Guest dan Posted March 9, 2004 Report Posted March 9, 2004 I've bought a halogen light fitting for my bedroom ceiling. It is a low voltage thing with a transformer and bizarely has a plug on it! Can I wire a plug socket to the light cable currently in the ceiling and simply plug it in. I want to put the transformer in the loft and obviously want to have the light turn on and off with the light switch. I can't see any problem with doing this but am not an electrician. Any thoughts? Any idea what they put in those transformers things - they weigh a tonne! Cheers Dan
Guest squall Posted March 9, 2004 Report Posted March 9, 2004 the way id do it would be to extend the cable in the ceiling, up into the loft (chances are you will find the cables run through the loft anyway. wire in the transformer from the extended cables, then have the transformer output going back to the ceiling position. The problem with this is that lighting cable is normally 1-1.5 mm csa and the transformer will prob require 2.5mm csa cable to support the current its drawing. 1.5mm2 csa can carry 10 amps so check the rating of the transformer. SEE HERE Another way to do this could be to use the wall switch as a relay, so when you press the switch it closes a relay switch in the loft, closing the circuit for the light. that way you could have the transformer plugged into a normal socket. down side of this is the transformer would be on even if the light wasn't. hope you get it all set up, (sometimes its easier just to get an electrician)
Guest dan Posted March 9, 2004 Report Posted March 9, 2004 cheers. might get an electrician in after all! Dan
Guest awarner [MVP] Posted March 11, 2004 Report Posted March 11, 2004 Apart from breaking wiring regulations, if you had a fire etc because of dodgy wiring you would not be covered by insurance. How many lamps are in the fitting and what are the ratings? And the reason they put the transformers in is because the lamps are not 240v more likely 24v
Guest dan Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Yeah I know what the transformer does - the output is 12V. There are 5 times 20W halogen lights. You see them in shops - two wires with the lights in between the. I don't want to simpy plug the light in to the mains via the plug because I want to have the light linked to the light switch on the wall!. Ones I have had previously have regular fittings to wire into the ceiling light fitting. If I put a plug socket on the ceiling light wire by pulling it through into the loft why would this not work? Is it true that the wiring in the light circuit is differently rated to that in the mains circuit? I think I will get an electrician but am curious. Cheers Dan
Guest squall Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 The socket ring main is wired using different cable from the lighting circuit. ring main is typically 2.5mm2 where lighting is 1.5mm2. Putting a plug socket on the lighting cables and plugging the transformer in would work. Although you could just wire the lighting cables into ta looping in box then connect the transformer to the looping in box to- either way would work - same difference really.
Guest awarner [MVP] Posted March 12, 2004 Report Posted March 12, 2004 Putting a plug socket on the lighting cables and plugging the transformer in would work. As long as you used a 5A plug and socket and not a 13A otherwise you would fail the visual inspection and back to invalidating your house insurance etc. What sort of plug did it come with?
Guest mcwarre Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 Top tip: Put the transformes in little earthenware pots for two reasons: enough space for cooling, prevent the loft insulation catching fire. If you don't know much about electrices then get an electrician cos you'll: a. Fry yourself. b. Damage your lights. c. Invalidate your house insurance (as Awarner says). d. Fry yourself again! I am wary of doing it (although it is really easy if you have some knowledge of basic circuitry and common sense) even though I am an electrical engineer (comms)
Guest squall Posted March 17, 2004 Report Posted March 17, 2004 I am an electrical engineer (comms) what kind of comms?
Guest mcwarre Posted March 24, 2004 Report Posted March 24, 2004 what kind of comms? Various, I have worked on: Aircraft Special Signals (don't ask) Airfield Comms Airfield Navigation Aids IT Networks Telecommunications (voice/data) SATCOMS All cos I get around a bit................
Guest tony_man Posted March 24, 2004 Report Posted March 24, 2004 Any idea what they put in those transformers things - they weigh a tonne! Copper!
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