Hello All,
I'm trying to determine a sensible consumer unit config for my victorian property, the old wiring was a real dogs dinner and has been completely removed for peace of mind. Being a fairly competent type I intend to do most of the rewiring myself, get my electricity supplier to move the meter from the kitchen to a cabinet outside and have the installation inspected for Part P compliance by the local Building Control's agent.
Having read literally hundreds of posts in various forums my first stab at a sensible config for the new (yet to be purchased) consumer unit is:
On the non RCD side:
Bell xfmr
40A MCB for cooker
16A MCB for immersion heater
16A MCB for 2.5mm radial circuit to shed #1 (2.5mm SWA external/underground, RCD socket in shed)
16A MCB for 2.5mm radial circuit to shed #2 (2.5mm SWA external/underground, RCD socket in shed)
RCD #1
32A MCB for downstairs sockets
32A MCB for kitchen sockets
6A MCB for upstairs lights
RCD #2
32A MCB for upstairs sockets
32A MCB for utility room sockets (with fused switched spur for gas boiler)
6A MCB for downstairs lights (inc internal porch light)
Does this sound sensible?
I'd also like to provide for a socket on the outside rear wall and outside security lights (not of the 500W halogen variety). Should I provide a third RCD with a 16A MCB for the socket and an 6A MCB for the security lights or would it be perfectly OK to put one on RCD #1 and one on RCD #2?
With regard to the downstairs ring, the front two rooms have suspended timber floors, the back room has a solid floor and due to high ceilings the cable length would exceed 50m if I were to drop down from the ceiling void to a socket and back up again on each wall. I know horizontal runs are permitted but I'm not keen on this approach so I'm thinking about taking spurs from junction boxes in the ceiling void for each of the four sockets, thereby staying within the 50m limit, is this reasonable or daft? any other solutions?
Finally, I'm considering going for one of the larger (plastic) MK CU's which seem be amongst the favorites of most sparks whose posts I've seen.
Any constructive comments would be most welcome. Thanks.
I'm trying to determine a sensible consumer unit config for my victorian property, the old wiring was a real dogs dinner and has been completely removed for peace of mind. Being a fairly competent type I intend to do most of the rewiring myself, get my electricity supplier to move the meter from the kitchen to a cabinet outside and have the installation inspected for Part P compliance by the local Building Control's agent.
Having read literally hundreds of posts in various forums my first stab at a sensible config for the new (yet to be purchased) consumer unit is:
On the non RCD side:
Bell xfmr
40A MCB for cooker
16A MCB for immersion heater
16A MCB for 2.5mm radial circuit to shed #1 (2.5mm SWA external/underground, RCD socket in shed)
16A MCB for 2.5mm radial circuit to shed #2 (2.5mm SWA external/underground, RCD socket in shed)
RCD #1
32A MCB for downstairs sockets
32A MCB for kitchen sockets
6A MCB for upstairs lights
RCD #2
32A MCB for upstairs sockets
32A MCB for utility room sockets (with fused switched spur for gas boiler)
6A MCB for downstairs lights (inc internal porch light)
Does this sound sensible?
I'd also like to provide for a socket on the outside rear wall and outside security lights (not of the 500W halogen variety). Should I provide a third RCD with a 16A MCB for the socket and an 6A MCB for the security lights or would it be perfectly OK to put one on RCD #1 and one on RCD #2?
With regard to the downstairs ring, the front two rooms have suspended timber floors, the back room has a solid floor and due to high ceilings the cable length would exceed 50m if I were to drop down from the ceiling void to a socket and back up again on each wall. I know horizontal runs are permitted but I'm not keen on this approach so I'm thinking about taking spurs from junction boxes in the ceiling void for each of the four sockets, thereby staying within the 50m limit, is this reasonable or daft? any other solutions?
Finally, I'm considering going for one of the larger (plastic) MK CU's which seem be amongst the favorites of most sparks whose posts I've seen.
Any constructive comments would be most welcome. Thanks.