Extending light cct no RCD

[Blue Duck]

Good evening all

:Y

Am at some point going to add security lighting to an existing lighting cct at my girlfriends mum's house, was hoping to use it as a minor on assesment.

I had a look today & was hoping I wouldn't find an old wylex fuse box with rewirable fuses (3036?).

I look in the cupboard & there it is... :red card

So.... What are the best ways to RCD this extension to the main light cct in a small 2bed gf flat, I doubt that she wants to pay for a new cu, as

 

[NozSpark]

The maximum wattage halogen light fitting you are allowed to fit to the outside of a house is 150w, but only if it's PIR controlled (under part L1 & L2 of the building regs)

TBH the cheapest way to do this job is to avoid RCD protection; so avoid burried cables and you'll be OK....... if you have to bury the cable then remember that you only have to RCD protect your work (RCD-FS is ok)

 

[Blue Duck]

The maximum wattage halogen light fitting you are allowed to fit to the outside of a house is 150w, but only if it's PIR controlled (under part L1 & L2 of the building regs)

Haha I missed that in my 5 day wonder... Just looked in the tlc catalogue

No wonder 500w are so cheap at the moment ROTFWL

Thanks for the help!

Think I will try to do it without buring anything (crawl-space in loft) but might have to in end!? If so will go rcd fs route!

Thanks againGuinness

 

[ianmacd]

If it was me, I would fit an RCD spur anyway. Can be used as a device for isolating both live connectors too.

 

[PBC_1966]

The maximum wattage halogen light fitting you are allowed to fit to the outside of a house is 150w, but only if it's PIR controlled (under part L1 & L2 of the building regs)

That's only the guide figure listed in the Approved Documents though, not law. But as nobody with any sense is going to get LABC involved just to put up an outside light, I'd say it doesn't really matter much anyway.

500W does sound quite large for the area involved though. I have a 300W flood on my back wall which adequately illuminates the 30 ft. square area of my back yard plus about the same amount again of the sand dunes which back onto it.

 

[Apache]

Or change the consumer unit and call it a major job?!

 

[Blue Duck]

Or change the consumer unit and call it a major job?!

I would change the Cu if asked but the fusboard looks fine & the intake is fairly modern, also cash is a problem.

I was/am gonna use it for the minor on the assessment as am changing my cu at home as a major, though am waiting for dno to get back to re: the unsealed iron lump in my cupboard above the stairs...

Will prob use the rcd-fu as there now seems to be a fan on the cards & I may have to burry the cable as the old fan is plugged into a 13a socket headbang

Thanks for help & replys

p.s I wish I had sand dunes at the end of my garden all I have at the end of mine is a couple of Polish people with a loud motorbike!

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

I would change the Cu if asked but the fusboard looks fine & the intake is fairly modern, also cash is a problem.I was/am gonna use it for the minor on the assessment as am changing my cu at home as a major, though am waiting for dno to get back to re: the unsealed iron lump in my cupboard above the stairs...

Will prob use the rcd-fu as there now seems to be a fan on the cards & I may have to burry the cable as the old fan is plugged into a 13a socket headbang

Thanks for help & replys

p.s I wish I had sand dunes at the end of my garden all I have at the end of mine is a couple of Polish people with a loud motorbike!

RCD FCU is the way to go with any lighting circuit in this situation..

only stuffs around

 

[ianmacd]

I I may have to burry the cable as the old fan is plugged into a 13a socket headbang

Is that in a special location? If so there seems to be some debate on whether the whole circuit then needs protecting or just the part thats in the special location. Another grey area in the regs.