can i run a light on my 32amp fuse?

[Barry Loink]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me?.... i've taken the electric shower out of the bathroom and have the wire still in the wall, can i connect a bathroom light to it?
Thanks

 

[Tay7]

Why not plug a toaster in too?

 

[JohnW2]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me?.... i've taken the electric shower out of the bathroom and have the wire still in the wall, can i connect a bathroom light to it?

In principle, yes - but if you want to use normal/sensible sized cable for the light, you would have to interpose a fused connection unit ('FCU') - and a 3A fuse in it would be more than adequate for a light. If you haven't already done so, you would presumably need to either pull the shower cable up into the above-ceiling space or cut it up there, since the location of the original end is almost certainly not in a place where you could join the cable or install an accessory (like an FCU).

However, why do you need/want to do this - does your bathroom not already have a lighting circuit?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Barry Loink]

HI John, thank you for the reply.. yes I've pulled the cable up into the loft and secured it in a brown 32 amp junction box. I was thinking of running a lighting wire from the terminal block to a fused switch then to the light above the mirror, would that work?
Cheers
Tim

 

[Barry Loink]

Hi Tay7... yeah good idea, then i could throw it in the bath when the wife is in no... not really

 

[endecotp]

Why can't you connect it to the lighting circuit?

 

[Barry Loink]

Hi endecotp. I could connect it to the lighting circuit but im not that confident/clever/... the shower cable is loitering with intent in the loft and the FCU will go in the box where the shower pull swithc was. Its seems a whole lot easier/safer to me than getting involved in the lighting circuit......

 

[JohnW2]

HI John, thank you for the reply.. yes I've pulled the cable up into the loft and secured it in a brown 32 amp junction box. I was thinking of running a lighting wire from the terminal block to a fused switch then to the light above the mirror, would that work?

It would certainly work, but if you have access to the loft space, can't you pick up a feed from the lighting circuit (which would not need an FCU)? Bear in mind that someone might actually want to use the shower circuit for a shower again at some point in the future!

There might be issues regarding the location of an FCU in the bathroom - how far would it be from a bath/shower? The light also would have to be one which was suitable for the environment in which you intend to use it.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Barry Loink]

Hi John, I really dont want to mess around with the lighting circuit... i'm not that confident!! I have the light for the mirror, its suitable for bathroom use, got it from B&Q in their bathroom lighting section. the FCU will be in a zone 3 area, well away from the shower/bath/sink and fixed to the ceiling. What d'ya recon?
Thank you for your help by the way

 

[EFLImpudence]

John is too polite.

It's a daft idea and completely unnecessary.
Connect it to the light circuit.

If you don't feel confident doing that then you should feel no more confident doing what you propose.

 

[Barry Loink]

Hi EFLImupdence, thanks for your reply. Tell me then how to wire the over mirror light into the existing lighting circiut and i'll give it a go.......

 

[JohnW2]

...the FCU will be in a zone 3 area, well away from the shower/bath/sink and fixed to the ceiling.

Zone 3 disappeared a good few years ago, but if it's not in zones 1 or 2, that would be compliant with regs. However ...

What d'ya recon?

I don't know about my 'being too polite', but it must be apparent from what I've been saying/asking that I've very inclined to agree with what EFLI has said.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Echo the husky]

I can hear BAS screaming at his computer from here!

 

[Barry Loink]

Hi John, yes I'm getting the message now so I need to find out how to wire a new light into the existing circuit and what do I do with the 32amp fuse in the consumer unit? (currently in the 'off' position)
Many Thanks
Tim

 

[JohnW2]

Hi John, yes I'm getting the message now so I need to find out how to wire a new light into the existing circuit and what do I do with the 32amp fuse in the consumer unit? (currently in the 'off' position)

That's probably the best you can do - as well, of course, as making sure that the other end of the cable is 'safe' in a junction box or whatever. The best answer would be to have the cable disconnected from your consumer unit - but that is not something that you would want to do yourself. The next time you need to get an electrician in for something else, you could ask him/her to do that (and do something appropriate with the end of the cable).

Kind Regards, John