Downstairs hall light on upstairs circuit

[richards1978]

Hi all,

Our house is currently wired with two RCDs in the fuse box. One of these covers the upstairs lighting circuit and the other covers the downstairs.

The odd thing that I have just discovered is that the downstairs hallway lights are actually on the upstairs RCD circuit.

I think this might be because one of switches on the upstairs landing 2-gang switch also controls the downstairs hallway lights and vice versa with the hallway 2-gang switch also controlling the landing lights.

Could anyone advise whether this is normal/permitted or should I be looking at getting an electrician out to somehow split the hallway lights onto the downstairs circuit?

Thanks

 

[Murdochcat]

There are no rules about what should be on what circuit other than the breaker and cable set up & compatibility be ok

Used to be downstairs and landing was the common set up

 

[richards1978]

Thanks for the quick reply - that's a big relief.

The hall light is definitely on the upstairs RCD and circuit breaker, so I'll just write "+ Hall" to the circuit label on the fisebox lid and leave it at that.

 

[JohnW2]

The odd thing that I have just discovered is that the downstairs hallway lights are actually on the upstairs RCD circuit.
I think this might be because one of switches on the upstairs landing 2-gang switch also controls the downstairs hallway lights and vice versa with the hallway 2-gang switch also controlling the landing lights.

As has been said, there are no 'rules', and when there are switches on two floors to control a light, then it's almost 'pot luck' (maybe 'convenience of installation') as to which floor's lighting circuit is used [the really naught thing, which one could 'get away with' prior to the days of RCDs, was to have the live from one circuit and the neutral from the other one!].

However, there is some merit in the situation you have, since it means that if the downstairs RCD trips, resulting in loss of that floor's lighting circuits, there will be at least some light on the affected floor, in the form of the hall light (and possibly also vice versa, if the landing light is on the downstairs circuit).

Kind Regards, John

 

[richards1978]

Thanks for all the great advice, guys.

Rich

 

[ericmark]

The biggest problem I have with splitting the supply into circuits, is where a faulty socket using device can plunge one into darkness. The whole idea of splitting into circuits is to take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit such as a lighting circuit and reduce the possibility of unwanted tripping of RCDs due to excessive protective conductor currents produced by equipment in normal operation.

Not sure about the normal operation bit, to my mind, if an item is faulty, i.e. not normal, the last thing I want is when I try to use it, to be plunged into darkness.

These

are however ample to in the main ensure one is not plunged into darkness. I did consider having the lighting on an uninterruptable supply, but living room alone main light is 40 watt. And so the plug in lamp is enough and does not discharge the main UPS supply keeping freezers and central heating running.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

The biggest problem I have with splitting the supply into circuits, is where a faulty socket using device can plunge one into darkness. The whole idea of splitting into circuits is to take account of danger that may arise from the failure of a single circuit such as a lighting circuit and reduce the possibility of unwanted tripping of RCDs due to excessive protective conductor currents produced by equipment in normal operation.

I sometimes go through phases, of waking, and getting up restless in the middle of the night. Even sitting out in the garden for a while, if it is warm and dry, for an hour or two. I never turn the lights on, there simply is no need, I know my way around the house, without need for any lights to be on.

 

[ericmark]

I would trip over the cats.