, it's just a little confusing for people sometimes, and things like TV aerial boosters tend to be fitted with moulded on plugs that if you cut off to direct wire, or wire to a 5amp plug and socket, invalidates any warranty

Cutting off plugs does not invalidate warranties. Some companies may “try it on”.

 

[steptoe]

Cutting off plugs does not invalidate warranties. Some companies may “try it on”.

I think you'll find in most cases it does,
You have modified the product,

 

[Richard-the-Ninth]

There is no specific answer as it depends on who made the item in question.

Miele said

Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your enquiry about changing a moulded plug.
Yes you can take the plug off without invalidating the warranty, as long as it is connected by a qualified electrician.


Samsung said

Thank you for your email.
This is to acknowledge that we have received your email. In reference to your query, kindly be advised that the designs of our products are made based on market preferences and have undergone series of tests before it is being decided by our Samsung design team and engineers. Thus, changing/altering parts of the unit will automatically void its warranty.

 

[kerching]

Who remembers these

View attachment 13499Me. And I still use one