Electrical (lighting question)

fluiduk · 20 Mar 2006 at 14:46

Hi All

I have a halogen fitting that takes 4 50watt halogen mains voltage bulbs.

I want to connect this to a normal plug and plug it into the mains.

What kind of fuse should I be using, and will i need to use any special wire. Its just I have an old desk lamp and want to use the cord, plug and switch from that if possible.

Also worth noting that I will be using 4 LED GU10 colour change bulbs and not halogens.

Any suggestions, thanks in advance

Aaron

Sputnik II · 20 Mar 2006 at 14:50

4x50watts = 200 watts/240 = 0.83 Amps

I think the smallest fuse available for a 13amp plug is 3amps so go with one of those and you should be fine.

fluiduk · 20 Mar 2006 at 14:52

Excellent. So will a cable and switch from an old 40 watt desk lamp be up to the trick you think?

Thanks
Aaron

Visage · 20 Mar 2006 at 14:52

fluiduk said:
Hi All

I have a halogen fitting that takes 4 50watt halogen mains voltage bulbs.

I want to connect this to a normal plug and plug it into the mains.

What kind of fuse should I be using, and will i need to use any special wire. Its just I have an old desk lamp and want to use the cord, plug and switch from that if possible.

Also worth noting that I will be using 4 LED GU10 colour change bulbs and not halogens.

Any suggestions, thanks in advance

Aaron

EDIT: Ignore me.....

The_blue · 20 Mar 2006 at 15:01

fluiduk said:
Excellent. So will a cable and switch from an old 40 watt desk lamp be up to the trick you think?

Thanks
Aaron

No probs

fluiduk · 20 Mar 2006 at 15:02

Excellent, I can get to work on that later!

I did lighting design at college, but never got bogged down in voltages/loads etc, had techies for that lol, i just make the pretty colours lol

Thanks for the help guys.

Aaron

Tomsk · 20 Mar 2006 at 15:50

fluiduk said:
I have a halogen fitting that takes 4 50watt halogen mains voltage bulbs.

fluiduk said:
Excellent. So will a cable and switch from an old 40 watt desk lamp be up to the trick you think?

Thanks
Aaron

Might not be OK. 4 x 50W = 200W into a switch that might only be rated for 40W.

fluiduk · 20 Mar 2006 at 17:09

Ok, I will have a look inside the switch for a rating

Aaron

Scream · 20 Mar 2006 at 17:59

Can you not just use the switch at the socket as the main switch for turning the lights on/off?

fluiduk · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:03

Not really the socket is behind the TV and amp etc, not at all easy to get to.

I live 30 seconds from a well known, but rubbish electrical shop so I will venture in there and get a higher rated switch if needs be.

Aaron

Scream · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:10

You could install a FCU with backbox to a new location. Wire a length of 1mm/1.5mm 3-core flex with a plug on one end to the socket. Wire the other end into the FCU.

Then wire the halogens into the FCU.

Lights -> FCU 3a Fuse <- 3-C Flex Cable -> Plug 3/5amp fuse/Socket.

SB118 · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:13

Um, unless i've missed an edit you say you are using the LED based lights. These aren't 50w, they are more like 5w, if that. The cable from the old light will be fine.

Scream · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:18

I missed the LED part myself. :confused:

Trigger · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:19

Scream said:
You could install a FCU with backbox to a new location. Wire a length of 1mm/1.5mm 3-core flex with a plug on one end to the socket. Wire the other end into the FCU.

Then wire the halogens into the FCU.

Lights -> FCU 3a Fuse <- 3-C Flex Cable -> Plug 3/5amp fuse/Socket.

Why on earth would you want to power an FCU by a plug and socket? :confused:

Besides, you can't do it legally- it breaks electrical regulations

Because the fitting is an open unit at the back, it would be unsafe and you can't use the cable off your old light because one, it is too small and two, it has no earth and the fitting MUST be earthed. I also doubt that the switch would be rated for that kind of use anyway.

The fitting must be in some kind of fitting to make it safe for use. It must then have an inline switch rated at 13 amps and then have an RCD breaker wired directly on to the end all wired in 1.5mm squared 3 core flex

Trigger · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:20

SB118 said:
Um, unless i've missed an edit you say you are using the LED based lights. These aren't 50w, they are more like 5w, if that. The cable from the old light will be fine.

No it won't- electrical regulations don't work like that. The cable has to be able to take the maximum possible load of the fitting- i.e. if it is possible to put bigger wattage bulbs in, the cable must accomodate for them.

wandgrudd · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:21

the switch should be fine as by rights it should be able to take 3 amps if the fuse is indeed 3 amps.

SB118 · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:22

Trigger said:
I also doubt that the switch would be rated for that kind of use anyway.

It's going to pull less than an amp. :confused:

Trigger · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:26

SB118 said:
It's going to pull less than an amp.

Read Post #15

SB118 · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:29

Trigger said:
Read Post #15

Damn, missed that one!

Even if he ran 4 x 50w lamps it would stil lbe less than an amp, he'd best take a close look at the switch and see what the rating is then.

/me hopes he's covered the bases this time.

Trigger · 20 Mar 2006 at 18:39

SB118 said:
He'd best take a close look at the switch and see what the rating is then.

Yeah, but it will most likley be two core cable- i.e. have no earth which it requires