Some Simple Questions For Any Electricians.

[TheDetailDoctor]

As the nes kitchen will be going in soon(ish) I have to make provision for the under cabinet lighting in one area & the in cabinet lighting in another.

For the under cabinet lighting (LED strip lights) I plan to spur off the back of an existing light switch that is on the opposite side of the wall, pop this into a light switch and use this to switch the lights.

For the in cabinet lighting the cabinets are going over an existing double socket that will be blanked off. I plan to take the supply from where the socket used to be & run this up the wall to a light switch on the wall, to provide power for the in cabinet lights.

Can anybody see a problem with any of this?

[mgtony]

Don't think you can spur off a switch cable it has to be off of the circuit cable.

[TheDetailDoctor]

mgtony said:

Don't think you can spur off a switch cable it has to be off of the circuit cable.

Doh, of course not, what was I thinking? Dumb ass me.

[robinhood21]

For the in-cabinet lighting; you will need to have a smaller value fuse. You could put a fused spur where the 13amp socket is to be blanked off.

[Ganglandboss]

TheDetailDoctor said:

Can anybody see a problem with any of this?

1. You cannot spur off a light switch as there will not be a neutral
2. The light from the twin socket will need a fused spur
3. You cannot do work in the kitchen without building control approval/membership of an approved body
4. If you need to ask these questions, you should not be attempting it yourself

Edited by Ganglandboss on Wednesday 2nd September 21:06

[Simpo Two]

Asking questions is how you learn. If one is suitably intelligent, has the correct information and proceeds with caution there's no reason why a mere amateur can't connect wires together.

It's the same as driving at 31mph through a 30mph zone - you don't automatically die. However I appreciate you're defending your profession.

'You cannot do work in the kitchen without building control approval/membership of an approved body'

So I can wire a light in the hall but not the kitchen?



ETA: But I do like the Grover & Ross advert in your profile

Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 2nd September 22:16

[Brite spark]

Simpo Two said:

Asking questions is how you learn.

A little knowledge can also be a dangerous thing, any information on this type of thing needs to be supplied assuming the op has no knowledge, with the suggestion or caveat that they don't do it themselves, they may have the correct information but misinterperate(sp) it- it may still work but be dangerous or below the acceptable standard.

Simpo Two said:

there's no reason why a mere amateur can't connect wires together.

slight over simplication of whats involved in many cases- swapping a light switch/socket like for like-then yes, adding to an installation then theres potentially far more to it.

Simpo Two said:

It's the same as driving at 31mph through a 30mph zone - you don't automatically die.

you may not die, you may not hit anyone, you may not be prosecuted, some drivers know what they are doing at 31 mph, others don't well below that speed, An advanced police driver could go faster and still be deemed safe.

likewise
you may not die, you may not kill anyone, you may not be prosecuted, some diy'ers know what they are doing with electric, others don't, An advanced diy'er could do electrics/gas and still be safe- The problem is differenciating(sp) between them
whilst making them fully aware of the potential of fire injury/prosecution should they choose to undertake the work themselves

Simpo Two said:

'You cannot do work in the kitchen without building control approval/membership of an approved body'

So I can wire a light in the hall but not the kitchen?

look up part p of the building regs.

[blueg33]

Interesting comments about who should and should not do electrics.

My trip switch triped and wouldn't reset recently. I had to get an electrician to test the main all round the house. I have put in a number of fused spurs, lights etc (I am not an electrician). What has caused the fault?.....Exterior socket installed incorrectly by a properly qualified electricain who charged me £75 for the job.

The guy that tested all the circuits was perfectly happy with my work and even noticed that on the face plates I had lined up the slots on the screws!

I think its like all things, good and bad professionals exist and a well informed amateur can do simple jobs.

[headcase]

Building control is there to help you, the kitchen is desegnated a special location (due to its proximety to water) and the law dictates that work here has to be inspected to make sure it isnt going to kill anyone, so you have 2 legal ways to go about it, firstly you can use a part 'p' qualified electrician (all of them sould be by now) or you can do it your self and have the work inspected by building control (the 1st option is the cheaper).
The illegal way is to DIY (un inspected), but if found out it can affect the sale of your property and of course you can actually be prosecuted!

I wouldnt expect any qualified electrician here to help you with a project in the kitchen, it may seem a harmless thing to you but like already said and i know it can sound harsh, if you are asking here then you souldnt be doing it, there is so much more to electrics than just connecting up wires and it simply all cant be covered in a motoring forum