Greetings all.
Thanks for your previous advice, i've had an outdoor socket installed and the Kitchen is a week away from normality. Now im planning lighting for my garden, although theres no rush to install anything this time. Its a project I want completed by next summer.
Im researching it now as I'd like to do this job myself if possible, and learn more in the process. Here is a link for the lights I intend to buy from Screwfix. I need two lights, each light has 2 bulbs so its a total load of 140w from 4 x 35w bulbs.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/49704...l-Lighting/Stainless-Steel-Up-Down-Wall-Light
The original theoretical plan was to use 2.5mm to wire a Plug to the first light, loop 2.5mm to the second light, and terminate. I planned to simply plug the lights into the new socket, but now im considering having an outdoor Switch installed with power from the Socket, and then hardwiring the two lights directly to the switch (1 way) that seems like a more professional and safer finish.
I understand this will be notifiable under Part P, so as long as I feel confident doing the job I'll do it myself and have the Council come out and inspect my work. Otherwise I'll call the electrician back and watch how they do it.
Thats the scenario, what I'd like to know is regardless of if I use a plug or if I hardwire the two lights, what size cable will I need if im installing those two lights along a max 20m run ? I thought 2.5mm would be plenty because its thicker then the 1.5mm used for my interior lighting, but apparently 2.5 wouldn't be sufficient. This is where im confused. 6mm seems to be more appropriate from what Ive read, but thats the same size as the Cooker Circuit - can that be right for powering 4 bulbs in my Garden on a 20m run?
I've received excellent advice on here, what im after now is for someone to explain why wiring these lights "seem" to require thicker cable? For instance, ages ago an electrician installed our security light with a 20w bulb. That light uses a thin cable (I think its 1.5 or 1.25) with a plug added on the interior side of the wall. Its around 7m in length.
Obviously, the 140w I need makes the difference in cable size, so what size cable should I be looking at for my new garden lights ? I'll be running the cable above ground in PVC conduit btw. (seperate query - the cable for the security light doesn't have any conduit btw, should it ?)
Cheers Fellas.
Thanks for your previous advice, i've had an outdoor socket installed and the Kitchen is a week away from normality. Now im planning lighting for my garden, although theres no rush to install anything this time. Its a project I want completed by next summer.
Im researching it now as I'd like to do this job myself if possible, and learn more in the process. Here is a link for the lights I intend to buy from Screwfix. I need two lights, each light has 2 bulbs so its a total load of 140w from 4 x 35w bulbs.
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/49704...l-Lighting/Stainless-Steel-Up-Down-Wall-Light
The original theoretical plan was to use 2.5mm to wire a Plug to the first light, loop 2.5mm to the second light, and terminate. I planned to simply plug the lights into the new socket, but now im considering having an outdoor Switch installed with power from the Socket, and then hardwiring the two lights directly to the switch (1 way) that seems like a more professional and safer finish.
I understand this will be notifiable under Part P, so as long as I feel confident doing the job I'll do it myself and have the Council come out and inspect my work. Otherwise I'll call the electrician back and watch how they do it.
Thats the scenario, what I'd like to know is regardless of if I use a plug or if I hardwire the two lights, what size cable will I need if im installing those two lights along a max 20m run ? I thought 2.5mm would be plenty because its thicker then the 1.5mm used for my interior lighting, but apparently 2.5 wouldn't be sufficient. This is where im confused. 6mm seems to be more appropriate from what Ive read, but thats the same size as the Cooker Circuit - can that be right for powering 4 bulbs in my Garden on a 20m run?
I've received excellent advice on here, what im after now is for someone to explain why wiring these lights "seem" to require thicker cable? For instance, ages ago an electrician installed our security light with a 20w bulb. That light uses a thin cable (I think its 1.5 or 1.25) with a plug added on the interior side of the wall. Its around 7m in length.
Obviously, the 140w I need makes the difference in cable size, so what size cable should I be looking at for my new garden lights ? I'll be running the cable above ground in PVC conduit btw. (seperate query - the cable for the security light doesn't have any conduit btw, should it ?)
Cheers Fellas.
well, I guess I will call the electrcian back. Still havin't spoken to the council yet, because the webpage on the council site doesn't open 
