Replace or not - Lighting circuits

[jonwestuk]

Hi All,

I am making a load of electrical routes (chasing etc) ahead of my electrician coming to help add some new sockets, lights etc.

I have found that none of the light circuits have an earth. This definitely limits me to not having metal fixtures and fittings (which I am not happy about). I have most of the walls and ceilings open at the moment so what is the recommendation:
1. Retro fit earth from another source e.g. the mains.
2. Do it properly and rewire the lighting circuits with new Twin + Earth from the fuse box.

I will be talking to my electrician about this, but wanted to get some second opinions.

Thx,

Jon

PS - also found some oddities with my fuse box. Some of the items are mislabelled, no biggie to fix, but also found that some of my upstairs wall sockets are not RCD protected and have been fitted to the lighting side of my board. I am guessing that is also a big no no!

 

[sparkwright]

The recommended and ultimately best way is to re-wire completely with twin and earth cable.

Take this opportunity to add outside lights, 2 way switching, re-positioning any inconvenient switches or light points, wall lights, etc.

 

[AndyPRK]

Silly not to rewire now

 

[jonwestuk]

Silly not to rewire now

Probably a silly question which should be answered by my electrician tomorrow but here goes anyway.

I am guessing that I need wiring runs from the main consumer unit to each floor. After that, I am allowed to split the connection into each room.

Any top tips on feeding new wire to existing switches without cutting lots more holes? Sounds like it could be a pain in the rear, but as you say....silly not to.

 

[Adam_151]

I am guessing that I need wiring runs from the main consumer unit to each floor. After that, I am allowed to split the connection into each room.

Ideally you want a circuit per floor, yes. and what you should be doing is looping through the lighting positions in turn, ending at the last one. Switches are wired with separate legs of cable between the switch and the fitting they control. Two way switches are wired between each other in 3 core & earth.

Spdier wiring from a joint box to each room would be unconventional, and would require the point of connection to remain accessible.

Any top tips on feeding new wire to existing switches without cutting lots more holes? Sounds like it could be a pain in the rear, but as you say....silly not to.

If re-wiring an existing switch point, if the existing drop is in capping then its quite possible that the old one can be used to draw the new one in. The existing knock out boxes may not have an earth terminal so it may need to be a ring crimp and fix to the box with a screw.

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