light breakers
- Thread starter pendeeno1
- Start date
Yes you can though you would probably be in breach of the current regulations.
to free up space for a breaker for a under sink heater which has to be on a 30 amp
It is highly likely that you will need to accompany the 30 Amp breaker with an RCD - see manufacturers instructions for the under sink heater they now all say that the RCD Must be fitted. Certainly redring and heatsave under sink heaters do - I am fitting two of these next week to holiday cabins.
In which case, assuming, your current board doesn't have any RCD protection, you will need a small RCD protected consumer unit solely for the use of the heater together with 6mm2 and 32Amp MCB or 40Amp MCB depending on the size of the heater 7.5 (32Amp) 8.5/9.5 (40Amp).
This will allow you to leave the lighting circuits alone.
This work is notifiable in England and Wales.
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What "riveralt" has said is correct I will expand a little. The regulations state up to 16A on lighting but also it stated must comply with manufacturers recommendations and most ceiling roses are rated at 5 amp so this often results in real terms that a 5/6A MCB/RCBO/Fuse is required.
There are ways around it for example fused connection units but in the main 5A is enough today for all lights as use of low power bulbs has dropped the lighting load.
The other problem is safety and should a MCB/RCBO/Fuse open one much consider how one would fair. A risk assessment are there table lamps etc which could be easy switched on if the MCB/RCBO/Fuse should open.
Sinks are normally found in bathrooms and kitchens and in both cases Part P means in the main to DIY is very expensive compared with using a scheme member electrician. For some reason a utility room does not have same rules. However there are so many options likely it would still be better not to DIY.
There are ways around it for example fused connection units but in the main 5A is enough today for all lights as use of low power bulbs has dropped the lighting load.
The other problem is safety and should a MCB/RCBO/Fuse open one much consider how one would fair. A risk assessment are there table lamps etc which could be easy switched on if the MCB/RCBO/Fuse should open.
Sinks are normally found in bathrooms and kitchens and in both cases Part P means in the main to DIY is very expensive compared with using a scheme member electrician. For some reason a utility room does not have same rules. However there are so many options likely it would still be better not to DIY.
Or use an RCBO ?
thanks for the replies have post a pix of the consumer board lighting breakers up and down are second an third from the left i think this will give you some idea what iv got p.s was told by electrition it would cost £110 to put breaker in and isolator switch to the under sink heater that is only 18 foot away from the sink does this seem a far price
Am I seeing that rights as a combined RCD/Main Switch - that's 4 modules wide ?
Possibly scope for swapping that out for something a bit more modern (2 modules wide) and making room for a couple of extra breakers ? On the other hand, by the time you've done that, got a longer live busbar, etc - you'd be a long way towards a complete CU swap.
Possibly scope for swapping that out for something a bit more modern (2 modules wide) and making room for a couple of extra breakers ? On the other hand, by the time you've done that, got a longer live busbar, etc - you'd be a long way towards a complete CU swap.
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