1.0mm or 1.5mm lighting cable

[dunny]

Out of interest I was wondering whether someone could explain wehen you would use 1.5mm over 1.0mm cable for a lighting circuit?

 

[Adam_151]

volt drop (if the circuit is long)
hefty derating factors involved (quite unlikely), big lighting circuit
fed from a bigger breaker than 6A (unlikely to be the case in a house)

Or a combination of a few of them

 

[dunny]

Thanks. Is normal practice to go with 1.0mm then unless it can be predicted that the above may apply?

 

[pdcelec]

The problem that I find with 1.0mm2 is that it breaks easily when connected and can cause problems in the future when trying to locate the broken wire. Otherwise I would agree with other reply

 

[Lectrician]

Conduit wiring is always stranded (these days). 1mm stranded would be too easily fractured IMO.

Conduit wiring is usually for more industrial and commercial applications, and as such, 1.5mm may be required.

If you are anything like me, you just buy a load of drums of 2.5 and use that for small socket circuits and lights as well!

 

[dunny]

The electrician that did my rewire (ex Manweb allegedly) used 1.0mm for the lights. They did a good job and did it very quickly and I have had no trouble with tripping etc (other than some debris in the CU) so just wondered why they used 1.0mm but another spark said he would have used 1.5mm. The only place there is any 1.5mm is the supply to my outside light from a JB at the sparks suggestion.

 

[Lectrician]

I read the post as if it was all conduit wired

I see it wasn't!! 1mm is the norm, and usually more than acceptable in a domestic or even light commercial environment. 1.5mm is used more for larger, longer circuits, and more onnourouse loads (did I just invent a word?), such as flourescent and discharge lighting on higher rated breakers.

The coucil around here insist on 1.5 for lighting ccts in council houses, and yet are also happy with 1.5mm for 16amp storage rad ccts

 

[dunny]

prepare your version of 'onerous' much better!!

 

[Lectrician]

Prepare or Prefer

 

[dunny]

Touche!! (not toupe)

 

[Big_Spark]

I haven't used 1.0mm^2 cable for years, except as singles in control panel wiring. If I do any lights I always use 1.5mm^2 as the cost difference is negligable and the discount due to volume temds to make it cheaper.

Wiring with 1.0mm^2 T&E would be like wiring with bootlaces!!

 

[HDRW]

Wiring with 1.0mm^2 T&E would be like wiring with bootlaces!!

Do you prefer a single or double bow when making connections?

Cheers,

Howard