House wiring

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Do the upstairs plug sockets usually get fed from the floor upwards, or the loft down? I need to get power in my loft, and have a socket underneath where I'd like it, but just my luck the only part of the loft with boards down is right there. Thought I'd ask before I rip them up to see!
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Most times, the only wiring that will be in the loft is the upstairs lights. Upstairs sockets will usually come up from under the floor. But, this is not always true. Have a look at the wiring in the loft, the lighting cable should be noticeably smaller than the socket ring main will be running off. You can sometimes find a (large) shower supply in the loft, though. A cable detector might be a useful thing to use, to be sure(ish).
 

Edd209

Well-Known Forumite
and if you do have a showe supply in the loft dont spur off it, it needs to be on a seperate circuit matey.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Edd209 said:
and if you do have a shower supply in the loft dont spur off it, it needs to be on a seperate circuit matey.
Indeed, that was intended to warn him off connecting to it, but it could have been taken the other way, I see now..
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
basil said:
It's possible to spur from the upstairs lighting........
Indeed, but I presume that he wants to fit a socket and, whilst there's no practical reason not to do this, as long as you consider the supply that will be available, it is probably only a matter of time before somebody plugs two kettles in and pops the lights. It would, of course, also contravene the wiring regs, but, then, so does almost everything anyway..

If it's only for a few watts and it was under my control then I would probably do it. One does have to consider the residual current device, however, as lighting circuits may be excluded from being covered by this, but any sockets should be, really.
 

gdavies

Well-Known Forumite
Catabatic said:
basil said:
It's possible to spur from the upstairs lighting........
....and also a total no no !!
If you were only going to spur in to a junction box just for the sake of a light in the loft, I can't see why it would be a big no no, although if you were to spur off the lights for a mains plug then yes a huge no no
 

basil

don't mention the blinds
I've taken à feed from lighting and via rcd power x2 liights and twin socket which powers the tv distribution unit and anytime soon will support an oil filled radiator......
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
If that's for a loft heater for the tank and pipes, the you might be interested in the programmable thermostat that B&Q have for around £20. It can be set between 0 and 50 Celsius in one degree steps - and it seems fairly accurate.

I can't find it on their website, but they are there with the timers, etc., opposite the 'security' lights...


It's along the same lines as this.
 
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