Outside light power from double socket?

[Pesty]

Any reason why I can't drill straight through the back of a double socket through the wall, wire a spur,poke through wall, fit a weatherproof fused spur outside then a Pir flood light?

Seems neat and easier then going in loft finding the lighting circuit and spurring off that, then dangling cable down.

Location of double socket is perfect for where I want the light.

[miniman]

I've certainly seen a PIR run from a fused spur running off the ring main, installed by an electrician, albeit a good few years ago. Can't see why not personally.

[ladderino]

Take a look at this, although I don't know whether this clears things up at all - http://www.theiet.org/forums/forum/messageview.cfm...

Good to see sparkies are still none the wiser as to what Part P actually covers.

[Pesty]

Thanks guys

Damn I'm old forgot about that part P business.

Well that link just confused the hell outa me. The wiring in this house is pardon the pun, shocking. Not a new circuit as using an existing rcd protected ring main.


Interesting that you are supposed to notify somebody when fitting a consumer unit. Probably the easiest job there is.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 19th September 22:17

[V8RX7]

I used to fit PIR floodlights when I was a student.

I'd drill a hole near a socket then fit a plug to the wire for the light - simple !

[Pesty]

Yeah that's other option. Nice simple but there will be hole and a cable and will take up one socket.

Won't look very neat. Not that I'm a perfectionist but would look neater without another hole in the wall. It won't however be a problem for part p or anything else.

[miniman]

Realistically, when you've deleted this thread, it was like that when you moved in, right?

[kambites]

miniman said:

I've certainly seen a PIR run from a fused spur running off the ring main, installed by an electrician, albeit a good few years ago. Can't see why not personally.

We have such a setup for our pond pump and garden light. We'vre recently have an extension built which required a new consumer unit so the whole house had to be tested and there were no complaints about that spur.

[TooMany2cvs]

miniman said:

Realistically, when you've deleted this thread, it was like that when you moved in, right?

Breaches of building regs can only be enforced for a year after completion of the work anyway.

[boobles]

Is the light a security light? If so, why not go for a solar light as they work very well indeed.

[Pesty]

TooMany2cvs said:

miniman said:

Realistically, when you've deleted this thread, it was like that when you moved in, right?

Breaches of building regs can only be enforced for a year after completion of the work anyway.

Is it really a breach of the regs to put your own spur in these days? I'll get a professional in anyway. Had to go up in the loft last week. Whoever built the extension just used those connection blocks for everything and left them on the Insulation, also the downlighting in the other bathroom are just under the insulation again everything with connector blocks. I though you had to remove the insulation and put fire resistant 'hats' on those. Maybe not not but the wiring up there looks terrible was going to get somebody to check that anyway,

[TooMany2cvs]

Pesty said:

TooMany2cvs said:

miniman said:

Realistically, when you've deleted this thread, it was like that when you moved in, right?

Breaches of building regs can only be enforced for a year after completion of the work anyway.

Is it really a breach of the regs to put your own spur in these days?

"Part P" is Part P of the Building Regs...

[Pesty]

Q5: What types of electrical work are 'non-notifiable'?
The following types of work are non-notifiable:
Replacing accessories such as socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses
Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact (1)
Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components (2)
Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations (3)
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding (4)
Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation (5) and consists of:
- adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit (6)
- adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit (6)

See bold. So I'm good to go if I did do it myself?

[TooMany2cvs]

Pesty said:

Q5: What types of electrical work are 'non-notifiable'?
The following types of work are non-notifiable:
Replacing accessories such as socket-outlets, control switches and ceiling roses
Replacing the cable for a single circuit only, where damaged, for example, by fire, rodent or impact (1)
Re-fixing or replacing the enclosures of existing installation components (2)
Providing mechanical protection to existing fixed installations (3)
Installing or upgrading main or supplementary equipotential bonding (4)
Work that is not in a kitchen or special location and does not involve a special installation (5) and consists of:
- adding lighting points (light fittings and switches) to an existing circuit (6)
- adding socket-outlets and fused spurs to an existing ring or radial circuit (6)

See bold. So I'm good to go?

<surprised> Yep. I thought that was under PartP.

(not that it'd stop me...)

[Pesty]

I'm confused that says 'none notifiable ' your post suggests other.

I took none notifiable as good to go?

[Alucidnation]

TooMany2cvs said:

Breaches of building regs can only be enforced for a year after completion of the work anyway.

Wrong (in relation to Part P).

Edited by Alucidnation on Tuesday 20th September 10:29

[Alucidnation]

Pesty said:

Interesting that you are supposed to notify somebody when fitting a consumer unit. Probably the easiest job there is.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 19th September 22:17

Really?


How easy?

[Pesty]

Alucidnation said:

Really?


How easy?

Well all the cables are already there stripped and in the right place. Shut off power.label and Unscrew wires . Remove box fit new box screw wires back in. Unless any things changed hasn't done one for about twenty years. I know new ones are rcd protected but that changes nothing wiring wise I would imagine. Only problem could be length of wires I suppose if the new consumer unit is drastically different layout but I never had that.

I guess these days it's better to get somebody to do it for you. But the consumer units themselves are cheap as chips not an expert and wouldn't recommend anybody doing it if they were not qualified obviously.

are you wanting to do one or an expert who's saying it's harder these days?

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 20th September 11:02

[sampsan]

Easy to do provided everything goes well, all the cables are the right length etc. Not so easy to test following installation due to knowledge, experience and equipment required. Also the sign off and responsibilities taken in changing a consumer unit is significant. Also ask anyone that completes this work on a daily basis is a surprising amount of consumer units supplying domestic systems with standing faults that require sorting first and also with incorrectly sized protection for cables and insufficient earthing as per latest regs. That is without considering the introduction of RCD's to an existing system and potential for borrowed neutrals etc.

Pesty said:

Well all the cables are already there stripped and in the right place. Shut off power.label and Unscrew wires . Remove box fit new box screw wires back in. Unless any things changed hasn't done one for about twenty years. I know new ones are rcd protected but that changes nothing wiring wise I would imagine. Only problem could be length of wires I suppose if the new consumer unit is drastically different layout but I never had that.

I guess these days it's better to get somebody to do it for you. But the consumer units themselves are cheap as chips not an expert and wouldn't recommend anybody doing it if they were not qualified obviously.

are you wanting to do one or an expert who's saying it's harder these days?

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 20th September 11:02

[essayer]

Pesty said:

I'm confused that says 'none notifiable ' your post suggests other.

I took none notifiable as good to go?

My understanding was that outside lighting is subject to Part P, but the 2013 edition of the Part P document drops all reference to outside lighting being in a special location; just bath/shower rooms or swimming pools etc.

Edited by essayer on Tuesday 20th September 14:29