Light fitting in braai or fireplace

[washayag]

In a domestic installation, can a light fitting be installed inside a braai or fire place ?

[AndyD]

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.

[Blurock]

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.

[Blurock]

I have had a light installed in the chimney of my braai for more than 20 years.
It is a normal light fitting like the old ones you had hanging from the ceiling with a copper fitting at the end.
The bulb is a standard 60w house bulb.

The wire is threaded through a hole drilled in the brickwork and the light fitted at the end. Then pulled tight back into the hole again.
The light is about 1.5 m above the fire and the switch is on the wall next to the braai.

I had to replace the bulb for the first time about a month ago but have had no issues whatsoever.

[Sparks]

It must just be kept in mind that if a brass lampholder is used for a metal fireplace then the fireplace must be earthed.

[ians]

Some advice when reading stuff on social media ... if you install 0.5 mm twin speaker wire to all your security lights around the building ... it will work ... this fact because I see it all the time ... then a wring inspectors comes along and tells you you have to replace it and the repsnse is always the same ... "by why" ... its worked for 50 years ... I had this last week ... I just walked away from the job.

I arrive at a house ... call out earth leakage tripping ... before I even take out my tools and tester ... I walk around the proeprty and just look (new customer) check for things plugged in ... isolators not switched off ... the usual stuff ... Its bad.

I go collect my plug tester ... only one light switches on ... I turn the dial the earth leakage doesnt trip ... try all the plugs ... it doesnt trip ... live and neutral switched somewhere.

No earth on the socket outlets ... a long list and I havent even taken out the 1653 yet.

I inform the customer that the house requires a full inspection report ... before I even try find the cause of the earth leakage tripping ... due to all the illegal wiring and issues ... the cusotmers repsonse ... I dont understand our neighbour for 20 years is ...................................... wait for it .............................................. " AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER" ... need I say more.

my point ... I have been throwing petrol on the braai to get the fire going for years ... works like a bomb ... then the other day the bottle caught on fire ... it didnt end well.

maybe a piece of twin flex down the middle of the chimeney with a energy saver lamps should be fine

By the way I did some research ... it turns out the tape I have been using for years and years ... is called sicaflex heat tape AB ... you never too old to learn ... I have been referring to it as "asbestos tape" for years and years ... and didnt know it is now banned or replaced with alternate fibres ... wow.


https://www.asbestos.com/companies/m...uring-company/


https://adlinsulflex.com/heat-resist...aflex-tape-ab/

[markthespark]

I believe any steel braai with a braai light must be earthed. The possibility of abrasive wear of the cable passing through the steelwork is very strong. Just as important as the earthing on a stove!!!!

[DieterT]

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.

[bergie]

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]

thanks sparkies, that's helpful info