On Saturday, July 26, 2014 11:05:26 PM UTC+1, ss wrote:
On 26/07/2014 22:52, wrote:
On Saturday, July 26, 2014 10:38:22 PM UTC+1, ss wrote:

I have alongside some normal square pin 13 amp sockets some 5 amp round
pin sockets, the 13 amp works as normal but the 5 amp is switched on
from a light switch located elswhere.
The round sockets were installed maybe late 90s in an 80s house by the
previous owners, I was advised by an electrician that this was an old
format of being able to switch on table lamps from a light switch rather
than the wall socket.

modern, not old

I have no idea which circuit they are on ie socket ring or lighting ring.

presumably lighting

Now my question, I have recently purchased a 20 watt LED external
floodlight that comes with a 13 amp square plug, now I need to increase
the length of the cable and was looking to put a 5amp round plug on it
at the same time so I can use from the unused round pin socket.
Will this be safe to do so? With regard to Amps/wattage etc
Secondly I may purchase another 10 watt floodlamp so would it be ok to
run both from that 5 amp socket?

20w @240v = 0.08A. 5A 240v = 1.2kW, so well within its ability

Someone else can moan about RCDs, but it shuld be fine.


"presumably lighting"
Knowing this house probably the electric shower circuit :-)
"modern, not old"
Ah! full circle again seemingly this was how they done it when
electricity was first introduced in to homes, so I was told.

5A round pin sockets are an ancient design, but they weren't normally run via a light switch in times past. However with few rules people could have done almost anything. Nowadays its standard practice, albeit not very popular, to put 5A skts on lighting circuits. Modern sockets must have shutters.


NT