Outdoor wiring accessories – some product examples Legrand makes a splash with Plexo 66 weatherproof wiring accessories Legrand manufactures a range of weatherproof wiring accessories. Offering maintained IP 66 protection and creating a complete and integrated weatherproof offer, Plexo 66 complements Legrand's popular selection of IP 55 wiring accessories, providing even greater defence against dust and water. The range's innovative design incorporates socket variants that will maintain IP66 protection even when used with the wide range of moulded plugs currently utilised by appliance manufacturers today. Ideal for applications where liquids and dust are present, such as pressure washers, food preparation, hospitals and laboratories, Plexo 66 contributes to safety by offering maintained IP 66 protection, even with moulded plugs inserted.

One of Legrand’s Plexo 66 IP 55 wiring accessories.

Products are supplied with a protective rear gasket that can create and maintain IP 66 protection. This innovative gasket is grooved to accept silicon, making it possible to deliver IP 66 protection on uneven surfaces. The range incorporates flush and surface mounting options in a selection of grey and white moulded finishes. For ease and flexibility of use, flush-mounting accessories can be fitted to standard flush metal boxes. Modular back surface mounting boxes make it possible to tailor solutions to individual requirements, whilst Mosaic adaptors mean that Plexo 66 can benefit from the flexibility of Legrand's acclaimed Mosaic modular range, the most comprehensive selection of wiring accessories on the market. For further information on Plexo weatherproof solutions, or to request a brochure, call Legrand on 0870 608 9009 or visit www.legrand.co.uk. Legrand Electric UK, Great King Street North, Birmingham B19 2LF Tel: 0121 515 0515 Fax: 0121 515 0516 Web: www.legrand.co.uk Weatherproof wiring accessories - something for everyone Clipsal, a brand of Schneider Electric, offers a wide range of versatile and stylish electrical wiring accessories, suitable for both residential and commercial environment. Growth in the use of outdoor electrical equipment has resulted in increased sales and a range expansion for Aquaseal, part of the weatherproof wiring accessories offer from Clipsal. Combining modern styling with practicality, Clipsal switches and sockets, including Aquaseal, are available for outdoor use, and offer quality assurance to the end user.

Aquaseal. Meeting all the relevant British (BS) and International (IEC) standards, the brand’s products offers the end-user peace of mind with regards to quality and protection. The switches are available in polycarbonate, making them particularly robust and resilient to both accidental and malicious damage. The outdoor switches are resistant to water, dust and chemicals, making them ideal for use in both domestic, commercial and harsh industrial environments. Typical examples include air conditioning, pools, or outdoor lighting and simple water features.

Clipsal's wide weatherproof offer includes socket outlets, switch disconnectors, passive infrared switches (PIRs) and light fittings. Made from polycarbonate, the range is particularly robust and resilient. These units are resistant to water, dust and chemicals, and the high impact casings are able to withstand extreme temperatures (-20 to 60oC).

Aquaseal products in particular are ideal for a wide range of applications, from simple outdoor lighting in domestic properties, to commercial theme parks and harsh industrial environments. The range is not only weatherproofed, but also has the extra safety feature available of neon indication to show when the switch is on or off. Aquaseal is also ideal for use with air conditioning, pools and spas, outdoor water features, outdoor lighting, and gardening equipment.

The product is available with either an IP 56 or 66 rating and complies with international safety standards, including the relevant British Standards, and is available in two sizes, 80mm x 160mm x 85mm and 80mm x 103mm x 85mm. Clipsal (Schneider Electric Ltd.,) Stafford Park 5, Telford, Shropshire TF3 3BL Tel: 0870 608 8608 Fax: 0870 608 8606

Hoseproof grid switches extend IP56 accessory range A grid switch system is available in Eaton’s MEM Gala range of IP56 hoseproof switches and socket-outlets. It opens up possibilities for specifiers and electrical contractors involved with electrical installations outdoors, or in interiors which may be hosed down. Applications include gardens, swimming pools, hospitals, farms, veterinary practices, abattoirs, factories and garages.

