Outside light - 1.5TE light cable with fcu

[b1llt]

Quick question, can you run an outside wall light (not high load or flood etc) from lighting circuit to fcu to light. I know you can run from lighting to outside light (rcd protected) and from ring main to fcu to outside light.

The reason I ask is I will be putting a 4g lightswitch in kitchen and I'd like one of those to operate the a new light oustide the french doors. Distance from light to switch is 2m.

The point is if I wire it in on the lighting then if the rcd trips due to water ingress or failure over time I can not isolate the outside light or more importantly tell someone what to do over the phone ie a work away and should that happen I'd rather tell some person to switch off the fcu and then go throw the mcb and rcd.

Likewise I don't want an fcu on show to act as a light switch, it will look odd based on its location and height. Hence bringing an fcu in a more descreet location into the lighting run would solve all my issues. Any thoughts other than do you know this comes under part p

 

[plugwash]

While there is nothing electrically wrong with what you propose having a seperate hidden isolation switch seems like a recipie for confusion to me.

Have you considered using a grid switch? They don't look all that different from normal light switches and you can get double pole switch modules for them.

 

[b1llt]

Did think of using a grid switch but thought it still looks odd. Basically I thought about the confusion issue too. I was either going to put it at socket height on the same jamb as the outside light (on the inside though ) or place the fcu in my server cupboard which is only 500mm from the same jamb but label the fcu as Outside Light. I suppose I could use a 16 amp clickflow connector and place that in the same server cupboard but again its not something I'd want one of the household members using - if its not throwing a switch they freak out

 

[b1llt]

Also the other thing is the fcu fuse would protect the house 1.5te should someone put a large watt replacement bulb or new fitting in, in the future. It just seems the best option to me. Plus I'd have the cert state 5amp fuse etc

 

[RF Lighting]

I'd definately go down the grid switch route. If you use someone like MK, they don't look any different from a standard plate switch, and certainly not out of place in a domestic property. Virtually all the switches in my house are MK grid.

 

[b1llt]

Thanks rf think I will, didnt spend too much time looking at the mk, everything I have is mk - I think I passed it over too quick. Will take a look in the morning

 

[bernardgreen]

Based on the fact that moisture in the lamp could cause a troublesome neutral to earth fault as well as live to earth a double pole switch / isolator would be a good idea.

 

[ericmark]

I would agree grid switch is way to go which means you can use double pole for outside lamp and also if you wanted include a fuse although with a double pole switch I would not worry about a fuse assuming from lighting circuit.

 

[b1llt]

DP grid switch it is. So I take it as I was going to be using a 4 gang light switch to operate 4 different sets of lights I'll now be using 4 grid switches with the outside light being dp and the other 3 acting as normal light switches? Thx gang

 

[securespark]

That the famous galv conduit job, Rob?

 

[RF Lighting]

That was the first one!

Did a full conduit system for the lights in the living room