1.0mm or 1.5mm that is the question!

[Welshsparky]

What do sparkys on here tend to use for rewiring 2/3/4 Bedroom houses? My first employer swore by 1.5 but my previous would only use 1.0?

 

[KFH]

Like many before I prefer 1.5. Too often 1.0 breaks off under the screw terminals even when doubled up. Are the screw terminals getting worse? I use 1.0 occasionally when I can't get 1.5 when I need it but normally end up cursing.

 

[rich.250]

I don't know either.

6A mcb capable of supporting 13 x 100W lamps or even 27 x 50W downlights.

Even at maximum derating 1mm² has CCC of 8A.

Why go with cable 50% thicker?

Like saying I prefer to wire my Rings in 4mm².

Volt drop would be one reason

 

[Geoffsd]

Volt drop would be one reason

Not in the context of this thread.

 

[Richard Burns]

I like using 1.0mm but keep worrying about getting buried in insulation and tend to go up to 1.5mm.
The thing is this seems to me to be overkill as it is only if the cable is actually covered top and bottom in insulation that you would need 1.5mm (unless you are going for physical robustness). however panic ensues and I use the stiffer and less easy to wire 1.5mm, a nightmare for downlights (though of course I should be using heat resistant cable!)

 

[Jimmy Boy]

It does make you wonder if in the future regs may state, that de-rating factors must be applied for worst case scenarios, unless the wiring is embedded in the fabric of the building and is unlikely to be affected by external influences, so on a Bungalow where quite likely rings or Radials might drop down from a loft, and indeed lighting circuits may be covered by insulation therefore reducing the current carrying capacity due to heat build up and an increase in resistance, we may see a reg increasing the CSA of lights to 1.5 and a de-rating of a ring from 32 to 20 Amps ?..Unless they are guaranteed not to be derated ? Your thoughts.

Sorry been away for a while..Not in jail lol just busy !