Additonal light circuit or not?

Question

Hi, I am trying to decide whether to put all my additional and current kitchen lights on a new or existing circuit.

Currently from fuse box one wire goes to a box under floor where terminal blocks are connected to 6 other wires. All reds together, all blacks together, all earths together. Each wire comes from the box to a switch for each room and one wire from switch to light. It is a flat with no ceiling acess, hence I guess reason for this wiring set up.

Q1 ) If I wanted to add more lights to this circuit I am not sure any more wires could be fitted into these terminal blocks. Could I use something other than terminal blocks to connect all the wires and add in additional ones?

Q2) Circuit is currently on a 16A MCB, should I down rate to a 10A or

6A MCB.

Q3) If I go for all on one circuit I think load would be OK on a 6A MCB details below

Lighting will be :-

Bedroom 1 - 100W (Standard 60W Bulb) Bedroom 2 - 100W (Standard 60W Bulb) Hall - 250W Spot Fitting Bathroom - 200W not deffo, but allowing 200W for 4 spotlights. (currenlty a large flourscent strip) Kitchen 200W Halogen spot fitting Recess in kitchen 200W (4 * 50W mains downlights) Under counter 56W (4*18W flourescent) Lounge 150W

Total = 1256W - well within a 6A MCB rating. Q4) So new or use existing circuit?

Advice please :-)

Thank you

bigcat · Accepted Answer

you have 7 wires, any of which can take a junction box.According to 16th edn regs yes.upto you. 2nd circuit has the advantage that any fault or trip wonttake all th lights out.Nt

Christian McArdle · Answer

You can insert another terminal block on any of the cables and split off there.

Yes. Most lighting equipment is designed for 10A circuits. However, some (such as SES/SBC lampholders) must be fused at 6A or below.

It is just about OK to use the existing circuit on a 6A MCB. However, it would be safer to split into two. Because of the way it has been wired, it would be easy to divide the circuits up and assign each fitting to an MCB, especially if there is spare room on the consumer unit.

I prefer to assign pseudo randomly, so that in the event of one circuit tripping, a nearby light will work. This is much safer when the bulbs blow. In the kitchen, have the alcove downlighters off a different circuit to the main lighting. Ensure that the lighting circuits are suitably labelled at the consumer unit.

Remember far more people are killed or injured by falls (possibly caused by sudden lighting failure) than are electrocuted.

Christian.

Mark Carver · Answer

On a related subject, is it permissible to power a couple of wall lights by taking a spur off of the ring main ?  Does the spur need a 6A fuse or MCB if 1.0mm T+E is used to feed the lamps ?

Christian McArdle · Answer

Use a 3A fuse in an FCU. 1mm T&E is fine.Christian.

inNeedofHelp · Answer

Hi Christian, Thanks again, for another concise answer to my questions. That has been a great help. Going to stick with splitting into 2 circuits. Then as you say if one circuit trips there are still some lights availble. A random selection of lights of each circuit, that is a great idea.

For safety sake, I will make them both 6A so if any SES/SBC lampholders were fitted it would be safe. If I have 2 circuits that is more than enough to carry the load.

Thank you :-)

Additonal light circuit or not?

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