I want to put a light in an under stairs cupboard. There is no lighting circuit but there is a plug. Can I simply connect up a mains cable to a pendant? If so can I also put a pull switch in?
Any guidance much appreciated. Thanks very much.

John, May 2009

You need to be careful about mounting a light bulb in a confined space such as under a stairs. If the bulb is too close too an inflammable surface (e.g. any kind of timber product) if may well start a fire. It is easy to forget about a light bulb being left switched on in such a cupboard etc.
A light bulb of less than 100 W needs to be at least 0.6 m away from any flammable material, bulb holders marked T1 - intended for bulbs of 60 W or less should not be used and bulb/lamp holders should not be mounted directly on flammable materials like chipboard.

J, May 2009

Thanks so much chaps

John, May 2009

If you decide to use a plug as opposed to a fused spur you need to use flex between the plug and the switch - twin and earth should not be used with a plug.

Adam, May 2009

You can't just wire direct into your 13 amp outlet legally as you would need to put a fused spur in first. You could however wire in your light by using a normal plug into the outlet, fused at 3 amp, and connected to your pull switch before the light bulb.

John, May 2009