Spur from lighting circuit?

[telectrix]

If you put a 13A socket up there it will get used for a vacuum cleaner - why go to the effort of running a cable upstairs when you can just disobey a little sticker?
Going around putting 5A plugs on all low powered appliances and running them off the lighting circuit is not the way forward.
You could fit a FCU at a push, but it's best just to fit a socket properly, which is essentially what the customer is asking for - ingenious little 'DIY-esque' innovations shouldn't become the norm.

anybody wants to use a vacuum cleaner in an attic has a serious compulsive disorder. going by your post, then they'd all be fitting bayonet plugs on irons and kettles so as to plug into the light pendants.

 

[Adam W]

anybody wants to use a vacuum cleaner in an attic has a serious compulsive disorder. going by your post, then they'd all be fitting bayonet plugs on irons and kettles so as to plug into the light pendants.

If that was easier than using a 13A socket and if they were readily available then I expect people would.
I was actually thinking more along the lines of putting in a load of 5A sockets run from the lighting circuit for appliances, and using the 13A sockets for wall lights with flex on the end.

There was a post recently about a little old lady who had a 13A socket put on the lighting circuit for a table lamp.
Then the switch was changed for a dimmer so she could vary the speed of the vacuum cleaner.

 

[roukel01]

If you put a 13A socket up there it will get used for a vacuum cleaner - why go to the effort of running a cable upstairs when you can just disobey a little sticker?
Going around putting 5A plugs on all low powered appliances and running them off the lighting circuit is not the way forward.
You could fit a FCU at a push, but it's best just to fit a socket properly, which is essentially what the customer is asking for - ingenious little 'DIY-esque' innovations shouldn't become the norm.

Rubbish

 

[RogertheBodger]

If you put a 13A socket up there it will get used for a vacuum cleaner - why go to the effort of running a cable upstairs when you can just disobey a little sticker?
Going around putting 5A plugs on all low powered appliances and running them off the lighting circuit is not the way forward.
You could fit a FCU at a push, but it's best just to fit a socket properly, which is essentially what the customer is asking for - ingenious little 'DIY-esque' innovations shouldn't become the norm

Hi Novus

What the Op was asking about was a 'spur off the lighting circuit' in the loft, where there is only a lighting circuit, a 5A socket or FCU is covered by the Regs so what is the problem with that?

I don't think anyone is suggesting that 5A sockets should be used all over a premises for low powered appliances, but they are useful in certain situations - like this one.

Lets not forget that the owner of the property has a say in these situations, after all, he owns the installation, how much more difficult and expensive would it be to bring a 13A socket up from the floor below, we don't know - we are not the Electrician on site.

We can only advise our customers what to do, if they don't want to do that, we can suggest a compromise, if they are set on doing it illegally then you have to walk, but if you walk, you know that the next guy through the door is not going to be a skilled Sparky, he will do what they want, so what kind of dangerous situation will he leave behind?

It's our job to leave our clients safe and happy.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Apart from the dreaded "bad practice" angle what is stopping someone fitting a 13amp BS 1363 socket to a lighting circuit. I would not hesitate to fit one via a 3 amp FCU. If Mrs jones wants to then get up into the loft and spring clean with the vacuum, where she finds it cold and plugs a 3 kw heater into it.................and the 3amp fuse blows.

Mr Jones being the nice husband he is says no problem dear I'll fit a 13amp fuse for you ...............so he does and when they switch on the vacuum/heater the 6amp or 10amp MCB trips ...................ahhh says Mr jones ..............I think that plug will only work with the mouse trap dear.

As long as you label the socket as being fed from the lighting circuit .............then you should have no problems.