Happy and Safe New Year all.
I have just installed two security lights (150W each) that I have not yet connected, with cable runs into the loft.
There are currently 11 light fittings and 2 extractor fans on the upstairs lighting curcuit, so if I connect the security lights to the upstairs light curcuit, that should still consume less than 1200W with everything on (assuming 60W bulbs elsewhere).
However, I'd rather shift the load for the security lights to something other than the lighting circuit, just to give more flexibility in the future. Searching the forums, I found this thread ... //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11432 which suggests it's okay to run a spur off the immersion heater. For me this is by far the easiest way to get power to the loft ... particularly since we never use the immersion heater.
So what I'd like to do is put a radial from the immersion heater (16A MCB) switch out to two FCUs in the airing cupboard ... a 5 amp up to a socket outlet in the loft and 3 amp for the security lights. There's no specific use in mind for the socket ... just a nice-to-have; eg plug-in light for the darker corners etc. Obviously if the heater was on, I wouldn't be running much from it anyway!
I intend running 2.5 cable to the two FCUs, then 1.5 on the load side of the FCUs (assuming stated fuse ratings).
Does this sound reasonable?
I have just installed two security lights (150W each) that I have not yet connected, with cable runs into the loft.
There are currently 11 light fittings and 2 extractor fans on the upstairs lighting curcuit, so if I connect the security lights to the upstairs light curcuit, that should still consume less than 1200W with everything on (assuming 60W bulbs elsewhere).
However, I'd rather shift the load for the security lights to something other than the lighting circuit, just to give more flexibility in the future. Searching the forums, I found this thread ... //www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11432 which suggests it's okay to run a spur off the immersion heater. For me this is by far the easiest way to get power to the loft ... particularly since we never use the immersion heater.
So what I'd like to do is put a radial from the immersion heater (16A MCB) switch out to two FCUs in the airing cupboard ... a 5 amp up to a socket outlet in the loft and 3 amp for the security lights. There's no specific use in mind for the socket ... just a nice-to-have; eg plug-in light for the darker corners etc. Obviously if the heater was on, I wouldn't be running much from it anyway!
I intend running 2.5 cable to the two FCUs, then 1.5 on the load side of the FCUs (assuming stated fuse ratings).
Does this sound reasonable?