Plug in lights question

[Bigtony]

Hi all, quick question, I have been given a 12volt PIR led lamp for outside a customers property, it just plugs in (standard 3 pin plug configuration 12volt adapter plug, so no mains on any cable length) I’m just wondering what the law says about a non electrician plugging stuff in, I don’t touch light stuff at all so don’t know the regulations,

for instance the cable will probably have to go through a wall to be plugged in so the plug will be removed then refitted, and obviously the cable will likely be surface clipped to the wall and the light fitted with adequate plugs / screws,  any help / advice appreciated.

 

[Evans Electric]

That adaptor /plug may well be moulded onto the flex , usually are , so cut the flex somewhere convenient and fit a J.box  , inside the building ,  just do it . 

The "law"   won't say anything ,  if it did no one would buy anything from B&Q  etc .

When you say " customer "  you'll be subject to the usual laws , I would guess,  of not endangering the customer  etc  as you're offering a professional service .   

If you agreed to replace their fuseboard and killed them all ,  I'd guess the long arm of the law would be reaching for the scruff of your neck .   But what you propose is no different to plugging in a table lamp really,  specially at 12V 

 

[Bigtony]

Thanks I was of this thinking but just wanted to hear from someone else, I suppose it’s no different to any of the security stuff we do in that respect, just never been asked about lights before! 

 

[Doc Hudson]

Hi all, quick question, I have been given a 12volt PIR led lamp for outside a customers property, it just plugs in (standard 3 pin plug configuration 12volt adapter plug, so no mains on any cable length) I’m just wondering what the law says about a non electrician plugging stuff in, I don’t touch light stuff at all so don’t know the regulations,

for instance the cable will probably have to go through a wall to be plugged in so the plug will be removed then refitted, and obviously the cable will likely be surface clipped to the wall and the light fitted with adequate plugs / screws,  any help / advice appreciated.

There are no laws about anyone using a plug to power an electrical accessory. There is wiring regulations guidance and some building regulations relating to amending the fixed wiring, (the cables that supply the sockets and fuse boxes etc.)  But you are not touching the fixed wiring. Assuming the installation is designed correctly, if a non-skilled person did plug something stupid into a socket outlet, either the fuse in the plug should blow, or the protective devices in the fuse box should disconnect the power to stop anyone being injured. From the sounds of it, what you are proposing is less hazardous than the thousands of DIY home-Christmas light fanatics, who will be plugging all sorts of 12v flashing rope lights, icicles, snowmen and father Christmas's etc over the coming weeks! 

Doc H.

 

[phil d]

There are no laws about anyone using a plug to power an electrical accessory. There is wiring regulations guidance and some building regulations relating to amending the fixed wiring, (the cables that supply the sockets and fuse boxes etc.)  But you are not touching the fixed wiring. Assuming the installation is designed correctly, if a non-skilled person did plug something stupid into a socket outlet, either the fuse in the plug should blow, or the protective devices in the fuse box should disconnect the power to stop anyone being injured. From the sounds of it, what you are proposing is less hazardous than the thousands of DIY home-Christmas light fanatics, who will be plugging all sorts of 12v flashing rope lights, icicles, snowmen and father Christmas's etc over the coming weeks! 

Doc H.

Hmm, Christmas lights, last year a colleague and I were working on a house and the house next door had 2, 4 way sockets attached to the wall below the bay window. They were nothing special, just the ordinary type that you probably have inside your own home, usually behind the tv, or pc for example, but no, these are outside. I got chatting to the neighbour and politely enquired as to the reason behind the sockets, "Christmas lights" came the reply. I then pointed out that they were not suitable for this and they would be better buying a couple of those plastic boxes with the hinged lids, you know the ones, the diy stores are full of them, they hold a 4 way, and are IP rated.

They thanked me for my advice and said they'd look at it, that was last December, I was over there again a few weeks back, and guess what? The sockets are still there, it would seem they put saving a few quid above the potential risk to life and limb. I think that some people have no idea about the risks of electricity, my own father is a classic example, he cut a live flex and wondered why it not only blew the fuses in several plugs, but also took out the main fuse and destroyed his cutters. How could something protected by a 13A fuse cause so much damage, he wondered. I took my MFT out of the car and measured the PFC on the ring circuit, it was a shade over 3000 amps, when I explained that this meant that that was the current that would flow in the event of a dead short, for example, if someone were to cut a live cable with a pair of cutters.

He had no idea about this, well lets just say he now has a much healthier respect for electricity.