Advice - First Fix Ring main or Radial?

[Harry Bloomfield]

Not sure if its fridge freezer will need its own curcuit tbh.
The kitchen is the longest run as well as it's the opposite end of the CU in the extension.
I will be leaving 900mm gap (think that's enough?) at end of units for tenant to supply their own.

Oh, it not for your own personal use!

A faulty appliance can easily trip a kitchen circuit RCBO, and for the inexperienced, take hours/days to get back on - which was why I suggested, and installed a separate fridge/freezer circuit.

What do u do the the x2 smoke alarms and heat alarm guys?
Own feed or tap off lighting??

I like a separate circuit, with the an alarm which bleeps, to warn of a loss of power. John likes alarms on lighting circuits, so if the lighting circuit fails, you are more likely to notice the loss.

 

[bilabonic]

It's one of my rentals mate.
I'm gutting the place as it's not been done for years.
Needs EiCR etc. plus in Wales it's also mandatory to have interlinked mains battery back up smoke alarms upstairs and downstairs.

I always fit AICO.

 

[JohnW2]

I like a separate circuit, with the an alarm which bleeps, to warn of a loss of power.

Fair enough but, as I've pointed out to you, Aico alarms (which are very widely used, and by many regarded as 'the best') appear not to bleep on power loss, but only when that power loss has resulted in the backup battery voltage falling to a worrying level (which can take several months). Prior to that, a tiny LED (which I suspect few would even notice) is the only indication of power loss.

John likes alarms on lighting circuits, so if the lighting circuit fails, you are more likely to notice the loss.

I do.

 

[JohnW2]

My garage/workshop situation, equates to your kitchen situation.

Have I mentioned "my kitchen situation"?

I have a row of sockets along the wall, above the benches, then a second row, along the front face of the benches. In addition I have a number of outlets conveniently scattered around the space. Some need to remain powered 24/7, such as the charger, and the door control. Others can be simply switched off as I exit, so nothing is left on.

Fair enough - but I wonder why you feel the need to 'disable' some of them (the ones that don't need to be on 24/7) when you exit the workshop?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Fair enough - but I wonder why you feel the need to 'disable' some of them (the ones that don't need to be on 24/7) when you exit the workshop?

A quick means, to ensure nowt is left on.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

A quick means, to ensure nowt is left on.

I have around ten MCB's, with the few which need to remain on, at the far end from the door via which - I enter and leave, a bit of plastic shoved in between those, and all the rest, including lighting which need to be turned off when I exit the place. The bit of plastic, enable me by feel, to know which should be turned off. It just avoids me worrying about whether I turned things off, when I was last in there.

 

[bilabonic]

Mmm.
Did not think about that regarding AICO alarms.
Pretty stupid not to have some done go of induction when power is lost.

Are the lithium batteries in the 3000 series 10 year though?
Which is the lifespan of the alarm as well.

 

[JohnW2]

..... It just avoids me worrying about whether I turned things off, when I was last in there.

Fair enough. I wonder what sort of things you feel need to be 'turned off' when you are not there?

There are often plenty of tools etc. 'plugged in' (but 'off') in my workshop when I'm not there, and that doesn't concern me.

 

[JohnW2]

Mmm. Did not think about that regarding AICO alarms. Pretty stupid not to have some done go of induction when power is lost.

As I said, there is an indication of power loss if one notices the tiny LED on the ceiling and whether or not it is flashing (briedly and occasionally).

Are the lithium batteries in the 3000 series 10 year though? Which is the lifespan of the alarm as well.

In the mains-powered 3000 series alarms, the back-up batteries are re-chargeable lithium-ion ones, which will power the alarm for 6 months or so before needing re-charging (when mains is restored) if there is no mains power. However, that's obviously far less than the 10-year life of the alarm itself.