adding a Consumer Unit

ashley124 · 5 Oct 2006

i am thinking of wiring my loft, with a lighting circit (6a) and a socket circit (32a) ive got a spare fuse slot on my main consumer unit witch is 45a could i wire a cu in my loft? what type of cable you suggest i use?

Many thanks

sm1thson · 5 Oct 2006

in my loft i have access to the ceiling lights below so will be tapping off them (theres only 4 lights upstairs anyway), so just needs the sockets so i will be extending the ring from the level below. (again my upstairs has its own ring and i dont run much off it and wont be running much in the loft).

Im not a spark but i wouldnt of thought the loft needs its own CU unless you have a lot of high power stuff up there or currently have a lot of high power stuff on your present rings?

ashley124 · 5 Oct 2006

i will be using 2kw heaters up the loft to keep it warm

ashley124 · 5 Oct 2006

yes i have a lot of high power appliances on my rings already

sm1thson · 5 Oct 2006

hmm, as i said Im not a spark so Im not going to comment on how much power is too much (and a spark would probably need to add up what else you are running +cable lengths +everything else).

but even if you are heavily loading your ring, why not just add a new ring for the loft from the spare breaker and tap into the upstairs lights for lightage (as the cables are allready in the loft i presume)?

I cant see the need for a CU in the loft, but your house is probably a lot bigger than mine and a spark (or someone more experienced) will probablycome along and put us both right, lol.

plugwash · 5 Oct 2006

for a 45A submain to a second CU you would need 10mm cable (maybe more if the run is excessively long but unlikely).

note as new circuits this work is notifiable under part P.

i tend to agree that the plan is overkill

industryspark · 5 Oct 2006

Nothing new to add but i believe smithson and plugwash are right. there's no need for a new CU at all.

the light should be able to be taken from the existing circuit and you may even be able to extend your ring circuit aswell, at worst i would think a new ring for the loft.....or a radial.

as plug says also... notifiable.

ashley124 · 8 Oct 2006

what cable would you suggest i use on a 32a breaker? i would say the cable length is about 10 metres long.

Many thanks

securespark · 9 Oct 2006

I'm going to post another Victor Meldrew reply.

Ashley - if you don't know the answers to these simple problems, I suggest you go no further until you have read up on electricity and wiring first.

I mean, come on...you want a 32A radial on 10m. First, you should know which size cable not to use.

Second, the OSG tells you what size cable to use on a 32A radial.

Do some research..

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adding a Consumer Unit

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