In a domestic installation, can a light fitting be installed inside a braai or fire place ?
In a domestic installation, can a light fitting be installed inside a braai or fire place ?
Yes, if it's designed to be suitable for the environment. Easiest is to buy an oven light fitting Defy or a similar supplier and use glassfiber insulated wiring.
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washayag (20-Oct-15)
I don't know if it is legal, but I fitted an ordinary light bulb inside my braai. It's been going for about 15 years and only replaced the bulb once.
Excellence is not a skill; its an attitude...
washayag (20-Oct-15)
It must just be kept in mind that if a brass lampholder is used for a metal fireplace then the fireplace must be earthed.
washayag (20-Oct-15)
And for that matter earth the fireplace even if it was a porcelain holder since the electrical wire would most probably pass through the opening hole in the steel work to the lamp holder and one day is one day where those wires get damaged and makes that whole fireplace conductive and pietie goes to take a swim and quickly jumps out grabs his ice cold beer and flips the bloubul steak while leaning against the outer steel standing in a nice puddle of water. Please also don't forget if you use a E/S fitting that the live goes to the inner and the neutral to the outer.
washayag (20-Oct-15)
i always use a small oval die cast aluminium fitting with a 60 watt rough service lamp. from the switch or connection box close by , i would install silicone wires . as mentioned, earthing is very important.
washayag (20-Oct-15)
thanks sparkies, that's helpful info
Please bear in mind that the law prevents you from attempting this installation yourself if you are not a registered contractor, or working under the direct supervision of a electrical contractor.
This forum does not constitute the latter.
Once the light fitting is installed, or the wiring replaced, a new electrical certificate most be issued for at least the new installation or alteration subject to regulation 9.2 of The New Electrical Regulations.
To make a mistake is human, to learn from that mistake is knowledge and knowledge is strength.
Dave A (22-Oct-15)
Unless you use an extention cord with a plug ... baiscally making it a lead light ... or use a torch mounted on a bracket.
However ... if the light is installed inside the chimney using conduit and wiring ... twin+e or surfix ... with the ight switch on the wall or a smart switch ... then it becomes a whole new ball game.
Things to consider ...
The position and height of the lamp holder ... would determine the type of lampholder to be used.
The type of lamp used ... stoves for example use a specific lamp designed for the purpose.
Type of wiring used depending on the height and position ... must be able to withstand the heat (especially when you buddy has had a couple too many and starts loading the braai with a pile of solid pieces of wood)... asbestos or silicon ( depending on the height above the fire place)
Conduit type ... plasitc ... steel or bosal.
Then lastly ... if a conduit is attached to the side of the chimney (for built in braai/fire places) ... you would need to fire seal the conduit to prevent the spread of the fire into the conduit.
I have seen twin+e with a standard down light installed in chimneys ... an old 50 watt 230/12 volts lamps wouldnt have been a problem ... but replacing the lamp with a plastic LED lamps ... dont know that that would be such a smart idea.
As even electricians say ... but it has worked for 15 years ... I have seen a few lights in braai/ fire places which pose a serious fire hazard ... if you just using fire lighters and charcol ... I dont see an issue ... its after a few too many on a cold winters night and the lads start piling the wood ... best you make sure your light can take it.
Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.
Now that we have cleared that up ...
Lets say you want to install a light in a chimney?
an example ... a built in braai/fire pit ... like a jetmaster.
You dont want to see any wires on the outside ...
so you go into the roof and drill a 20 mm hole into the side of the chimeny mount a bosal adaptor (not plastic) ...
run the wire down inside the chimney from the ceiling space ...
drill 2 holes and mount a bracket inside the canopy for the lamp ...
use a downlight tail as the lamp holder ...
connect 2 cores of the silicon cabtyre to the tails using heat shrink with an asbestos sleeve over the heat shrink ...
fit a lug to the earth wire and attached it to the bracket you just fitted to hold the lamp that you dril a 5.5 mm for the earth wire.
connect the wire to standard house wire in the roof space and seal the adaptor hole with fire seal.
Use a 50 watt 230 or 12 V downlight.
Lets hear what you think?
Comments are based on opinion...not always facts....that's why people use an alias.
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