circuit question

minark

hi all . just a quick question , as a general rule of thumb how many sockets should you put on a circuit and how many lights should you put on a circuit? cheers.

meercat

radial circuits for sockets(rule 554)
recommend max number of points;10
one point may serve a single or double socket

circuit for lighting
recommend max number of points;10

M cebee

i tend to 'zone' lighting circuits when using leds/cfls

to avoid blackout and for maintenance etc.

the 10 lights per circuit rule seems somewhat obsolete now

Buford T Justice

M cebee wrote: »

i tend to 'zone' lighting circuits when using leds/cfls

to avoid blackout and for maintenance etc.

the 10 lights per circuit rule seems somewhat obsolete now

By zoning, do you mean using separate switches on each zone?

2011

He means design the circuit layout so that the loss of any 1 circuit would not leave an entire "zone" in darkness. It is good practice.

meercat

Don't forget to put bathroom lights on rcd. It's a regulation now.

Buford T Justice

2011 wrote: »

He means design the circuit layout so that the loss of any 1 circuit would not leave an entire "zone" in darkness. It is good practice.

Yes, but is each zone controlled separately, or are they all controlled by the same switch?

M cebee

if the lighting load is small ie:330 leds at 3watt=1 kilowatt

whereas 10 100watt bulbs is a kilowattt

'maintenance' and 'avoidance of blackout' can be considered when determining the number of lighting circuits required

2011

Yes, but is each zone controlled separately, or are they all controlled by the same switch?

That depends on what is required. Both optins are possible.

glic83

meercat wrote: »

Don't forget to put bathroom lights on rcd. It's a regulation now.

can it be on a rcbo or just part of the rcd circuit?

meercat

glic
I generally put the bathrooms/ensuites on a seperste zone protected by 10amp rcbo.

glic83

meercat wrote: »

glic
I generally put the bathrooms/ensuites on a seperste zone protected by 10amp rcbo.

so you would put the bathroom and en-suite on the same 10amp rcbo?

2011

Or you could use 12 volt lighting that has a suitable IP rating and not use any RCD / RCBO and still comply.

meercat

If they are on the same floor.

glic83

meercat wrote: »

If they are on the same floor.

yeah the main bathroom and en suite practically beside each other

2011

I am open to correction here, but I don't see why the bathroom lighting should have to be on the same floor to share a circuit.

glic83

2011 wrote: »

I am open to correction here, but I don't see why the bathroom lighting should have to be on the same floor to share a circuit.

would have thought the same but the down stairs bathroom i take it doesnt have to be on an rcbo/rcd? even in the upstairs main bathroom and ensuite its on 1 light fitting in each he doesnt want lights for mirrors or anything

meercat

Thanks lads. Probably just as handy to do upstairs bathrooms on one circuit , downstairs on another.
In all zones of a room containing a bath or shower every circuit shall be protected by rcd except selv