Not sure if this is the correct forum but wiring advice please

[crapusername]

Hi, sorry to bother you and I'm not sure if this is the correct forum or if this should go in the DIY help forum (it wont let me post there anyway) but I've got a quick question if you could help me.

We've asked for some outdoor lighting at work but the boss won't let us install any 'properly' (ie hard wired in with a lightswitch) due to the cost. He will however let us stick some lights up using a cable and traditional 3 pin plug. The question is is this ok? We've seen some 500w halogen lights but is that fine to wire them into a plug which we just plug in when we want to use them (about half an hour a day)

Again, sorry if this is the wrong forum and thanks for the help.

 

[Marvo]

Moved to DIY forum. I've given you access to post there CrapUN

 

[amlu]

yes it will work. just make sure your light has some form of cable retention facility and you using flex cable not solid twin and earth.
Be careful with weather factor too and use suitable equipment in places where it may get wet.

 

[Tiny Spark]

Ime not sure why your boss will let you plug them in and not hardwire them due to cost?
Unless you already have IP rated sockets in the places you need the lights then you will need to get these installed to do it.
You cant have extension leads etc running around outside in the rain obviously.

But if you have suitable sockets in the places you need them, then there is no problem with plugging suitable lighting into them. By suitable I mean properly IP rated and Designed for use in the environment.

 

[Marvo]

Ime not sure why your boss will let you plug them in and not hardwire them due to cost?

I'm assuming the question is asked by a DIY'er. Probably a limited skill set and limited tools and test equipment would make plugging it in seem a favorable option.

The 500watt halogen fittings run extremely hot and are very prone to lamps failing due to vibration and general movement so I'd definately suggest the fittings were permanently screwed to a wall.

Can you give more details about how many fittings you need and where they'd be plugged in?

 

[Tiny Spark]

I'm assuming the question is asked by a DIY'er. Probably a limited skill set and limited tools and test equipment would make plugging it in seem a favorable option.

Yeah I get that but unless they have IP sockets where they need the lights then they will still need to pay for the sockets to be installed which was my point.

 

[crapusername]

Sorry I should have been a little clearer, the plugs would go inside the building as there is an access point where we can run the cable inside and straight to a plug socket (with and RCD). The reason he says it is cheaper to do it this way is that we could do it ourselves, attatch the lights to the wall, run a cable (flex) from the light through the hole into the building and plug it in.

The next question is is it acceptable to run more than one of these lights from the one plug in a daisy chain style? I was told that upto 4 could be done that way as the combined wattage would be 2kw which is fine but I thought it was best to check first.

Thanks for the help

 

[Marvo]

There's a lot of considerations for what you're proposing, the halogen lights are extremely inefficient and heavy current, a socket could in theory supply multiple lights but the cable size might need increasing to accommodate the higher current. I'd suggest using LED floodlights, they save a fortune in energy consumption and have a very long lifespan so warrant spending the extra. Also with external cabling you need to use a UV stable cable otherwise it will deteriorate rapidly.

I'd say it's borderline whether you should be calling an electrician depending on how familiar you are with installing electrics. If you get an electrician you're more likely to get known decent quality equipment at a fair price rather than cheap rubbish that needs replacing a year from now plus you should get a permanent installation that doesn't require a plug and there won't be any issues in the future getting a certificate.

 

[Paul.M]

If your going to have more than one fitting on a plug top I would reduce the wattage and change the lamps (bulbs) to these.....

CFL Halogen Replacement Lamps | MeteorElectrical.com

Dont use them on sensor (pir) fitting.

 

[nickblake]

I certainly would not use 500 watt halogens I would use these ,, http://www.amazon.co.uk/30W-WARM-WH...lighting/dp/B005PYPNA8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_light_3if you are going to plug them in don't forget to use a 3 amp fuse in the plug top