Kitchen Unit Lights to LightSwitch - Help Appreciated

[Callum Thomas]

Hi Guys,

I am currently getting a kitchen overhaul and want to install some unit/kick-board lights. I want to be able to control the unit lights with the light-switch which controls the down-lights in the kitchen ceiling. I have swapped the switch out for a double switch.

The lights have came for the units but they require a plug socket. I was thinking of cutting the plugs off the lights and putting them onto a transformer. As previously mentioned, there are 2 sets of lights, both require 12v power supply. One set has 10 lights each at 0.2w (2 watts in total) and the other set has 6 lights with a combined power of 2.5w.

I was thinking of cutting the plugs from these 2 sets of lights and buying a 6w LED Driver transformer to connect all the lights up to. The last thing i want to do is be able to control all of this via a light-switch which currently controls the ceiling lights in the kitchen. I have swapped this out for a 2-gang light-switch and successfully wired up the ceiling lights to one of these switches. The remaining switch i want to wire this transformer up to. Was wondering how i can go about doing this and power it from the existing lighting from the ceiling lights. However, obviously there is no neutral from this switch so where does this come from? Also, should i be using flex cable from the light switch to the transformer? Does anything need to be earthed?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

P.S Here is a link to the transformer i am looking at. Is this suitable?

LED Driver Transformer DC 12v-6w, 10W 12w, 18w, 30w,40W for MR11, MR16 LED Strip | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Driver-Transformer-DC-12v-6w-10W-12w-18w-30w-40W-for-MR11-MR16-LED-Strip/291227662579?hash=item43ce8578f3:m:m1oUI8fA_qqZMfaQKe59ytA

 

[Risteard]

"553-04 Lighting points
553-04-01 At each fixed lighting point one of the following accessories shall be used:
(i) a ceiling rose to BS 67
(ii) a luminaire supporting coupler to BS 6972 or BS 7001
(iii) a batten lampholder to BS 7895, BS EN 60238 or BS EN 61184
(iv) a luminaire designed to be connected directly to the circuit wiring
(v) a suitable socket-outlet
(vi) a connection unit to BS 5733 or BS 1363-4.
A lighting installation shall be appropriately controlled, e.g. by a switch or combination of switches to BS 3676 and/or BS 5518, or by a suitable automatic control system, which where necessary shall be suitable for discharge lighting circuits.
553-04-02 A ceiling rose shall not be installed in any circuit operating at a voltage normally exceeding 250 volts.
553-04-03 A ceiling rose shall not be used for the attachment of more than one outgoing flexible cord unless it is specially designed for multiple pendants.
553-04-04 Luminaire supporting couplers are designed specifically for the mechanical support and electrical connection of luminaires and shall not be used for the connection of any other equipment."

So who's to say that you don't adopt 553-04-01(v), and install "a suitable socket-outlet" to the lighting circuit, as a lighting point, for supplying lights (or whatever). Reasonable labelling (and / or reasonable location, e.g. at high level) should help overcome the temptation to plug heavy current using equipment into it (thereby avoiding nuisance trips); it would be hard to argue that such a labelled / located socket outlet, even if it is to BS1363, is not a "a suitable socket-outlet". Also,553-04-01(vi) refers to "a connection unit to...BS 1363-4", which is a standard Fused Connection Unit.

Those are 16th Edition format Regulation numbers.

 

[Pete999]

Those are 16th Edition format Regulation numbers.

On the ball there Mate well spotted

 

[Toneyz]

Callum, are you going to reply to my post?

 

[Spoon]

Callum, are you going to reply to my post?

I'm sure he will, as the OP is a wonderful bloke who take on all advice given........

 

[KEV 1 N]

Time for this me thinks......

 

[Pete999]

Callum, are you going to reply to my post?

Doubtful Ant very doubtful

 

[GeorgeCooke]

P.S Here is a link to the transformer i am looking at. Is this suitable?

LED Driver Transformer DC 12v-6w, 10W 12w, 18w, 30w,40W for MR11, MR16 LED Strip | eBay - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Driver-Transformer-DC-12v-6w-10W-12w-18w-30w-40W-for-MR11-MR16-LED-Strip/291227662579?hash=item43ce8578f3:m:m1oUI8fA_qqZMfaQKe59ytA

None of those are transformers, ebay are lying. Transformers are AC devices, they never produce DC. They are LED DC power supplies.

 

[Spoon]

Time for this me thinks......
View attachment 39996

I like that... haha

 

[Des 56]

Design a project that you are unsure about
Put forward that project for scrutiny by others
Take note of well informed advice that's offered and ignore
Fill in knowledge gaps(trawl obsolete papers on the subject)
Make attempt to justify the proposed design with random guesswork


Why would you anyone need electrical training when its all so simple

 

[Colin33]

Lets all demonise this muppet for even considering doing his own electrics. If people can't afford to pay a sparkie's often exorbitant rate then what the hell do we expect them to do? Any electrician looking at that old wilex board will run a mile! I certainly wouldn't work on/add to any circuit coming from an unprotected supply like that. So what do we do? Tell him to p!ss off or offer a little advice on how he can achieve what he wants to do? I thought that part of the purpose of a forum like this was to help and advise people....

 

[Octopus]

^^

To help and advise fellow sparks

Not

Clueless DIYers ....

 

[Toneyz]

Maybe the OP should of not told a forum member to get off the post and not insulting others he would have got better advice. I asked him a few questions of which he chose not to do so, therefore, I could not advise/help further.

 

[Colin33]

If that's the case then why are 'clueless diyers' allowed to join the forum? Do you think the forum should be restricted to those with electrical qualifications only?

 

[Toneyz]

Colin33 Everything I put in the post above was true of this post and his previous post on the same subject that's why he got the replies he did.If he engaged and answered the questions that I asked I could have given a solution the OP could then decided if he felt competent in undertaking the correct work. I don't have a problem with DIY'ers doing basic electrical work as long as they know their limitations.There is a DIY part of the electrical forum.Maybe you should offer some advice to the OP which you have not done so far.I have with respect to you Colin as a forum member revised my rating to disagree for the reasons above of which I hope you would reciprocate.
PS some of us only ask for a fair rate for the work undertaken and are not there to rip customers off we have to charge a rate that covers our costs in undertaking the work.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

my option although i dont condone him doing it himself would be to add a spur off one of the existing sockets and install a double rcd socket that can feed the plugs that hopefully are still attached, this could be placed in top of a floor level unit so as to be accessible . this spur could be supplied by a fcu at another point to give a switch / isolation point. it also gives him rcd protection for the alteration and then avoids a fuse board upgrade.. However, i suspect he will likely bodge it and then decide to get somebody in after it goes wrong...