Introduce myself and first question

Christhespark · Jan 25, 2013

Hi all, first post on here so thought I'd introduce myself. Name is chris and I've just passed my 17th. Been labouring for a guy for a good few years in the commercial sector, so tended to concentrate on large power but want to concentrate on domestic myself. I'm fortunate enough to be building my own house, so you can guess what my first job is. Done the ring mains no sweat, but lighting terrifies me so here is the first question. I understand the you put each floor as its own circuit, but do you take the live feed for each room back to the board, or take it room to room. My thought would be room to room, otherwise I'd end up with 6 wires in one mcb, but I don't want to end up with turning the downstairs toilet light switch turning on all the downstairs lights. Please could someone take pity on this confidence lacking newbie, and hold my hand.
cheers
:6:

telectrix · Jan 25, 2013

loop room to room, from 1 light to the next, then a switch dropp from each light to eact switch. from your post, though, i have my doubts that you are competent to do this.

edit: i'm not far from whitchurch. be happy to quote you, and you could assist to save a few quid.

ifindoubtdont · Jan 25, 2013

Chris, with the best will in the world, get someone in and watch them. Which Whitchurch are you, some one on here will be local i am sure.

telectrix · Jan 25, 2013

and that's without touching on 2 way switching and /or downlighters.

Christhespark · Jan 25, 2013

Thanks for the quick reply telectrix, appreciate your concern, it has to be said I'm far happier wiring control for an ahu or 400v into a main board, but building control have seen my work and are happy for me to continue, I just suffer from a chronic lack of confidence. As far as the lighting goes, there is no single light fitting, the kitchen for instance is 20 gu10 LEDs , but I suppose I just treat the 20 as one, looped together

Gravid · Jan 25, 2013

If building control are involved who's signing the finished job off?

Silly Sausage · Jan 25, 2013

With multiple lights off one switch, loop the circuit at the switch.
Save you having a junction box somewhere.
Have a read of this thread...
http://www.electriciansforums.net/e...electrical-forum/33420-neutrals-switches.html

Christhespark · Jan 25, 2013

A local company that building control appoint will inspect at various stages will sign off at the end. 2 way switching and intermediate switching I can get my head round, and the whole house will by lit by led down lighters, but using gu10 so I don't have to worry about powering transformers and drivers

DPG · Jan 25, 2013

I can't understand how you are comfortable with 2 way/intermediate switching, but can't see how to arrange things so that all downstairs lights have their own switch? But I may have misunderstood your OP. Daz

telectrix · Jan 25, 2013

with downlighters, you can loop at switch or loop at first fitting. using line products enclosures and connectors makes this easy.

Christhespark · Jan 25, 2013

I understand why everyone is so concerned, like I said at the beginning, lack of confidence, put me in front of an ahu main board and mas unit with a wiring diagram, no probs. but this morning trying to figure out what I needed for my light circuit, I was stumped until I remembered that I need 3 core and earth at certain points( simplified version).