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| Thread ID: 96314 | 2009-01-06 09:20:00 | Wiring 12V outdoor lights | george12 (7) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 735457 | 2009-01-06 09:20:00 | My bedroom is an outhouse/shed/shack (or was), and I have decided to install two outdoor lights on it, as we just got it reclad and I now have a deck. The room has power, but if I was to wire up a mains-powered light myself on the existing light circuit, my understanding is I would need an electrician to certify the work, which I would rather not pay for. So, I have bought a couple of 12V halogen lamps. What I want to know is whether I am violating any law and/or jeapordising our insurance by using the junction box where the mains wiring enters the room from outside to run my light wiring inside. I'm talking about one of those round junction boxes that conduit attaches to. I would just make a hole in the side for the wire to enter, and a new hole inside the box through the wall, and seal it. This would save drilling a hole outside the room. If I remember correctly, when wiring new mains wiring one must ensure that it's not within 50mm of any lower voltage wiring. But does this requirement work the other way around, when the mains wiring is already in place? In a perfect world I could replace the single light switch for the room with a dual-switch one and use the second for the 12V outdoor lights, but I imagine that is well and truly illegal. So, experts, can I do what I want or shall I go drill a completely new hole in the wall? |
george12 (7) | ||
| 735458 | 2009-01-06 09:28:00 | Sorry mate, it's illegal. You can't run low voltage wiring with mains voltage wiring no matter what was there first. Why not run some similar conduit beside the existing? |
pine-o-cleen (2955) | ||
| 735459 | 2009-01-06 09:31:00 | Double post. My bad. | pine-o-cleen (2955) | ||
| 735460 | 2009-01-06 10:00:00 | Sorry mate, it's illegal. You can't run low voltage wiring with mains voltage wiring no matter what was there first. Why not run some similar conduit beside the existing? Thanks, that's what I'll have to do. |
george12 (7) | ||
| 735461 | 2009-01-07 06:35:00 | You run a business. You must be making money. Get an electrician to do it properly. Don't be so B----Y miserable. Light isn't very bright when you are dead!! PJ:annoyed: | Poppa John (284) | ||
| 735462 | 2009-01-08 04:51:00 | You run a business. You must be making money. Get an electrician to do it properly. Don't be so B----Y miserable. Light isn't very bright when you are dead!! PJ:annoyed:Amen PJ, and if it doesn't kill the installer, it may catch some other innocent person several years down the track. I don't condone illegal wiring, but if you actually know what you are doing and abide by the regulations I can live with that (almost), but if you have to ask, don't even think about it. Cheers Billy 8-{) |
Billy T (70) | ||
| 735463 | 2009-01-12 07:39:00 | Amen PJ, and if it doesn't kill the installer, it may catch some other innocent person several years down the track. I don't condone illegal wiring, but if you actually know what you are doing and abide by the regulations I can live with that (almost), but if you have to ask, don't even think about it. Cheers Billy 8-{) I know exactly how to do it and can easily look up the appropriate regulations. However, if I did do that, we may as well stop paying our insurance bill since it turned out to be illegal as I expected. PJ, I don't like paying people to do things I can easily do myself, hence the question. It's also pretty tricky to get killed by 12V, especially when it's disconnected. There's no need to be rude. And I'm currently working at Jaycar for minimum wage so don't go thinking I'm raking in the cash. This is not a good time to be selling computers! So, I have simply made a new entry point for the wire and have my 2x 12V halogens running nicely. Thanks for the advice. |
george12 (7) | ||
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