Additional Lighting Circuit for Security Lighting and Loft

[shelby3]

Hi,

Due to some recent bad weather, we lost the upstairs lights for 3 days (it took me that long to get my electrician to take a look).

Anyway, the fault was due to an outside light at the top of the house having water in it. There was a ground fault. The previous occupiers had the security lights installed into the lighting circuit from the upstairs lights.

Both security lights were disconnected (now not used) and upstairs lighting has been fine. Anyway, I have 2 idea's to prevent this happening in the future:

1. Run the security lights from a fused switch spur

or

2. Have a seperate circuit wired into the CU to provide external and loft lighting. I don't have loft lighting at the moment, but I thought this maybe a good idea.

Either way I'm isolating the external and loft lights from upstairs. So a fault in the future won't render us in the dark for days. I'm keen on Step 2 though I know it's probably more costly, but if a fault developed I would be able to see the tripped MCB straight off.

Of course, I'm not planning to do the work myself, but would like to have a firm idea of what I want before I get a local spark to do the work, and if I go with idea 2, then Part P as it's a new circuit.

What would you advise I do ?

 

[Chri5]

Wire the lofts in to the existing light circuit, since the 1st floor lights will feed via the loft floor.

With the external lights take a f/spur from the light circuit and wire away. If the external lamp does go faulty (which it shouldn't if IP rated and installed correctly with glanding) then the fuse spur should pop. I'd suggest a 1A fuse.

 

[luminaire]

Speak to your local electrician and ask him.
If you're not satisfied get a couple more quotes.