Compliant or not?

[Rob Smith 643]

At a recent 17th Edition update course, uproar broke out in the canteen (well nearly) over the use of a fused connection unit to supply a lighting circuit in a bathroom from a ring main. While talking about special locations, it had been suggested by one guy that if there was no spare way on the RCD side of the consumer unit (old '16th Edition' board) then he would consider spurring from the upstairs ring with an unswitched FCU to supply the lighting solely for the bathroom and take the bathroom out of the upstairs lighting circuit and leave a notice to this effect at the consumer unit to fulfil the need for plans/diagrams of alterations. This was offered up (not by the trainer/host I might add) as an alternative to spending X amount on RCBO or if RCBO was not available for an older style CU. Some nodded and thought it was ok but others argued, including the trainer that it would cause problems with seperation of circuits and hence not be 7671 compliant. Its a tickler...

Any thoughts from more experienced members...? I can almost hear the outcry now!

 

[Dave 85]

Thats true in many ways.
Though i must say that my electrical theory teacher at college was an ex electricity board engineer with 30 yrs on the tools.
There was nothing he didnt know , awesome guy.
And i've thought about becoming a electrical tutor myself for quite some time - i hope the comment wont apply to yours truely lol.

I had 6 tutors in 3 and a half years of night college
1st year
Practical tutor:terrible, used to kick us out an hour early, did not know about sleeving wires brown blue etc
Theory tutor: Average (total wa**er though)

2nd year
Practical tutor: Average (bit too old school for my liking)
Theory tutor: Terrible (class petition got him removed eventually)

3rd year:
Practical tutor: same guy as 2nd year (taught the same thing over and over for two years)
Theory tutor: Very good

17th edition: Very good (NIC inspector by day)

So all in all a fairly below par bunch but no worse than the teachers I had at school (significantly better in fact)

 

[Guest55]

^^^ thats a really sad reflection on the tutors you've had and a pity you never experienced better.
Every one of the guys at my tech were at the top of their game , great times learning the trade.

 

[Rob Smith 643]

No, the course tutor was a knowledgeable guy with a solid background in commercial/domestic electrics. Like a lot of good tutors, they will give you the book answer and practical examples also, but only if the audience is one that knows the difference. There was some right odd folk on the course, some reet awkward ones so in his defence I think he stuck to the book, which was our loss really. Hey ho.

 

[Guest55]

No, the course tutor was a knowledgeable guy with a solid background in commercial/domestic electrics. Like a lot of good tutors, they will give you the book answer and practical examples also, but only if the audience is one that knows the difference. There was some right odd folk on the course, some reet awkward ones so in his defence I think he stuck to the book, which was our loss really. Hey ho.

A sound reply Rob
But theres nothing i know of in bs7671 that says you cant spur supply lights.
Admittedly i would try not to , but its always an option if needs must.

 

[Rob Smith 643]

A sound reply Rob
But theres nothing i know of in bs7671 that says you cant spur supply lights.
Admittedly i would try not to , but its always an option if needs must.

The guy who raised the query did so in all sincerity and put it forward as an option if other options were cost restrictive or impractical.