Any electricians on here who can help me with finding the right plug?!

[DaisySteiner]

When we had our extension built I asked them to put in some lighting sockets on a circuit so that we could operate them from a switch on the wall. I ordered what I thought was a standard 3-pin 5A lighting plug, have snipped the plug off my lamp and wired it up to the new plug, but it won't fit! The pins are much too big for the holes in the socket and are also further apart! I'm really Presumably there must be another kind of plug but what is it?!

Would really appreciate being pointed in the right direction!

if it's a 3-round-pin lighting plug, and you're sure the 5A one is too big, there is also a 2A version, but it is very rare (since lighting circuits are usually fused at 5A or 6A, so fittings must be rated at least the same.

Measure the distance between pin centres, and tell me what they are in the socket, and in the plug you have bought. Are you sure you haven't got a 15Amp round-pin plug, which is slightly bigger than a 13A square-pin plug, and is widely used in theatre lighting?

Thanks for your reply. There's about 1cm between the holes on the socket. The plug I've got says it's 5A.

If for some bizarre reason the wrong socket has been fitted can it just be replaced with a standard lighting socket?

Thanks.

The manufacturer is apparently crabtree according to what's on the socket, if that's any help?

i got mine from ebay - just type in 5a plug

or 2a plug if you want the 2a one.
if it's for lights, it's more likely top be 2a./

1cm is a 2A plug.

like this

I would say it is incorrect if the lighting circuit is fused at 6A as is usual. There is a chance it might be on an FCU with a 2A fuse in it, but that would be unusual, and gives scope for a higher-rated fuse cartridge to be incorrectly fitted in future.

OK, thanks, have ordered 2 amp one. Electrician assures me it is normal and standard for lighting.

yes, it is. (DH and Dad were both electricians)
I've got 2A plugs on my lights for fairy lights in the shop. :)