As a first-time homeowner, I'm looking to add a standard 13A socket to a 6A lighting circuit to power my WiFi router. The only other devices on this circuit will be lights. I believe, according to UK electrical regulations (specifically, 559.5.1), this should be fine as long as I label the socket with the correct power rating. My router shouldn't use more than 30 watts at max load, and I'm planning on using an LED light, which will draw significantly less power—around 10 watts at most. Given that a 6 amp lighting circuit should handle around 1350 watts at 220-240 volts, on paper, everything seems to check out. I'm wondering if there are any real-world issues I might face with this setup?
2 Answers
Just a heads-up: legally, you shouldn't be doing this unless you’re certified. If something goes wrong down the line, you could be uninsured. It’s a good idea to check the exact rules before proceeding.
Could be that you’re mixing up UK and US regulations. They have some big differences!
You might want to consider putting a 5 amp socket instead. Those are typically acceptable on lighting circuits, and it keeps things safer. Plus, who's really going to check what you plug into it, right?
But isn’t it legal for someone unqualified to add a single spur? So wouldn't this count?