Wiring freestanding lamps into lighting circuit
 

Hi,

I'm in the process of updating and rewiring the dining room in our house - I
want to add a couple of 5A round pin socket outlets on the lighting circuit
to accomodate either freestanding floor lamps or perhaps shelf lighting in
the alcoves - decorating decision pending. I'm going to be replacing the
existing single switch at the room entrance to a double dimmer (with LV
compatible dimmers), one of which will control the main ceiling pendant, and
the other of which will control both 5a sockets.

My question - which I suppose is not related only to what I'm doing - is
what's the best way to connect the cable to the two 5a sockets. As I see it
there are two options: a) serial or b) parallel. Which is the correct one?

Many thanks in advance,

Tom

to reply remove tlw_nospam and replace with tom

My question - which I suppose is not related only to what I'm doing - is
what's the best way to connect the cable to the two 5a sockets. As I see
it
there are two options: a) serial or b) parallel. Which is the correct one?

I think with a question as basic as this, I would perhaps consider using the
services of a qualified electrician. At least you should consider one to
check your circuits afterwards, do the required insulation resistance
checks, write the installation certificate etc.

Christian.

Thanks for your reply. I do intend to get a qualified electrician to provide
a thorough check after I have finished the work, but in the meantime I just
wanted to check this (simple) question, as it's the only part of the work
that I'm doing that isn't clearly documented in any of the books that I have
that cover the subject.

Cheers

Tom

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
t...
My question - which I suppose is not related only to what I'm doing - is
what's the best way to connect the cable to the two 5a sockets. As I see
it
there are two options: a) serial or b) parallel. Which is the correct
one?

I think with a question as basic as this, I would perhaps consider using
the
services of a qualified electrician. At least you should consider one to
check your circuits afterwards, do the required insulation resistance
checks, write the installation certificate etc.

Christian.

I've just re-read my question, and thing that the confusion may have arisen
from my misuse of the terms 'serial' and 'parallel' - what I meant to ask
was:

a) connect both fittings to the light switch via a junction box, or b) loop
in to one socket then on to the other.

Cheers

Tom

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
t...
My question - which I suppose is not related only to what I'm doing - is
what's the best way to connect the cable to the two 5a sockets. As I see
it
there are two options: a) serial or b) parallel. Which is the correct
one?

I think with a question as basic as this, I would perhaps consider using
the
services of a qualified electrician. At least you should consider one to
check your circuits afterwards, do the required insulation resistance
checks, write the installation certificate etc.

Christian.

OK, they are wired in parallel. Almost nothing that consumes power is wired
in series, except in electronic circuit design and some dangerous designs of
Christmas tree lights. Switches are often wired in series, though.

Other things you should know:

1. You should use 1.0mm or 1.5mm twin and earth cable. DO NOT USE FLEX.

2. Earth conductors should be present. The earth connection should be
sheathed in yellow/green striped sheathing intended for the purpose.

3. If neither the switch nor backing box have an earth terminal, do not cut
off the earth, as they may be replaced in the future with fittings that
require an earth. Fold the earth back on itself and sheath the whole lot, so
no metal protrudes.

4. When burying cable in walls, you may only bury them in a line vertically
from the fitting/switch upwards. You may not bury them in the wall behind
the skirting. You may run them horizontally adjacent to the ceiling, or
right up inside an internal corner. You may, but only if absolutely
necessary, run them horizontally from a fitting/switch, but try not to. This
is most likely to be acceptable for sockets above a kitchen worktop, or
where fittings are close together.

Christian.

That would certainly explain it!

You may use method, depending on what is more convenient.

a) connect both fittings to the light switch via a junction box, or b)
loop
in to one socket then on to the other.

Firstly, remember that any screw terminals must remain accessible for
maintenance. This may affect the method chosen.

Your real choices a

1. Junction box, switch cable, light output cable socket. 2nd socket either
daisy chained off first, or with separate cable from junction box.
2. Use switch as junction box. Requires chocolate block to connect up
neutrals. Sockets either daisy chained, or run from separate cables from
switch.
3. Use one socket as junction box. Requires chocolate block to connect up
permanent live.

If using (2) or (3), use a nice deep backing box to allow space for the
connections.

Christian.

Thanks again - it was the daisy chain vs. separate cables (from switch or
junction box) option which I was unsure about. It sounds like it's just a
matter of convenience, so daisy chain it is for me.

This is part of a major rewiring project which I've been working on for a
while, and for some reason the (presumably pretty common) task of running
more than one light, or light outlet, from a single switch is the first
thing that I've not found covered in any of the books I have on the subject.

Thanks for the help

Tom


"Christian McArdle" wrote in message
t...
That would certainly explain it!

You may use method, depending on what is more convenient.

a) connect both fittings to the light switch via a junction box, or b)
loop
in to one socket then on to the other.

Firstly, remember that any screw terminals must remain accessible for
maintenance. This may affect the method chosen.

