Too many circuits?

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That is now a 3 position switch for the outside lights. Always on, always off and automatic via pir.
 
OOI If you're rewiring are you only considering final finals? Would radials be a consideration?
 
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OOI If you're rewiring are you only considering final finals? Would radials be a consideration?
[I presume that you mean 'ring finals' (not 'final finals' :) ) ]

Undoubtedly. There is very little reason these days for favouring ring finals, so I think that the alternative of radials is always 'worth consideration'.

I'm personally no great fan of (2.5mm²) 20A radial sockets circuits, since 20A is theoretically not enough for more than just one 'fully loaded' double socket - but (4mm²) 32A radial sockets circuits seem fine.

Kind Regards, John
 
[I presume that you mean 'ring finals' (not 'final finals' :) ) ]

Undoubtedly. There is very little reason these days for favouring ring finals, so I think that the alternative of radials is always 'worth consideration'.

I'm personally no great fan of (2.5mm²) 20A radial sockets circuits, since 20A is theoretically not enough for more than just one 'fully loaded' double socket - but (4mm²) 32A radial sockets circuits seem fine.

Kind Regards, John

Oops!
 
When it came to fitting a new consumer unit in this house, it was clear 2 RCD's would not do.

If an RCD trips and you can't find the fault in a hurry you will need to continue living in the house without it, and health and safety means you don't want extension leads running up/down stairs, so a side to side split is far better than an up down split, so in an emergency keeping freezers running does not mean extension leads on the stairs, also to ensure lights do not fail as same time as an accident which causes the RCD to trip, lights and sockets in every room should be from a different RCD. The logistics of arranging a house so 2 RCD's can cover whole house, and the (iii) take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit such as a lighting circuit and (iv) reduce the possibility of unwanted tripping of RCDs due to excessive protective conductor currents produced by equipment in normal operation is complied with, will in the main mean at least some RCBO's will be required.

Using all RCBO's means the consumer unit is 4 modules shorter, if the property is TT then the cost of double pole switching RCBO's can be high, the cheaper makes tend only to do single pole versions and often type AC, although I used a cheap make, fusebox, and although the type AC are cheaper, they still do type A.

But any rewire needs to be designed, you don't simply wire it that way as always been wired that way, and some one has to sign to say they have designed it, that may be a separate signature to installed and yet another for inspection and testing, however three signatures normally means using the LABC inspector, not a scheme member electrician, and in Wales that costs £100 plus vat, plus any other charges, and they want to inspect your test equipment so add another £750 for calibrated test gear, so really looking at around £1000 for the privilege to DIY, even as a time served electrician with all the bits of paper I needed I decided it was not worth the hassle, the big problem is waiting for the LABC to inspect before you can power up a circuit, so one has to move out of the house, as they can take up to two weeks to arrive on site and give the go ahead to continue.

Also they can make what seems daft requests, I did use the LABC for a wet room, it had opening windows, so did not need an extraction fan, but the LABC inspector insisted one was fitted, be it smoke alarms, or extractor fans, they are god, and if they say fit it, you must fit it.

I have lived in a house with just two RCD's, never again, RCBO's every time now.
 
Fuse box are good value.
£10 rcbo.
The question with these upstart importers/distributors (i'm fairly convinced they aren't real manufacturers) is are they doing their due diligance to ensure their products are actually compliant and are they going to stick around and support their customers if/when bad product slips through.
 
Why so many cables - are two or more separate lights perhaps fed directly from that switch?

Kind Regards, John

Yes there’s two PIRs and two lights each of which is much easier to connect with a single cable present. It also makes fault finding more straight forward as each piece of equipment can be tested from one central location.
 

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