consumer unit advice

[electrician4u]

Just had a look at a installation guide from Hager about wiring consumer units and they suggest it's ok to put a smoke detector circuit with a lighting circuit and shower on the same RCD. I thought that was strictly not recommended. from my experience it's the lights that trip most often.any thoughts?

 

[electrician4u]

I did mean coming off the same mcb yes.of course, the problem of any separate means of isolation will encourage people to switch it off if it's always activating but as people have mentioned there's a requirement to have separate isolation, so what to do....

 

[Des 56]

but as people have mentioned there's a requirement to have separate isolation, so what to do....

If there was a combi boiler with a plug and socket,that would be a suitable means of isolation
If there was a smoke alarm with a plug and socket for the base and the detector (eg aico ) what then ?

 

[marksparky]

hmmm i just wouldnt wire it straight into the lights without some sort of seperate isolater, just my personal preference, but if the whole base and detector was ever to be replaced i dnt think having to turn the lights off to change them is ideal just my opinion!

 

[Ponty Massive]

hmmm i just wouldnt wire it straight into the lights without some sort of seperate isolater, just my personal preference, but if the whole base and detector was ever to be replaced i dnt think having to turn the lights off to change them is ideal just my opinion!

I dont see a problem unless you're changing the unit in complete darkness?

 

[JUD]

hmmm i just wouldnt wire it straight into the lights without some sort of seperate isolater, just my personal preference, but if the whole base and detector was ever to be replaced i dnt think having to turn the lights off to change them is ideal just my opinion!

It has to have a means of isolation for maintenance/cleaning purposes. This can be done by disconnecting the smoke from it's base.

What do you do if you have to replace a light fitting. You don't give a means of isolation to each fitting do you? :wink5:

 

[brav]

It has to have a means of isolation for maintenance/cleaning purposes. This can be done by disconnecting the smoke from it's base.

What do you do if you have to replace a light fitting. You don't give a means of isolation to each fitting do you? :wink5:

Agreed, isolation by the lighting mcb and disconnecting frm its base should be enough as long as its clearly stated in the cu tht its connected to the lighting circuit. If u fit an extra totally seperate way of isolating just the alarm frm the lighting circuit u may as well of given it its own mcb for the customer to switch off when they get p***ed off. imo

 

[marksparky]

lol well isolation by the lighting mcb is hardly isolating with out affecting the operation of the lighting circuit is it? or do u guys use emergency fittings throughout domestic installations so wen the lights go out the batteries take over? Definition of isolation .... A function intended to cut off for reasons of safety the supply from all or a discrete section, of the installation by seperating the installation or section from every source of electrical energy (ie breaking live and neutral conductors). So unplugging a detector from its base is not seperation from every source of electrical energy, as the base which may need changed if using a different make of detector is still live. Im not saying anyone is wrong i just believe my way is the best way, on a further note if they want to turn the smokes off they will simply take them down, just because they are wired into the lighting mcb will not deter them, my keyswitch is clearly labelled smoke alarms do not turn off! if they choose to ignore that advice then thats up to them there is just no helping some people.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Pull the smokes off a lighting circuit either split at the board or from a 3 plate it dont matter. Disconnect the alarm module from the backing plate is acceptable.....don`t see a problem with that but its a bit like the radials v rings innit? everyones got their own way of doing it and if its all compliant.....jobs a good un........