A grid switch system is available in Eaton’s MEM Gala range of IP56 hoseproof switches and socket-outlets. The IP56 enclosure is moulded from impact-resistant polycarbonate and has a mounting plate which will accept modules from the MEM gridswitch system. A hinged see-through cover is lifted to operate the switch and then clips firmly closed over the switch to form an IP56 seal -- protected against ingress of dust (IP5X) and strong jets of water (IPX6). The range of gridswitch modules which may be fitted into the enclosure includes key-operated security switches, intermediate switches, 20A double-pole switches (with neon if required), a twin switch, window rocker switches, switches with pre-printed legends and red 'essential supply' modules. It also includes red, amber and green indicator modules and fused connection units.

Typical applications would be a key-operated switch used to prevent unauthorised switching of exterior lighting; a fused connection unit to protect a pump for a water feature or swimming pool; an intermediate switch for multi-point switching of garden lighting; or a coloured indicator light to indicate the power status of electrical equipment. The IP56 hoseproof range includes single-gang and two-gang 13A socket-outlets, single-pole or two-pole 16A switches, a switched socket-outlet and an RCD-protected socket-outlet. The IP56 polycarbonate enclosures are surface mounting and have facilities for conduit or mineral insulated metal-heathed (MIMS) cable entry. The gridswitch enclosures are offered as single-gang units only but two or more units can be mounted side-by-side.

One product from Eaton’s MEM range of splashproof or hoseproof switch / socket-outlet ranges. Eaton also offers a range of IP54 'splashproof' switches and socket-outlets in moulded enclosures and metalclad IP65 'watertight' switches. "There is increasing demand for water-protected accessories for interior and exterior use" says Frank Sayers, Eaton’s Product Manager for Wiring Accessories. "The IP56 enclosure enables us to offer a much wider choice of control and indicating options, without overloading the specifier, the distributor or the installer with numerous new products and catalogue numbers."

Contact: Karen Shaw Eaton MEM Tel: 0161 652 1111 Fax: 0161 626 1709 Email: KarenAShaw@Eaton.com Web: www.eatonelectrical.co.uk

MK’s Masterseal can now be timed

MK Electric has added an outdoor timer socket to its award winning Masterseal range of weatherproof wiring devices. Designed to address the growing demand for electrical accessories in the garden, the timer socket can be used to control outdoor lighting as used to illuminate parks and gardens. Equally at home outdoors, or inside a dusty or damp environment, the 13A socket outlet, switched by an integral single pole timer module, is specifically designed for use in areas heavily exposed to airborne particles, grime and/or splashing water. Made from robust polycarbonate, the socket is sealed to IP56 against dust and water and has an impact resistance equivalent to a 500g object falling from a height of 400m.

MK Electric’s Masterseal. The electronic timer module, which has a multi function LCD, can be programmed to switch the outlet ON/OFF six times daily, with the facility to select up to four individual day blocks. Users can thus adjust the timer switch to suit their own particular requirements. Additional flexibility is provided by an override button that allows the load to be switched ON/OFF directly, bypassing the timer. To facilitate continuity of the protective earth conductor, the socket outlet is supplied with a loop terminal in the back box, which has five entries for five cables.

Like all MK socket outlets the Masterseal timer socket is fitted with MK’s innovative three-pin operated safety shutter that prevents inadvertent access to live contacts. All products are 100% tested before delivery for their reliability and safety and all come with a 10-year guarantee. Contact: John Forsyth MK Electric (Novar) The Arnold Centre, Paycocke Road, Basildon, Essex SS14 3EA Tel: +44 (0) 1268 563000 Fax: +44 (0) 1268 563483 Email: john.forsyth@novar.com Web: www.mkelectric.co.uk

Weatherproof timer switches allow the controlled use of external lighting Where there is a requirement for the switch control of outdoor lighting there is an appropriate range of weatherproof timer switch available from Elkay Electrical. Similar to the management of internal lighting systems for energy saving there is the requirement to manage external lighting utilising outdoor weatherproof timer switches. The switch ranges from Elkay provide either touch-activated options or push button operation. Use of these units in strategic locations around a building or site location allow the control and effective timing of external lighting systems ensuring they are not left on permanently adding to the energy bill.

