wiring to 5 amp main system

[LarsTheo]

A client of ours has asked us if our products have the ability to be wired into to 5 amp main system. We manufacture chandeliers, wall sconces, and floor and table lamps and have end uses in UK and Europe. We buy the parts needed to wire for UK and Europe, including sockets, plugs, cords (and cordsets), switches, and transformers. Some of the plugs for UK have fuses, but we do not use fuses in our fixtures (i.e., sconces and chandeliers).

What is required to be able to wire for a 5 amp main system. Should I ask the client more questions? Most of our installations are residential.

 

[Richard Burns]

A standard small domestic lighting circuit in the UK would normally be protected by a 6 MCB /RCBO, on older circuits a 5A fuse.
IF your light fittings are manufactured to European standards then they should be OK on a 5A circuit.
Even if you were considering a fused plug on a fitting this would be minimum 3A.

I think you need to get better clarification from your customer about what they are asking because wiring a light fitting into a 6A circuit would be a standard procedure and the fitting should be suitable for that use.

 

[LarsTheo]

We have been using 3A plugs, although we also have 13A plugs that we can use if requested. I will try to get more clarification from the customer. We provide them with the total watts and voltage for fixtures, and I thought that would be sufficient for them to determine whether a fixture will work or not. For portable lamps with plugs, I am not sure what the concern is, although we do offer fuses in our plugs for UK. What are these fuses protecting? Is it against a power surge to the lamp?

 

[Darkwood]

The client may also be on about 5amp socket outlets which are sometimes used for standing lamps etc and run through a light switch so you can control them from a doorway.. confirm what they mean by 5amp main system...

As you are USA .. just remind you we have a voltage of 230v 50hz

Also any equipment you sell to the UK (The base of this forum) will have to meet the relevent BS standards or EU standards within Europe.

 

[vjsmarwick]

It was the little 5A plugs I first thought of when I read the post I have often been asked to fit those on a lighting circuit for table lamps and the like.