Your real choices a

1. Junction box, switch cable, light output cable socket. 2nd socket
either
daisy chained off first, or with separate cable from junction box.
2. Use switch as junction box. Requires chocolate block to connect up
neutrals. Sockets either daisy chained, or run from separate cables from
switch.
3. Use one socket as junction box. Requires chocolate block to connect up
permanent live.

If using (2) or (3), use a nice deep backing box to allow space for the
connections.

Christian.

On 7 Oct 2004 "Tom W" wrote:

My question - which I suppose is not related only to what I'm doing - is
what's the best way to connect the cable to the two 5a sockets. As I see it
there are two options: a) serial or b) parallel. Which is the correct one?

Unless you're wiring two 110v lamps to 220v mains you have to wire them
in parallel, but that may not be what you mean. You probably need to
bring the lighting supply to one socket, run a cable to the switch and
then link the second socket to the first.

--
Richard Porter
Mail to username ricp at domain minijem.plus.com
"You can't have Windows without pains."

Thanks again - it was the daisy chain vs. separate cables (from switch or
junction box) option which I was unsure about. It sounds like it's just a
matter of convenience, so daisy chain it is for me.

Don't dismiss the non-junction box options as possibilities, though. It can
be quite difficult finding an accessible, yet hidden, location for a
junction box.

Christian.

In article ,
Christian McArdle wrote:
Thanks again - it was the daisy chain vs. separate cables (from switch
or junction box) option which I was unsure about. It sounds like it's
just a matter of convenience, so daisy chain it is for me.

Don't dismiss the non-junction box options as possibilities, though. It
can be quite difficult finding an accessible, yet hidden, location for a
junction box.

And given that connections are the most likely source of trouble in any
installation, the less the better.

--
*The older you get, the better you realize you were.

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

Tom W wrote:

I've just re-read my question, and thing that the confusion may have arisen
from my misuse of the terms 'serial' and 'parallel' - what I meant to ask
was:

a) connect both fittings to the light switch via a junction box, or b) loop
in to one socket then on to the other.


Unless you ae running massively powerful lamps, it makes bugger all
difference.


you meant 'star wired' versus 'daisy chained'

thanks - and what evocative terminology!

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Tom W wrote:

I've just re-read my question, and thing that the confusion may have
arisen from my misuse of the terms 'serial' and 'parallel' - what I meant
to ask was:

a) connect both fittings to the light switch via a junction box, or b)
loop in to one socket then on to the other.


Unless you ae running massively powerful lamps, it makes bugger all
difference.


you meant 'star wired' versus 'daisy chained'

Tom W wrote:

thanks - and what evocative terminology!

You haven't worked in engineering.

When calling out across a noisy shop floor full of the sounds of
manufacturing, the simple short "This ones ****ed" beats 'We appear to
have a machine malfunction here" any day.
:-)

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...

Tom W wrote:


I've just re-read my question, and thing that the confusion may have
arisen from my misuse of the terms 'serial' and 'parallel' - what I meant
to ask was:

a) connect both fittings to the light switch via a junction box, or b)
loop in to one socket then on to the other.


Unless you ae running massively powerful lamps, it makes bugger all
difference.


you meant 'star wired' versus 'daisy chained'

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message et...

You may not bury [cables] in the wall behind the skirting.

Christian.

Now *I'm* worried. Is this right? Am I misunderstanding your meaning??
How else do you get cable from beneath the floorboards to a location
just above the skirting?

On 9 Oct 2004 07:42:02 -0700, (Martin
Pentreath) wrote:

"Christian McArdle" wrote in message et...

You may not bury [cables] in the wall behind the skirting.

Christian.

Now *I'm* worried. Is this right? Am I misunderstanding your meaning??
How else do you get cable from beneath the floorboards to a location
just above the skirting?

You're allowed to run a cable vertically or horizontally directly to a
wiring accesory (i.e. wall socket, switch etc).

So running the cable vertically up from the floor to a socket is
allowed

You can run cable in a 150mm wide band adjacent to a corner or top of
a wall.

You may not run the cable in a horizontal band 150mm up from the
floor. Basically this is because skirting boards are typically
nailed.




..andy

To email, substitute .nospam with .gl

On 9 Oct 2004 (Martin Pentreath) wrote:

"Christian McArdle" wrote:

You may not bury [cables] in the wall behind the skirting.

Christian.

Now *I'm* worried. Is this right? Am I misunderstanding your meaning??
How else do you get cable from beneath the floorboards to a location
just above the skirting?

I assume he means horizontally, behind the skirting board. My question
would be how are you going to fix the skirting board? Nails?

On the other hand if I was specifying a new house I would want to have
trunking instead of the skirting board so that all wiring (mains,
phone, ethernet, etc.) is fully accessible and adaptable.

--
Richard Porter
Mail to username ricp at domain minijem.plus.com
"You can't have Windows without pains."