Outdoor light wiring question

anonymous112433

I've just bought the light in the link below. Is it possible to wire it into a traditional electrical appliance fused plug?

https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-outdoor-led-floodlight-with-pir-sensor-black-50w-5000lm/408pg

FaceHead

I don't see why not - just wire on a plug rather than into a junction box. I'd propose putting a 3A fuse in it as at 50W it should be running at around a quarter of an amp.

biscan25

This is fine. The circuit should also have an RCD.

Andy_L

It only has a 0.75m cable though - will that reach your socket

"Hi NorthEastNeil,

We are aware that this is a 0.75m Pre-Wired Cable.

Thank you for using Q&A

23 Sep 2021

0of 0found this answer helpful."

anonymous112433

The circuit has a RCD. The problem is the 0.75m length of the cable and it looks like it's designed so there's no messy around with the cable. In other words I can't see a way to disconnect the 0.75m wire to replace with a suitable and longer wire. Hence why I'm thinking about a plug.

I'm not even sure if it's worth returning because the next light I get will present the same problem. Looks like I'm going to need to buy an outdoor juction box and connect from that to the mains.

daveyjp

I would return it anyway and replace it with a halogen unit instead.

I have learnt from experience that those Screwfix LED outside lights are useless.  Two I've had have lasted less than two years each.  A halogen bulb goes I swap it in a minute, the LED fails its scrap which means another rewire job.

Section62

anonymous112433 said:

Looks like I'm going to need to buy an outdoor juction box and connect from that to the mains.

That's the intended method of installation, if the supplied cable isn't long enough to go through the wall.

Plugs to BS1363 are really intended only for appliances that can be moved round.  Permanent fittings like fixed lighting should really be hard wired.

Bear in mind that removing a BS1363 plug from a socket also disconnects the 'earth' for the connected equipment - which isn't a great idea with any electrical equipment used/located outdoors.

Rodders53

What are you trying to illuminate with that?  5000 lumen = 300 Watt halogen floodlight.  So the 50 W LED is 1/6th the power consumption.

I use Osram LEDVance fittings (bought from CPC https://cpc.farnell.com/search?st=ledvance ) and a 20W 2200 lumen warm white illuminates my gardens a treat. Almost too bright in fact

But most of these fittings come with a short length of cable for wiring into a waterproof connection box.  

anonymous112433

Thanks for all the comments. I will get a weatherproof outdoor junction box and get about 4m of additional wire and run it through to my utility/garage. This will be a more long term solution.

gozaimasu

Rodders53 said:

What are you trying to illuminate with that?

If it's anything like my neighbours, they are trying to illuminate their neighbours' upstairs windows

Why on earth they need such a bright floodlight for their back garden I'll never know. Will take a few years for my trees to grow up and offer me some relief. Refuse to pay for blackout blinds.

anonymous112433

gozaimasu said:

Rodders53 said:

What are you trying to illuminate with that?

If it's anything like my neighbours, they are trying to illuminate their neighbours' upstairs windows

Why on earth they need such a bright floodlight for their back garden I'll never know. Will take a few years for my trees to grow up and offer me some relief. Refuse to pay for blackout blinds.

I don't plan on having this light running permanently, I have sufficient ambient lighting for that. But I needed something that would be bright for occassional use in the winter.

Fortunately this light has sensitivity, duration and brightness settings.