How Long Should A Table Lamp Lead Be?

[flobadob]

How long should the lead be from a lamp base to the plug? When I looked it up, it says that it should be a minimum of 1.8 metres. This seems very long, but is it correct?

[gingejbee]

Long enough to have the lamp where you need it, imo.

[Hopkirk]

Long for a bedside light I would have thought, but reasonable for a table lamp.

[Etch]

The "minimum of 1.8 metres" is probably just a compromise so that in the majority of cases, as sold, a lamp can be plugged into the nearest socket without requiring an extension lead. There is no electrical reason why the lead can't be shortened to suit a particular location, which may need a different plug if the one provided is of the moulded type.

[The Builder]

A couple of things, flobbers.
Yes, it's 1.8metres, but I agree with Etch that it's probably a figure pulled out of the air.

Seriously though... if the cable is only just long enough to reach a socket, it may be in mid-air, and so could easily be tripped over etc. (Health & Safety and all that.)
Apart from that, it was a problem with the old incandescent bulbs. If one of those is tipped over, it was not uncommon for the shade to touch it and catch fire.
No such problem with modern LEDs.

The other thing is fusing. People will regularly plug into an extension lead commonly fitted with a 13Amp fuse.
Table lamps are often supplied with 0.75mm flex cable.
(Maximum current carrying capacity - 6Amps.)

Socket circuits are 32Amp. So (theoretically) the 0.75mm cable could overheat.
Having said all that, table lamps should have 3 or 5 Amp fuse in the plug so all will be well. Except that folk often replace them with a 13Amp.
Sorry about all that. I know you only asked a simple question :o)))

[snags]

^ I avoid such worries by using glow worms in a jars.

[The Builder]

Hiya Snags...... yeah, but you've always been ahead of the pack ;o)

[flobadob]

Hi everyone, thanks for the answers and extra details, very much appreciated.