Any electricians out there?

**Harry** · 18th January 2006, 17:29

I wonder if anyone on here can help me, i am currently putting up a partition in my house and want to install some wall lights on one side. I'm pretty good at DIY but i prefer to stay away from the electrical side of things.

My question relates to the installation of the lights, can i take a feed from a nearby power socket to power the lights? I'm looking to get the type of lights that have an intergrated switch, hence i shouldn't need a separate switch on the wall.

I know it can't be best practise to wire up lights from a power socket but seeing as i'm doing the works on the ground floor it'd mean lifting the floorboards upstairs to get to the wiring for the light to do it properly.

Also, i read on a website that once the work is completed i should get it certified by an electrician, otherwise i risk voiding the building insurance!!

Is this a strict requirement? I'm looking to rent out the house in a few years so i guess i'll need to get this done.

Any advice regarding this matter would be great! Cheers all.

harry

**matt.miles** · 18th January 2006, 17:59

Hi I am a sparks, not into house bashing myself but i do obviously know about these things. Definatly NO to lighting from the power circuits, as the power circuits will be on a 30a ring main and lighting must be on a 5a radial.

I have seen people install a fused spur then take the lighting from that but i would not recomend it, specially if you are getting the house tested later, as it will come back and bite you.

Under the part P building regs, electrical works are notifiable to the local building inspector, however there are reams of requirements for this, you can read all about this on www.niceic.org there is a section on this.

its a mare mate, is all i am saying. my company can install a nucular power station, but we cant wire a house ??? GO Figure.....

**Bainie** · 18th January 2006, 18:35

Yeah, you can`t touch it yourself, my brother is an Electrical Technician, works on lighthouses at the moment but served his time wiring houses. Because he doesn`t have a slip of paper now required by law he can`t even run wires in his own house . It is crazy !!

**woodster** · 18th January 2006, 18:35

Domestic wiring is in a right mess nowadays regarding regulations etc.I too am a spark but have recently moved into refrigeration cos I am sick of all the **** that now comes with the job.Anyway mate,as Matt said,better not to spur off the ring main,proper bodge stuff.Conservatory installers often take this approach for obvious ease and cost reasons.Only one thing for it mate,Get the floor boards up and join straight into the lighting circuit.Hassle,I know all too well but worth it.

**woodster** · 18th January 2006, 19:20

Just a couple of thoughts mate,how long have you lived in the house?Part P of the building regs only came into force in December 2004 or so I believe.Any work carried out before this obviously wouldnt be affected.If you owned your house before then,just claim the work was carried out prior to that date.If however you have bought the house since then you could be a little stuffed as all details would be listed in your sale inventory.All still is not lost though.You will have to check for yourself as I am not fully up to date with the Part P regs but I was believing that it only applied to kitchens,bathrooms and exterior wiring.I will try to track down all my old paperwork and try to confirm this but whatever the case,check for yourself as I wouldn't like to be giving incorrect information.As I said in the previous reply,its a pain in the backside.

**denzo** · 18th January 2006, 21:00

Without the regulations and part P .... I would probably do the following:

Either tap into a lighting circuit (5A) and install lights and a switch. or take a switched fused spur (with a 5A fuse) from a ring circuit and install that way. I would definatley ensure that it is on a circuit protected by MCB's and RCD.

Probably not following the regs though.

Also, if I was to bury cables i nwall, I would ensure they were in appropriate trunking and are protected from any plaster etc....

**Harry** · 18th January 2006, 21:12

cheers for the all infor guys, didn't know it was such a mine field!!!

woodster - in answer to your question we have only been here since oct 31st 2005, so we can't claim the works were completed before that - like the way you're thinking though!

I've already redecorated the main bedroom and changed all the plug sockets from single to twin sockets, there's no violation there is there? Also changed the lighting unit.

When i get back from shopping with the mrs i'll read up on the regs that you posted Matt, cheers for the website link.

Again, thanks for all the info, i guess i'll be sticking with the standard lighting then.

**GARY3306** · 18th January 2006, 21:15

Originally Posted by woodster

..............Conservatory installers often take this approach for obvious ease and cost reasons..............

We had a conservatory done just before Christmas and they did this, using a 3amp fuse in the spur from the socket. The electrician told me it was completely legal and acceptable as long as it's done in this way. As I am a very cautious person, I called my brother in law, who is a company director at an electrical installations company in Colchester, who do surveys and installs in new build factories etc. I explained how it had been done and he said it was perfectly acceptable. I am quite happy now, anyway, I have a bit of paper signing the work off as done correctly.

**woodster** · 19th January 2006, 00:01

Just a quick one to add.As Gary 3306 has pointed out,it is legal and acceptable,and perhaps I was being a touch aggresive when I said it was a proper bodge way of doing it.Different people have different opinions on what you should and shouldn't do and mine is that really,you should (if possible) be wiring into your lighting circuit and rely on the mcb in your dis board for protection of the circuit rather than an ordinary plugtop fuse in a spur.Really spoilt for choice hey mate LOL ...