Install new lighting circuit

[bandejapaisa]

I want to install a new lighting circuit for my cellar, which has no lights. It will be my first electrics project, so it seems relatively straightforward.

(i realise i have to get it certified afterwards).

My first question before I start the job is how to get the wiring down the inside of the walls? The consumer unit has every wire going inside a hole in the wall, but it's a small hole.

Any pro techniques that could help me here?

Thanks

 

[flameport]

(i realise i have to get it certified afterwards).

That's not how it works at all.

My first question before I start the job is how to get the wiring down the inside of the walls?

What kind of walls? Brick, plasterboard, concrete, other?
Either way it will involve some damage to them.
Do the wires actually need to be in the wall?

 

[bandejapaisa]

The electric book I bought read that any new circuit has to be notified to the local authority, which charges a fee and I get an inspection and completion certificate...

Can you tell me how it works if this is not the case, thanks.

It's a partition wall, so I'd like to be able to slip it into the hole and it drop down pain free into the cellar below.

Yes it needs to be in the wall, as otherwise I have ugly conduit on the outside.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

The procedure is to apply to building controls prior to installing and wait for approval to start. Then if approval has been given, an inspection will be made on first fix, then one prior to commissioning the circuit.
If all is good and the schedules of inspection and tests are satisfactory, then you can sit and wait for the completion cert.
Cable must be routed within permitted safe zones, and very likely to require RCD protection.

Untitled

• PrenticeBoyofDerry
• 16 Oct 2011
• 20

 

[Gutterball]

You are not supposed to run cables in a cavity wall. this is because the cable could allow moisture to track across between the outer and inner wall. the cables would also not be supported over the length of the drop down the wall. If you want the cables in the wall you will need to raggle the wall paying attention to the safe zones and depth of the raggle. also any new circuit would need to be RCD protected.

 

[bandejapaisa]

All of that makes sense now pointed out to me. Good job that I'm posting questions on here.

My consumer unit seems quite new. It has the main switch, and 2 RCD devices which have 5 MCB's each.

Untitled

• bandejapaisa
• 3 Mar 2014
• 1

I would not do any job without going through the correct procedure and doing it right, so lets get that clear. But for arguments sake, how is this electric work policed? Who knows what cables someone puts in their house and even if they weren't there already before they moved in? If I were have to haphazardly put in this new circuit incorrectly, couldn't I just claim it was there when I moved in?

 

[rjm2k]

If your cellar has a power socket, or there is one above the cellar which can be easily accessed, you may find it a lot easier to take a spur off that to an FCU/FSU and run the lights from that rather than messing with your CU.

 

[bandejapaisa]

Yup, that's actually what I'm going to do now.

I just thought it would be a interesting project for me to setup a new lighting circuit, but it seems more hassle than it's worth.

 

[EFLImpudence]

If you spur from a socket then that is technically NOT a new circuit so you can just do it.

Yes, it's daft. It's not supposed to make sense.

You still have to do it properly, though - zones etc.

There's a difference between safety rules and bureaucratic rules.

 

[rjm2k]

If you do it that way, post details of the socket you intend to use, ie is it a ring or a spur or radial.

 

[bandejapaisa]

I will ask more advice when I start it. All i've read about so far is lighting circuits, so I need to learn about the ring circuit first. Thanks

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

deleted for edit

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

But for arguments sake, how is this electric work policed?

Most probably less competently than drugs, guns and vice is!

Who knows what cables someone puts in their house and even if they weren't there already before they moved in?

Possibly someone who has installed work in the property previously (like an electrician or diyer or cowboy) But other than that , the elves, fairies and the odd leprechaun and of course Derek Achora!

If I were have to haphazardly put in this new circuit incorrectly, couldn't I just claim it was there when I moved in?

You could claim that, but that would unfortunately and sadly be an untruth! But lets not go down that road and lets do things correctly and safely, not just for you, your family, your pets, your guests/visitors, your property, your neighbours, their family, their pets, their guest/visitors and their property! But just for the hell of it and the fact it is a legal requirement.