Weatherproof timer switches from Elkay. There are two Elkay touch activated timers, Types 361A and 1975, using smooth wall enclosures that are operated by pressing the tamperproof touch sensitive area on the faceplate. These are complemented by a range of push button weatherproof timers Types 1875 – 1878, all offering different timing ranges.

The 361A touch activated timer has an adjustable timing range from 10 second through to 20 minutes. If the area is pressed again while the unit is timing out the time delay period restarts. This makes the unit ideal for new installations or as a replacement for standard single gang switches on incandescent or fluorescent lighting applications. The timer can be used on its own or wired in parallel with other timers in a two wire system to control the same load. For general purpose loads the 1975 touch activated weatherproof timer with temporary neon indicator operates with a single pole changeover relay contact. This gives the option of a normally open or normally closed contact for switching purposes. The unit requires a neutral feed and is suitable for general applications including lighting, heating and ventilation loads. The temporary neon indicator illuminates when the unit is timing out. The Elkay range has four push button weatherproof timer switches offering different time ranges from 15 seconds to five minutes, up to one hour to 2.5 hours. These units, which are IP56 rated, are suitable for general-purpose loads such as incandescent and fluorescent lighting as well as heating and ventilation loads. The timers can be used on their own or with slave switches wired in parallel to the switch mechanism. Also available from Elkay are waterproof connectors. Today’s garden design is less about plants and borders and more about style and the extension of the home into the garden. This brings with it new requirements and needs within the garden environment for electrics. It used to be a socket for the garden mower; today it covers a great range of products including lighting, garden heaters, pumps for water features, all the way up to hot tubs and swimming pools.

Elkay waterproof connectors. Many such applications can be satisfied with the use of waterproof connectors such as Aqua-safe from Elkay, which is ideal for all applications where power has to be carried outside through wet areas or where the connector is exposed to adverse weather conditions. In use, the connector is extremely convenient when used to supply power to devices such as garden heaters, water pumps, lighting, indeed any device requiring

electrical power. When the device needs servicing or if it has to be brought indoors during the winter months it is simply unplugged from the connector. The exposed connector housing can be effectively sealed using the appropriate dedicated sealing cap, sealing it from any water or dirt Aqua-safe in-line connectors afford safe, permanent, cost-effective fully waterproof connection, with ease of installation and trouble free use. Typically fitted to water pumps they allow the ease of removal and maintenance of water pumps with a simple yet effective connection. In lighting installations, both above and below water, the connectors maintain system integrity. An active latch mechanism accesses the inner connectors for quicker wiring and a highly reliable click latch system replaces the conventional approach of screwing two halves together. This not only makes assembly quicker, cutting down on ‘on the job’ time, but the ‘O’ ring seal makes the system waterproof to a depth of 20m. Alternatively, there is a flanged version for bulkhead or surface mounting, complete with sealing gasket. Additionally, Elkay has introduced a new range of switched enclosures to complement the Aqua-safe connectors. These enclosures incorporate connectors and switches, and are available in two, three and four socket outlets. With an IP54 ingress protection rating, they are suitable for use in damp and exposed environments, such as gardens.

Elkay IP54 enclosure. Each socket outlet is controlled by a push-button switch positioned directly above it. When the connector outlet is not in use it can be covered with a sealing cap to prevent the ingress of moisture. Elkay Electrical Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham B46 1HT Tel: 01686 611511 Fax: 01686 611501 Email: sales@elkay.co.uk Web: www.elkay.co.uk