Another DIY Electrical Question

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tchart

1320 posts

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Topic # 142727 22-Mar-2014 10:12

Right so Im pretty familiar with what you can and cant do in terms of electrical stuff around my own house.

Im currently replacing my alarm with a smarter alarm.

My current alarm is a fixed install in a cupboard ie white metal box screwed into wall with a hard wired power source.

My new alarm is fed off a generic plug wall adaptor.

My question is this; if I remove the old alarm I will obviously end up with a power source connected to nothing. Am I allowed to connect this to new standard wall socket since the wiring is pre-existing?

Yogi02

137 posts

Master Geek
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Reply # 1010968 22-Mar-2014 10:29

You will need an electrician.
There are a few variables that need to be considered before a power socket can be wired in.
What loop circuit is it attached to and what is the fuse/breaker rating for that circuit?
What is the core size of the wiring.

I do know of some dodgy installations that as it is a hard wired system of low current draw, wiring it into lighting circuits that are not suited to have an power socket attached to which any device could be plugged in.

richms

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Reply # 1010982 22-Mar-2014 11:30

There are some locations a power socket on a lighting circuit is allowed. It is not a blanket ban on them. Things like range hoods and wall mount fans was the intention. I'm on the phone so hard to look up but I know height from the floor was one of the requirements.

If it's not allowable then a permanent connection unit can be installed and then a non wall wart dc adapter run off that.

Richard rich.ms

Niel

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Reply # 1011052 22-Mar-2014 14:27

I'd go for an in-line power adapter permanently wired in as Richms suggested. They are typically higher current anyway, good for drive sirens and stuff. Wall warts are a bad idea for alarms unless they are small/light like phone chargers, otherwise it can fall out and your battery does not charge. This can happen while on holiday and then you have no way of plugging it back in before the battery is dead. I'd hard wire.

You can never have enough Volvos!

tchart

1320 posts

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+1 received by user: 142

Reply # 1011146 22-Mar-2014 20:58

Thanks guys.