Can this wire be used for a new light?

veedee · 10 Mar 2020

A cupboard in my bedroom used to house a water tank

Following removal of the tank, I would like to use the empty space as a wardrobe.

Currently, the cupboard space has a redundant switch with a fuse.

After removing the switch, the wire used is 1mm two core and earth.

I also know that the switch is on a separate curcuit on my consumer unit and in terms of overcurrent protective devices the amp rating is 6

What I wanted to know is whether i could

1. Replace this fused switch with a regular switch
2. Install a downlight in this area?

blup · 10 Mar 2020

What capacity is the fuse in the fcu?

Blup

Taylortwocities · 10 Mar 2020

blup said:
What capacity is the fuse in the fcu?

Blup

Not really a concern. The CPD is 6A and no further fusing is needed as The circuit is being used for lighting.
@veedee the answers to both of your questions 1 and 2 is yes!

muffking · 11 Mar 2020

^^^What he said^^^.
Look at all your other breakers for lighting. Chances are they're 6A too.

veedee · 11 Mar 2020

To install the downlight can i

1. Remove the cable that goes into the existing switch.

2. Extend this cable up to the light fitting

3. Connecting the red wire to COM and black to neutral

4. Then run a fresh piece of 1mm cable from the light fitting back to the switch?

Would this be okay? Could i simplyfy this in any way?

Taylortwocities · 11 Mar 2020

COM is usually found on a switch.
What you are describing is looping this in at the light.
I would swop the existing switch for a light switch, and run a cable from there to the light. Then the loop in is at the switch. Easier for downlights - these do not have support for loopp in wiring, you would need to add a jb at the light point, you don't need to do this if you loop at the switch.

veedee · 11 Mar 2020

Taylortwocities said:
COM is usually found on a switch.
What you are describing is looping this in at the light.
I would swop the existing switch for a light switch, and run a cable from there to the light. Then the loop in is at the switch. Easier for downlights - these do not have support for loopp in wiring, you would need to add a jb at the light point, you don't need to do this if you loop at the switch.

Just want to check i have this right before wiring

The wire which goes into the switch is the old red/black colours

So, i plan to connect

Red = com
Black to L1

Then i will use a fresh piece of wire going from the switch to the downlight connecting aa follows

At the switch

Brown = com
Blue = L1

Then at the downlight

Neutral = blue
Live = brown

Does this sound correct? Or will things go belly up?

Taylortwocities · 11 Mar 2020

If you do that, when you operate the switch, the fuse will blow and you will probably kill the switch.

Red to COM
New cable brown to L1

Put the black and new cable blue wires together in a piece of insulated terminal block

You'll then have two earth wires. These need to be sleeved (yellow and green) and also terminated together in a separate piece of insulated terminal block

at the downlight

Neutral = blue
Live = brown
Earth to earth terminal if the downlight has one.

veedee · 12 Mar 2020

It worked! We have light!

Thanks @Taylortwocities

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Can this wire be used for a new light?

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