Hardwiring under cabinet lights

[Graham12]

Hi all, I want to add some under cabinet LED’s to the kitchen and hardwire them to a light switch.
We had our kitchen newly fitted out sometime back and the electrician has already wired to a spare switch we have and left the other end of the wire in a junction box on top of the cabinets. This because we couldn’t make our minds up what we wanted at the time!
My question is, all the LED’s I’ve seen for sale have a transformer leading to a plug on the end, can I take the plug off and simply wire in to the junction box? Also is there anything I need to be looking for in terms of what is compatible for what I want to do?
Thanks in advance.

 

[pirate]

DPG, if you saw the way the "professionals" wired this place...you would have to plug the vacuum cleaner in on top of the units!
Seriously, what i meant was, if, for example, you wanted to plug the extractor fan in, then a handy double socket would be the thing. But...if that socket was off the lighting circuit, you might not want to do that...even though the fan is fairly low powered. i just think that if you see a 13A socket, you might expect it to be for that type of load, whereas, to put a 13A socket on a lighting circuit, just to power some LEDs might be confusing. I expect no-one will die as a result! It's a bit like pump nozzles at the filling station...some supply diesel, some supply petrol...always nice to be sure what you are getting out of the nozzle!

 

[GeorgeCooke]

See #20. It is recognised in BS7671 as being perfectly acceptable.

That says it can be wired to fixed wiring. That would normally be ring final or 20a radial. It does not mean lighting circuit.

 

[westward10]

That says it can be wired to fixed wiring. That would normally be ring final or 20a radial. It does not mean lighting circuit.

The Regulation refers to connection of lighting. Whether this be a ring final or radial is not relevant.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

The Regulation refers to connection of lighting. Whether this be a ring final or radial is not relevant.

I never said a 13a socket should not be used supply lighting. I have said a 13a socket should be on the lighting circuit. Not the same thing at all.

 

[westward10]

It does not specify the purpose of the circuit it gives suitable methods of connecting a luminaire to the fixed wiring.
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I never said a 13a socket should not be used supply lighting. I have said a 13a socket should be on the lighting circuit. Not the same thing at all.

In #21 you refer to this as bad practice.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

It does not specify the purpose of the circuit it gives suitable methods of connecting a luminaire to the fixed wiring.
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In #21 you refer to this as bad practice.

Indeed I did.

 

[Sintra]

Simply because a 13a socket on the lighting circuit is bad practice. If you must have a plug and socket use a 2a or 5a one.

I never said a 13a socket should not be used supply lighting. I have said a 13a socket should be on the lighting circuit. Not the same thing at all.

Make your mind up mate. You're going round in circles here.

 

[GeorgeCooke]

Make your mind up mate. You're going round in circles here.

I have said a 13a socket should not be on the lighting circuit.

Typo corrected. ('not' added).

 

[rsgaz]

a 13a socket should not be on the lighting circuit.

Then you are wrong; 559.5.1, as already mentioned in this thread.

 

[westward10]

I have said a 13a socket should not be on the lighting circuit.

Typo corrected. ('not' added).

There is no Regulation prohibiting this in fact it is a suggested method of connecting a luminaire. I agree in some instances using one in an inappropriate place may cause problems and in such instances 2A or 5A maybe the correct method, I have 2A at home. One amendment to the 16th Ed removed 13A sockets from the suggested list but was reinstated.

 

[DPG]

It's never going to end this one

A 13A socket on top of a cupboard is not going to cause any problems. It's not even as if it will be available for general use anyway, as the lights will always be plugged into it.

 

[Deleted member 105166]

The 13A socket will often be the most suitable means of connection, since most freestanding/table luminaires are supplied with a moulded 13A plugtop. Whilst 2A or 5A BS546 sockets do offer the benefit of being less likely to be misused for appliances with greater current draw, the downside is, an Ordinary Person will more often than not be the one to cut the moulded plugtop from the luminaire and fit the BS546 plugtop, often badly. Then they chuck the non-rewirable, moulded 13A plugtop into the waste basket, with fuse intact and bare copper exposed, ready for an inquisitive kid to retrieve and take to their bedroom. Months later when the luminaire is moved to a different room, or area without BS546 outlets, it again requires rewiring by an Ordinary Person.

 

[davesparks]

Then they chuck the non-rewirable, moulded 13A plugtop into the waste basket, with fuse intact and bare copper exposed, ready for an inquisitive kid to retrieve and take to their bedroom.

If a child is rummaging in bins to find things to play with then it's owner needs to take better control of it!

 

[Dave OCD]

Its owner Dave, really ?
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The 13A socket will often be the most suitable means of connection, since most freestanding/table luminaires are supplied with a moulded 13A plugtop. Whilst 2A or 5A BS546 sockets do offer the benefit of being less likely to be misused for appliances with greater current draw, the downside is, an Ordinary Person will more often than not be the one to cut the moulded plugtop from the luminaire and fit the BS546 plugtop, often badly. Then they chuck the non-rewirable, moulded 13A plugtop into the waste basket, with fuse intact and bare copper exposed, ready for an inquisitive kid to retrieve and take to their bedroom. Months later when the luminaire is moved to a different room, or area without BS546 outlets, it again requires rewiring by an Ordinary Person.

Whenever I cut a moulded 13 amp plug off I always twist the live and neutral pins round with a pliers to prevent it ever being plugged in to anything ever again before binning it Tony, only takes a few seconds.

 

[DPG]

And an errant apostrophe.