Basement Electricty

[craigf]

I hope that someone is able to help me regarding my basement electrics. You may or may not have seen my topic in the projects section of this great site, but here goes anyway. I would like to run power from my garage main circuit board down to my new basement. then from this is wish to power all my new lights as well as all my new sockets. I would like someone to either come and do this for me or tell me how to do it on here. I'm ok with the basics but not sure how or where to draw the power for my new consumer unit in the basement. All or any help from you guys would be great. If your a sparky around the Nottingham area and you dont mind working with me on a Saturday then please do speak up.

 

[plugwash]

i take it this garage is attached to your house and the CU in the garage is the main CU

i really can't see why you need a CU down there
just run a 32A ring and a 6A lighting cuircuit from spare ways in the main CU

 

[craigf]

Plugwash thanks for the late evening reply, my garage is attached to the house and yes it is the main CU for the house, I was hoping to run 1 cable from the house down to the basement as getting anymore down would be even harder for me.

 

[ryanj]

How about a 32amp radial in 4mm2 tc+e, with a fused connection unit for the lighting?

 

[plugwash]

yeah that sounds fine to me

wire in the 4mm twin and earth from a 32A breaker in the CU to the sockets and the supply side for the a switched FCU (for the light)

then wire from the load side of the FCU to the light with 1.0mm or 1.5mm twin and earth and fit a 3A fuse

 

[Big_Spark]

How difficult can it be to install two circuits to the basement!!

4.0mm Radial for the sockets would be fine, especially if protected by a 32A 30mA RCBO, but if the 4.0mm can be run, then there is a damn good chance that a 1.5mm will fit in order to power the lights.

Running lights from a radial via a fused spur should only be done as an act of desperation when all other alternatives have been dismissed for very practical reasons. It should never be done just for the convenience of it.

 

[craigf]

Thanks for the replies, it seems then I know less than the basics for electrics. Is anything in this life simple. I have a few spare conections from a unit that used to power storage heaters through the house, can these be used for what I want to do. Getting cables in to the basement is very difficult indeed thats why I only wanted to run the one to another CU. I think I may have to wait for the help of an electrician.

 

[ZenStalinist]

I think 4.0mm wire is good for your purposes, as you only want to put one cable through to the basement. Wire it up to the spare connexion in your CU, and use a 32 amp MCB. Don't use a rewirable fuse for 4mm radials. Connect the terminals on the FCU marked 'Supply' onto the radial as you would a socket, then connect the lights to the part marked 'load'.

Here is a picture of three radial circuits:

If you have an MCB with a value different from 32 amp, or if you have a rewirable fuse, replace it with a 32 amp MCB or a 30 amp cartridge fuse.

If your room is smaller than 20 square metres, you can use regular 2.5 mm socket wire for a radial so long as you fit a 20 amp fuse or MCB in your consumer unit.

 

[craigf]

Thanks for the reply ZenStalinist I have tried all day today but I'm unable to get any wire through to the basement. Its hard to explain. I think I may end up going through the garage wall and around the outside. Unless I can find a sparky who wont try to rip me off like the last one did. Any takers I live in Nottingham.

 

[plugwash]

if you run outside you should not use normal twin and earth cable

you should really use swa micc or split concentric for such a run

 

[Big_Spark]

if you run outside you should not use normal twin and earth cable

split concentric for such a run

Correct Plug..but not the concentric. You need specialist knowledge to run these in or it could be dangerous, so I would not recommend DIYers play with them.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Thanks for the reply ZenStalinist I have tried all day today but I'm unable to get any wire through to the basement. Its hard to explain. I think I may end up going through the garage wall and around the outside. Unless I can find a sparky who wont try to rip me off like the last one did. Any takers I live in Nottingham.

Is there no part of the house where you can easily drop down into the basement, and simply extend the downstairs ring?