this is quite common now with housing associations & council properties, however whenever we tap into a lighting circuit for tv ariel amplifier or similar light load, we use an inline fuse. never seen one yet for the smoke alarms? anyone know why these appliances dont need them?
smoke alarms from lighting circuit
- Thread starter josh1e
- Start date
Do you really need to fuse the aerial point down on a 6A circuit??? I guess it's good practice to put in a FCU for the purpose of testing and isolation of needs be. Unless the manufactures of the TV amp state what the fusing requirements are. Personally, I'd take it off the ring via a FCU. Putting plugs and sockets on a lighting circuit don't seem natural to me.
The regs state that the smoke alarms can either be fed from their own circuit, or a frequently used lighting circuit, and are designed to be wired directly into such a circuit. As they are designed for that circuit they don't need any further fusing is my suggestion.
The regs state that the smoke alarms can either be fed from their own circuit, or a frequently used lighting circuit, and are designed to be wired directly into such a circuit. As they are designed for that circuit they don't need any further fusing is my suggestion.
It is important for smoke alarms to be reliably powered. That's why a regularly used lighting circuit is suggested as you would soon spot it if the power was interrupted (by a blown fuse eg).
If you had a inline fuse for the smoke alarm then there would be no indication that there was no power to the alarm (unless you make hobby of gazing at the tiny power lamp in the device).
If you had a inline fuse for the smoke alarm then there would be no indication that there was no power to the alarm (unless you make hobby of gazing at the tiny power lamp in the device).
thanks for the info, makes sense now 
we use 3A inline fuses to these sockets just incase after we leave the customer plugs something else in there. saves us getting called back because there cu keeps tripping / lights dont work. to be honest, i cant remember the last time it happened, but we somtimes find a 4way extension lead with loft light, ultrasonic rodent thing, amp, etc etc etc etc in there. the customer just thinks ooOOooo a power socket
we use 3A inline fuses to these sockets just incase after we leave the customer plugs something else in there. saves us getting called back because there cu keeps tripping / lights dont work. to be honest, i cant remember the last time it happened, but we somtimes find a 4way extension lead with loft light, ultrasonic rodent thing, amp, etc etc etc etc in there. the customer just thinks ooOOooo a power socket
If a socket is going to be in the loft, off a lighting circuit I usually install a 5A (round pin) socket. That makes it more difficult to plug in an arc welder etc etc!!
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