FCU question

[David Sproat]

Hi folks,

First post on the forums and its just a quick question for those more knowledgeable than myself (so anyone.)

My dad wants to fit an illuminated mirror in our bathroom, it will be outside zone 2 and is of a suitable IP rating, my question is this. Can the shower pump fused connection unit, which is spured from a socket on the ring main, supply a second FCU which will govern the mirror? The existing unit is located in the adjacent airing cupboard and the addition would be fitted there also. I assumed this would be acceptable providing that it is fed from the load side of the FCU?

The On-Site-Guide says that the number of socket-outlets supplied by a fused spur is unlimited, but i wasnt sure about daisy chaining one FCU after another.

I understand if this was a no go that i could just run the FCU off a seperate socket.

So just to clarify:

Socket --> FCU (shower pump) -->FCU (illuminted mirror) ?

Thanks for your time.

 

[Adam]

You can only connect an unlimited amount of socket outlets to the load side of the FCU. You can not link multiple FCU's on the supply side from one socket outlet.

As you mentioned, you can connect another FCU to another socket.

 

[Farmelectrics]

Come off the lighting circuit

 

[telectrix]

whichever method is used, RCD protection for the circuit must be in place.

 

[Grumpy]

The OP is suggesting running the mirror fcu from the load side of the pump fcu. I agree that this would be unusual, rough even, but I can't think of any reason why not, you're not going to be unduly inconvenienced if the pump fcu blew and the mirror light failed.
Obviously the reason for not having multiple fcu's from one socket is to prevent overloading. However, I can't see an overloading problem with two fcu's fused down to 3 or 5 amps supplying two fixed loads. It might not be to the letter but it's certainly in the spirit of the regs, er, in my 'umble opinion m'lud.

 

[telectrix]

agreed. it's only the sam e as plugging them both into a 13A socket

 

[David Sproat]

Thanks for all your help on this one fellas, looks as though the jury is still out on this one.


Been searching the 17th edition, OSG etc. But cant find anything that says its an out right no, but frustratingly nothing that confirms it as being acceptable either.

 

[Grumpy]

Well if you can't find an outright no and you think it is safe then do it. Should anyone challenge you in the future ask them to quote the offended regs. As I said above, perhaps you wouldn't choose to do it this way but sometimes circumstances dictate and as long as it's safe then go for it.

 

[Blowcat]

If the total load of the shower pump and light are 13A or below I would install a second FCU from the supply side of FCU and use that to feed the light but if your having a sleeples night over this just make the original FCU part of the ring.

 

[chocca]

Or, use the existing spur to feed a multi-gang socket and plug everything into that.

Always good to remember the regs are a deemed to comply document, not law. If you can justify running a ring main in wet string and bell-wire to a manslaughter jury, it's your choice. Just don't pick up the soap in the showers afterwards...