Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight he'd
bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he wanted.
Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain cardboard
box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually just
over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

--
*To err is human. To forgive is against company policy.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Saturday, 1 September 2018 13:24:47 UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight he'd
bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he wanted.
Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain cardboard
box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually just
over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

No. But there's a fair amount of nonconforming electrical stuff out there. Trading standards are often uninterested. Try 12v, if it does nothing it'll be 240. Given its lack of certification you'd best check it meets the requirements before installing.


NT

On 01/09/2018 13:24, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually just
over 6 inches long.

You may want to check that the earth is actually connected to the casing.



--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

In article ,
wrote:
On Saturday, 1 September 2018 13:24:47 UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight
he'd bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he
wanted. Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain
cardboard box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually
just over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it -
like voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

No. But there's a fair amount of nonconforming electrical stuff out
there. Trading standards are often uninterested. Try 12v, if it does
nothing it'll be 240. Given its lack of certification you'd best check
it meets the requirements before installing.


Thanks - and did try 12 v from the bench top supply. A flick on and off
from the LEDs suggested mains. Which it is. Earth has continuity to body.

Thought I'd take it apart to fit the longer flex. No chance. The three
LEDs are potted in making it impossible. Although likely nice and water
tight.

I'm not installing it. And will point out it's at owner's risk. No kids
around there, luckily. I do know the mains to the garden is properly
protected, though.

--
*Time is fun when you're having flies... Kermit

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 01/09/2018 13:24, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight he'd
bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he wanted.
Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain cardboard
box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually just
over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

There is quite a lot of dodgy similar stuff on ebay. Chances are its
mains. Safe enough if you install it sensibly and check it has earth
continuity to the metalwork.

Normally just terminate it at waterproof JB close to where it is mounted.


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 01/09/2018 13:24, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?


I'm sure that their are many such items on Ebay etc. that have fake
marking and ratings.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Probably French then! :-)

Does seem a little odd for it not to have at least some indication of what
it runs on. One assumes you can get into it, the lamp type should give
things away, I'd imagine.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
wrote in message
...
On Saturday, 1 September 2018 13:24:47 UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight he'd
bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he
wanted.
Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain cardboard
box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually just
over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

No. But there's a fair amount of nonconforming electrical stuff out there.
Trading standards are often uninterested. Try 12v, if it does nothing
it'll be 240. Given its lack of certification you'd best check it meets
the requirements before installing.


NT

Oh, so it actually sounds better made than the approved ones!

Does this mean you cannot change the lamp either cos its a non standard one
or its just part of the whole unit?
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
wrote:
On Saturday, 1 September 2018 13:24:47 UTC+1, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight
he'd bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he
wanted. Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain
cardboard box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually
just over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it -
like voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

No. But there's a fair amount of nonconforming electrical stuff out
there. Trading standards are often uninterested. Try 12v, if it does
nothing it'll be 240. Given its lack of certification you'd best check
it meets the requirements before installing.


Thanks - and did try 12 v from the bench top supply. A flick on and off
from the LEDs suggested mains. Which it is. Earth has continuity to body.

Thought I'd take it apart to fit the longer flex. No chance. The three
LEDs are potted in making it impossible. Although likely nice and water
tight.

I'm not installing it. And will point out it's at owner's risk. No kids
around there, luckily. I do know the mains to the garden is properly
protected, though.

--
*Time is fun when you're having flies... Kermit

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sat, 1 Sep 2018 23:28:54 +0100, alan_m
wrote:

On 01/09/2018 13:24, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?


I'm sure that their are many such items on Ebay etc. that have fake
marking and ratings.

I bought quite a lot from Ebay and more recently Screwfix.

The Ebay ones were not quite like the description as all had a matrix
of flat LED chips.

The work I did to every Ebay unit to make it waterproof and "fog free"
was ridiculous.

All the units were clearly labelled with the power rating and Voltage,
although most carried this on a sheet of A4 in the box.

Personally I would never install anything for a third party without a
clear indication of Voltage, power and earthing configuration.

I have a sneaking suspicion that all those lamps I have installed are
not legal anyway. Is there not an inspection needed for outside light
installation.

Not sure, but there may be something in the regs too. I cannot
recollect seeing a paragraph suggesting that if a luminaire has the
appropriate coloured cable sticking out the back and it lights up on
240V it's kosher.


AB

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

In article ,
John Rumm wrote:
On 01/09/2018 13:24, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
Neighbour asked me if I could extend the lead to a garden spotlight he'd
bought. Couldn't remember where from.

Brought it round to today after having measured how long a lead he wanted.
Sounds simple enough. Except...

It looks quite well made. Diecast metal body with SS allen head screws.

3 LEDs - so not the more usual GU10 or MR16.

And no markings whatsoever on the body or anything on the plain cardboard
box. And no instruction leaflet, according to the neighbour.

Flex from it is 3 core - so assume it is mains? The flex is actually just
over 6 inches long.

Is it legal to retail something like this with no markings on it - like
voltage etc - and perhaps a CE or whatever label?

There is quite a lot of dodgy similar stuff on ebay. Chances are its
mains. Safe enough if you install it sensibly and check it has earth
continuity to the metalwork.

Normally just terminate it at waterproof JB close to where it is mounted.

After posting before got on with it. Intended replacing the 6 inch lead
with a longer one - a JB that close would look silly.

But on removing the front cover, the three LEDs are potted in something
like pitch. So it can't be disassembled. Did a solder joint to the longer
cable with glue heat shrink to insulate.

--
*A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:
Personally I would never install anything for a third party without a
clear indication of Voltage, power and earthing configuration.

I'm not going to install it. Just make it slightly safer for the owner to
do so if he wishes - than if he'd extended the cable himself. But I do
know it will be RCD protected.

--
*Organized Crime Is Alive And Well; It's Called Auto Insurance. *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Sun, 02 Sep 2018 11:03:43 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Archibald Tarquin Blenkinsopp wrote:
Personally I would never install anything for a third party without a
clear indication of Voltage, power and earthing configuration.

I'm not going to install it. Just make it slightly safer for the owner to
do so if he wishes - than if he'd extended the cable himself. But I do
know it will be RCD protected.

Admirable, and I have little doubt things will be trouble free. It's
just that having a small amount of experience with the general public,
when the unforseen does happen and the blame game starts, everyone is
a "fair target", including those acting in an advisory capacity.

AB