Older Wylex fuses

[TOMPARKER44]

Good evening all,

I am installing a new heated towel rail in my new bathroom and have one spare MCB on my CU. The spare MCB is 15A and was used for an immersion heater but I changed to a combi boiler last year.

My project leads to 2 questions:

1) What Amp rating should the MCB be (I will obvisouly be installing a RCD next to the main board for the sole use of bathroom electrics)?

2) Where can I buy the MCB's from as they are the older style push buttons (I included a picture as I have read people like looking at them)

I am undecided if I will be using 230v down lighters in the bathroom or 12v but apart from that there will only be the towel rad in the bathroom.

Many thanks for you time

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

1) What Amp rating should the MCB be (I will obvisouly be installing a RCD next to the main board for the sole use of bathroom electrics)?

What rating is the towel rail?
RCD for sole use of bathroom electrics, what electrics and how are going to do this and what tests do you intend to do?

2) Where can I buy the MCB's from as they are the older style push buttons (I included a picture as I have read people like looking at them)

You said you had a spare!

 

[kai]

The OP probably meant where he could get the modern lever type MCB breakers, to replace his old-style press button type MCB breakers.

 

[TOMPARKER44]

Hi - the existing MCB is rated at 15A. Exact towel rad is undecided as yet but it will be 250W.

If the switch style MCB's fit my CU then great.

With regards testing I will be doing the work under a building regs notification and paying to have it tested and signed off.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

If the rating of the towel rail is 250w, you will only need 2A fuse.
If I was attempting to do what you are considering doing, Using the the existing 15A fuse in the board. I would install an in-line RCD fused spur and down rate the fuse size of it.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/volex-13a-rcd-fcu/83049

 

[TOMPARKER44]

sounds like a good idea but would have to install it out of reach of the kids!

 

[timtheenchanter]

whats wrong with the push button ones? most wholesalers (and even screwfix) sell them, but they are about £10 a pop

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

whats wrong with the push button ones? most wholesalers (and even screwfix) sell them, but they are about £10 a pop

What about the requirement of RCD protection for the bathroom?

 

[riveralt]

View media item 45872If the old immersion heater tank was in an airing cupboard and the cable/switch to that cupboard is still in place you could fit the inline 3/5Amp RCD/FCU there and run the new cable through the boards direct to the bathroom towel rail - or fit another fcu by the rail.
You could also use the same RCD/FCU to run cable to your new bathroom lights.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

sounds like a good idea but would have to install it out of reach of the kids!

What if you install it near the fuse board, so cable from 15A to RCD spur then cable from that to towel rail.
Also follow the manufacturers instruction when fitting the rail and take a look at Wiki for important additional information.
http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:part_p

 

[EFLImpudence]

If you are ripping up the bathroom to install downlights you could run the towel rail off the lighting circuit (capacity allowing) as you will have to protect that with an RCD anyway.

 

[TOMPARKER44]

Good ideas and got me thinking so thanks - I'll install the 'Volex 13A RCD FCU' in the CU cupboard on a surface mounted box.

The new bathroom is in a bedroom that I am splitting in half and turning the old bathrrom into a bedroom so new electrics for the new bathroom.

I will feed the mains down lighters off the RCD as I am installing a shower fan which will aslo need to feed off the RCD. I'll cable from the RCD to the loft into a junction box and feed the lights, fan light and radiator from there using the junction box system. I presume 1.5mm2 cable will be ok for all of this work as the current rating is below 15A and the W is definitely under 3600W?

So:

> Shower fan & light - 20W (F) & 60W (L)
> Elec radiator - 250W
> 4 x 50W lights - 200W

Total W = 530W
Fuse rating req. @ RCD = 3A
MCB fuse rating = 15A (using the existing MCB in place)

If it's best to replace the 15A MCB with a 5A then let me know - thanks

 

[RF Lighting]

Feeding the FCU from your existing 15a circuit breaker will be fine.

 

[Taylortwocities]

It is important to remember that any new electrical works msut comply with the current regulations. Usually this means an RCD/RCDs will be required for new circuits or circuits that are being altered.

If I read your posts correcly this means that you'll need RCD protection for:
The towel rail
Bathroom lighting
Circuits that wil be added to as a result of your bathroom/bedroom re-arrangements.

IMO, together with the age/condition of your existing board, that all adds up to a new consumer unit.

 

[ebee]

Did you say "Volex"

Oh Dear!