Comando socket over current protection

Talk Electrician Forum

Help Support Talk Electrician Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Pingpong

Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2022
Messages
6
Reaction score
1
Good evening guys. I have been asked to install a ip68 comando socket. Which is to supply a external lighting unit. My issue is the external light is originally connected by a 13A plug top with a 3A fuse providing over current protection. Now there is no inbuilt fuse in the lighting unit. And obviously no over current protection to the supply circuit other than the 16A RCBO. But the 16A load is required at the comando socket for other items.
Please help.
 
You need to know about this before you work in any electrotechnical area, this is one of the most important and basic aspects of circuits. There, patronising over, sorry but it's true and needed saying if you are undertaking electrical work.

The essential aspect of 'fusing' (fuses, MCBs etc) ADS, where utilised is that all conductors must be protected for their intended/designed use in relation to location and loading. Use the bs7671(2018) to refer to the required cable selection if you are unsure.

Provided the 16amp circuit is protecting 2.5mm conductors or greater surface clipped in twin and earth etc there is a 'good chance' that those conductors will be protected by it (depends on run length), however, if smaller cross sectional area conductors are utilised, or the route means the de-rating is too great, then you may need to change the breaker or add an fcu at some point (as was there originally) to suitably protect the non protected conductors.

This applies regardless of any other circumstances, so you will need to assess both the rigs manufacturer reccomended protection, and the actual maximum load characteristics of the 'rigs' wiring, to be able to safely install the new 'plug', to the 'rig',

In reality it's two assessments, 1) suitability for the socket on the 16 amp circuit. 2) suitability for the lighting rig to be connected by an unfused plug.

If either is unsuitable, then the conductors will need suitable protection adding/changing (fcu, mcb etc) or conductors upgrading to larger cross sectional area.

All the best.
 
The lights do not fall within the remit of BS 7671 as they are plugged in.
Product safety standards do not allow for a product to rely upon the fusing in the fixed installation or the plug.
If the lights are CE marked, then they should not require a fused plug, because they are not used in the European mainland.
 
Top