On Mon, 2011-04-04 at 09:59 -0300, Gerhard Fiedler wrote: > Herbert Graf wrote: >=20 > > 2) They are not available as in-line pluggable, which is an issue > > since I really don't want to tear the wall apart to do what needs to > > be done according to code for a wall box mounted line dimmer. >=20 > What is the legal difference between a "home-made wall installation" and > a home-made in-line device plugged into an outlet that's according to > code? Short answer? Alot Long answer? Anything "mounted" on the wall is considered permanent. As such, you have to follow very strict rules as to what's permitted and what isn't. I'm no expert, and I'm leaving certain things out, but here's the gist: If you mount the box in the wall then all you really need to do is install all the wiring (which has to be of a certain type) behind the wall (within certain guidelines, things like how far back from the wall does the wire pass through the studs, using nailing plates, etc.). This obviously requires alot of holes in the walls, and patching afterwards. It's made even worse so since the wall in question is an exterior wall mean it's full of insulation and has a vapour barrier which makes using a fish tape much harder. If you mount the box ON the wall, then you can't just use regular wire, it has to be armoured cable or conduit, both very ugly, which is why the only place you usually see that is outdoors (for conduit) or in mechanical rooms (i.e. the furnace). Having a plug in solution is considered "temporary", which is MUCH more lax in the rules. This of course all depends on where you are located in the world. What I've stated is more specific to North America. I have done some electrical in your neck of the woods and while there are some differences (mostly related to how different residential building is done there) the rules are pretty similar (conduit for surface mount installations is common over there, although for aesthetics you guys will notch out a grove in the wall, use conduit and then plaster over it, ALOT of work, but without hollow walls pretty much the only option post construction). TTYL TTYL --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .