Outside Lights

[Stef-2908]

Hi. New to this group. Hello to all.

OK so I have installed outside lights on a 1.5mm circuit around my home. 25 up/down lighters in total. Now I was just going to have these on a switch inside the house to turn them all on or off.

I am told that this is not acceptable under 18th. That the lights can run on the same one circuit but that each individual light has to have its own isolator (fused Spur) with a switch for on and off.

I am just wondering if this actually correct.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[AndyPRK]

doesn't sound correct.

 

[EFLImpudence]

No, of course it's not correct.

It would be better to have a double pole switch (which also switches off the Neutral) rather than an 'ordinary' light switch in case a fault develops and causes other things to go off.

 

[JohnD]

I am told

By whom?

 

[Stef-2908]

Doncaster Council. I was sure he must be mistaken but coming from the guy at the top of the electrical dept at DMBC I thought it must be correct but I had to go for other opinions as it didn't sit right with me, an isolator at all 25 lights just makes no sense at all. When I asked he even said yes so that each light can be isolated to be worked on if necessary and I am thinking why? Why wouldn't you just isolate the whole circuit? I think somewhere along the line we must be at cross purposes and he must be thinking of something else or he has misunderstood what I was asking. Don't ask me how. The lights are on 1.5mm cable. Total length 105m. Load = 50 x 4 to 6 W LED bulbs = 300W total. All on one DP switch. Protected by 6A RCBO I honestly thought that was how it should be. Shrug!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Actually, The Wiring Regulations BS7671 do not require "local" isolation for any item of equipment - not even a cooker or a shower.

Isolation of circuits being possible at the consumer unit.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Doncaster Council.

I was once minding my own business at work, when a man entered and announce he was checking up on us for the local council, who own the unit we rent. He claimed to be their chief electrician. He asked whether we had our 'electrics' inspected every 6 months according to Wiring Regulations. I told him I did a running check as I had a C&G certificate, but asked him which regulation he was referring to, and he said it was in there somewhere. As I had just been doing an evening course on wiring regulations, I handed him my copy and said 'OK - show me'. Half an hour later he quietly left, muttering "I'm sure there was something". I'm not belittling safety checks, but was very disappointed at how little knowledge was being demonstrated by the chief electrician.

 

[Stef-2908]

Hi. Does this mean he is right? The outside lights are on their own dedicated circuit? Thanks. Sorry. I can be a bit thick sometimes Pahahaha.

I just read your answer again. Told you I was thick. So somewhere along the line we definitely have our wires crossed (forgive the pun). Thank you.

Actually, The Wiring Regulations BS7671 do not require "local" isolation for any item of equipment - not even a cooker or a shower.

Isolation of circuits being possible at the consumer unit.

 

[SUNRAY]

Sadly the guy at the top often doesn't know such things:
1) In a private hospital the bean counter was trying to find out why patients were not being released quicker after operations, The ward sister advised they had to wait until they had passed water at least.
Bean counter left and a while later returned instructing the ward sister to start administering diuretics.
2) Following a very significant electrical fault, the neutral supply connexion to a new 400A 3ph board burnt out. At least a dozen guys were crowded around the blackened enclosure when the MD of the Mechanical & Electrical consultants commented that it was a flimsy joint for a 1200A circuit...

 

[JohnD]

the guy at the top of the electrical dept at DMBC

can you quote his exact words?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Hi. Does this mean he is right?

No, he is even more wrong than you originally thought.

The outside lights are on their own dedicated circuit?

The regulations do not require any switches for isolation on the circuit - let alone one per light.

When you want to isolate the circuit, it can be done at the consumer unit.


A double pole switch is a good idea though - just not required by any regulation.

 

[Stef-2908]

I told him what I had done for the outside lights. Told him I had run it on its own circuit on a 6A RCBO. His exact words were. "You will need an isolator at each light so each individual light can be isolated independently from one another in case someone needs to work on it". I even double checked with him because I thought WTF? and he affirmed.

can you quote his exact words?

 

[JohnD]

he's wrong

Did he say this in writing?

Why was he discussing your outside lights?

 

[Stef-2908]

We have done all the wiring ourselves. DMBC are coming out to certify it off under part P. First coming to sign off the first fix. So I asked him about the lights as we had already got it wrong by putting wires down the cavity which he says is no longer permitted. He then asked what it entailed so I told him about the light circuit to which his reply followed No not in writing.

he's wrong

Did he say this in writing?

Why was he discussing your outside lights?

 

[RF Lighting]

Running wires is not permitted in an external cavity as they can bridge the inner and outer skins and allow damp to track across to the inner skin.

At least he managed to get something correct.