Lighting from ring main

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

Hi..could someone please tell me if it is acceptable to spur off a ring main to a light in 2.5 T&E so that an FCU is not needed..Someone asked me this and i could not find a reg that conflicted? Thanks guys

breezer · 2 Dec 2006

fcu is required

plugwash · 2 Dec 2006

i belive it is not considered safe by the regs to put BC or ES lampholders on a protective device above 16A or to put SES or SBC lampholders on a protective above 6A but i'm not positive.

for other types of light its down to the manufacturers instructions.

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

thanks but where or what reg states this ..surlely the ring main fuse is to protect the cable and if in 2.5 then the cable is protected.

breezer · 2 Dec 2006

yes the cable is, but the light isnt

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

I guess not unless the light is fused internally ..just trying to avoid having another point on an already crowded wall. Thanks for the opinions guys (still didnt get a reg though!!)

plugwash · 2 Dec 2006

you can use the FCU as the swtich btw

you can also use something like grid plus to put one fuse and a group of switches on a single plate.

JohnD · 2 Dec 2006

If you're fitting an FCU, put a 5A fuse in it. Then your lighting spur is properly fused. And it only needs to be 1.5mm (or 1mm if you're mean).

If it was me I would put a durable label on the FCU "Lighting circuit: 5A Fuse" as someone will one day want to put a brown one in there.

BTW I would have sworn that ordinary light switches and lampholders are manufactured to carry 10A max, and the small SES or SBC are made for 5A max. So they would not be "suitable" (catch-all) for a 13A or higher circuit.

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

as i stated i was looking for a reg that does not allow lighting on a 2.5 without an FCU, assuming the light is rated or internally fused accordingly then i can find no problem with this?
I am by the way an approved spark and am aware of the function of spurs

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

although my spelling is crap

jj4091 · 2 Dec 2006

May not be a reg to prevent this but would you call it "good practice"?

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

I would not call it bad practice if it satisfied the regs.

WSDLTD · 2 Dec 2006

its called isolation and seperation of circuits and although you might not find a specific reg that says this if you require a certificate in the near future for insurance or selling the house theres no way that it will get signed off.

r1rider · 2 Dec 2006

I have 2391 inspection and testing and see no relevance in your comment..sorry but i disagree..you do not need seperation of these circuits and neither do you need isolation other than that afforded by the breaker at the cu.

breezer · 2 Dec 2006

so you would quite happily wire a 60w light into a ring main with no fcu?

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Lighting from ring main

breezer

breezer

WSDLTD

breezer

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