Light in shed

[Ian Chard]

Hi,

I'd like to install a light in my shed. It already has mains present, in the form of a double socket with built-in RCD.

Is it acceptable to use a fused switch for the light, and daisy-chain the feed to the switch from the back of the socket? Or should I use a junction box? Or is all this prohibited by Part P because I'm not a sparks?

I also understand that I need to put a label on the consumer unit to the effect that new and old colour schemes are in place; where can I buy such a label, or can I just make my own?

Oh, and another thing :-) I've been trying to find a source for earth sleeving but can't find it anywhere -- anyone got a handy link?

Thanks

- Ian

[Ben Micklem]

in article eho1lg$5sr$ [e-mail], Ian Chard at [e-mail] wrote on 25/10/06 16:59:

Go to Google.com, type earth sleeving, hit 'I'm feeling lucky'.

TLC have a trade counter in Oxford, and deliver free in the area if you spend over £15. Or Wickes, B&Q, etc., etc. will do it.

Ben

[John Rumm]

connect from the back of the socket to a fused connection unit with a 5A fuse. From there to your light using whichever method is easiest i.e. power could go to a batten holder or ceiling rose and you have a dedicated switch wire, or you could wire to the switch first, or wire to a 4 terminal junction box and have wires to both switch and lamp.

Since it is not a "special location", and you already have the exterior wiring to the shed in place it is outside the scope of prat p.

Electrical wholesaler, or make your own.

That ought to last a while:

smaller quntities:

[Andrew Gabriel]

Yes. Use 2.5mm² T&E from the socket to the fused switch, and anything from 1mm² to 2.5mm² for the run to the lamp.

You can use a junction box, but you still need the fused switch.

Part P doesn't prohibit anything. Some alterations will require that you pay building control to come and inspect your own work.

You can make your own, but they are available from electrical wholesalers. I would imagine they would be in B&Q too, but I don't actually recall seeing any there.

Every electrical accessory retailer/wholesaler sells it.

[bof]

In message , Andrew Gabriel writes

Is there a problem in using just 2.5mm cabling and no additional fuse?

[David Hansen]

On Thu, 26 Oct 2006 11:14:53 +0100 someone who may be bof wrote this:-

Yes, the obvious ones.

If they are not obvious then do some basic research on electrical wiring.

[Christian McArdle]

Yes. There would be no overcurrent protection, just (presumably) short circuit protection. However, this depends on your set up. We don't know the nature of the supply and what it is fused at.

You may find, for example, that your shed is off a 16A MCB at the house consumer unit. In this case, you may find that a particular fluorescent fitting is actually acceptable on a 16A circuit, as both fittings and 16A lighting circuits are common in commercial buildings. If this is the case, you can forego the fuse.

Christian.

[Ian Chard]

Thanks all for the advice (and the Screwfix link -- how did I miss that?). I already have a fused switch so I'll just use that with a fuse rated appropriately for whatever light fitting I end up using.

- Ian

[bof]

In message , Christian McArdle writes

In my particular case the feed to the shed is fused at 13A with an incandescent bulb on the spur.

[The Medway Handyman]

Wilkinsons sell it in little packets. You get a bit about 3' long? Cost pennies.

[Huge]

I'll happily send anyone who wants any a few dozen meters for the postage. I bought a whole roll in an electrical wholesalers once because it was cheaper than the stupid little packets in the DIY shed. It'll easily outlive me...