1 OR 1.5mm twin & earth cable for bathroom LED downlighters... discuss
- Thread starter rob4beer
- Start date
Sponsored Links
How long a discussion do you want?
What areas do you want it to cover?
You can use either. You may have reasons unrelated to the purely electrical ones to prefer one size over the other.
What areas do you want it to cover?
You can use either. You may have reasons unrelated to the purely electrical ones to prefer one size over the other.
1.5mm² is not harder to use.
If a DIYer wants to keep some cable "in stock" it may be less of a waste of resources to have only 1.5mm² and not both.
Sponsored Links
- Joined
- 27 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 23,666
- Reaction score
- 2,666
- Location
- Llanfair Caereinion, Nr Welshpool
- Country
It depends on what you have in stock, and how long is the total run, in general it is easier to get 1mm² wires into ceiling roses than 1.5mm² and since the ceiling rose is also a junction box and rated at 6 amp in the main lighting circuits are only 6 amp so really no need for 1.5mm² and even with 1.5mm² line and neutral the earth is still 1mm² so very little gain with earth loop impedance, only gain is volt drop so around 39 meters with 1mm² and 44 meters with 1.5mm² so not that much in it.
Of course it is. It is thicker and stiffer.
Unlikely to have 1.5mm in stock as for general DIY it is not used.
Agreed. However, as eric has said, it can be more difficult to get 1.5mm² conductors into the diddy terminals of some light fittings/accessories, particularly if/when there is a need for more than one conductor in a terminal.
I would think that the main question about using 1.5mm² on lighting circuits (unless they are very long) is "Why?", and the only valid answer I can really think of has already been mentioned - if a DIYer does not want to have to 'stock' both 1.0mm² and 1.5mm². By implication, that means that I cannot really think of no reason why practising electricians should need to use it (unless circuit is very long), since it would be no particular hardship to them in 'stocking' both sizes.
Kind Regards, John
So have I, but it's not that easy to break them, provided one has a modicum of 'skill' in knowing how tightly to tighten terminal screws.
Compared with many of the conductors very widely used (including use with screw terminals) in electronic equipment, 1mm² is massive, and far less 'fragile'.
Kind Regards, John
True, one could easily 'manage' without 1.5mm² - but it is 'overkill' for immersion circuits, fused spurs etc. (and, as per this thread, even for unfused spurs supplying one single socket).
Ironically, if I recall correctly, Risteard has expressed the view that it's only a matter of time before 1.0mm² cable will be 'banned'!
Kind Regards, John
Not for all installation methods - 1mm² is inadequate for circuits like that in more instances than 1.5mm².
But overall, if the OP would rather have/stock/use 1.5mm² instead of 1mm², I really cannot see why some people should get so agitated about it.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
