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[Closed] Electricians... can I charge a hoover from a lighting circuit?

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Not a big one... plug says 0.9a it's one of those dyson cordless jobs. I want to put it in the fuse board cupboard and the only power in there aside from the fuse board is a switch for the outside light, 1.5mm cable.

Obviously if I spur off it and put a socket in it'll only be used for that, nothing else and I'll take it out before moving.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 11:49 am
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That's about the equivalent of 2 100w bulbs, so yes.

amps = watts/volts.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 12:10 pm
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No. It's not protected by an RCD in the consumer unit.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 12:36 pm
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It's on it's own on a 6amp mcb, brand new split board with 2 rcd's. I thought all the circuits had rcd protection.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 12:43 pm
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If its a modern split board then its probably on an rcd but worth checking. That said if only used for the dyson charger then an RCD isn't that critical. I'd still want it on an RCD for that time when someone thinks I'll just use this socket as its convenient. No technical reasons for it not to work, just not good practice. I'd clearly label the socket with a sticker or sharpie but other than that go for it


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 12:59 pm
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You mean spur of the switch? If the Light switch is wired properly, no neutral! Maybe it's wired the way all the bodgers do now days 🙂
Seriously if your asking this question don't go there!


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 1:42 pm
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why not just drop a 2.5 out of the board wired into a power circuit, then you can use it as a socket for anything.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 2:04 pm
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That was plan A but that involves an electrician and it's expensive... this way is easy cheap and to my mind is absolutely fine - just checking I'm not missing something obvious.


You mean spur of the switch? If the Light switch is wired properly, no neutral! Maybe it's wired the way all the bodgers do now days
Seriously if your asking this question don't go there!

It's a switch yes but it's inline with the light straight out of the cu. Has a neutral, it's not a regular lighting circuit. It's 4 feet of wire from the cu to the light.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 2:54 pm
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It's a bodge! It's just not good practice. If your happy to mess around with a switch and light why not take a new radial from the board or do something with an outgoing ring, no more or less difficult or dangerous


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 3:16 pm
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That was plan A but that involves an electrician and it's expensive... this way is easy cheap and to my mind is absolutely fine - just checking I'm not missing something obvious.

I've done similar for the Ethernet Switch, which lives on the ceiling, in the understairs cupboard, just stuck a socket on the lightning circuit (fused at 6A). Just doesn't warrant the effort of running a new spur.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 7:18 pm
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Yes, it's fine to do this. I'd suggest using an FCU with a 2A fuse and an un-switched socket.

Might also be worth putting a label over the fuse cover indicating the maximum appropriate load in case you move house.

RCD protection nice to have but not essential. If not equipped on the lighting circuit you can get single socket RCDs anyway should you so choose.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 7:36 pm
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I remember when you could buy a 13A socket and lead that plugged into a bayonet socket i.e no earth. Totally illegal these days.
Also 3 way 13A adaptors without fuse. In theory 39A from one wall socket.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 8:00 pm
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If OP chooses to bodge it 🙂 why the need for the spur fused down 2a? The lighting circuit is backed up by 6a MCB. Mcb's protect the cable in circuit, the circuit is designed to support the load,the plug top will be fused according to its needs.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 8:11 pm
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That's easy: next person sees a plug socket, thinks "that's handy", plugs in high load item, trips MCB.

FCU essentially says "this socket is here for a specific purpose".

If the vacuum charger has a normal plug on the end and isn't an integrated plug/transformer, then plumb that directly into the FCU, avoiding the above headache.


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 8:34 pm
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But you advised a fused spur then an un switched S/O 🙂 come on don't endorse such lazy and sloppy installations


 
Posted : 03/09/2017 9:31 pm