lighting circuits - just for lights????

On a domestic lighting circuit it is not uncommon to find an extractor fan, shaver point sometimes a smoke alarm or even a doorbell transformer. Just wondered what peoples' views on this is. It's the norm for extractors and shavers I know, but they are not lights so should the CU be labelled accordingly? How about if a smoke alarm is connected to a lighting circuit or door bell transformer? Where do you draw the line and at what point is it not acceptable to connect an item of current using equipment to a lighting circuit that isn't actually a light? What has provoked this question is that a client has asked me to power a wireless heating controller via the live and neutral supply from a local light switch. It's a Honeywell evo home system, so the controller doesn't switch any loads as such, just sends and receives signals. I'm not keen on the idea, but how can I justify a possible refusal to do it - if other non-lighting products are connected. He is pretty savvy, so need decent justification without looking like a knob lol!!
 
From the OP:-

"Where do you draw the line and at what point is it not acceptable to connect an item of current using equipment to a lighting circuit that isn't actually a light?"

A. Anything you want or need to feed from the circuit in question. Long as the MCB and cable can handle the load of which your introducing.

There is no such thing as a "lighting circuit" or "socket circuit", they are all circuits that was designed to function as a lighting or socket circuit at first and then through later design, calculations and installment became a circuit that feeds more than one type of load.

Q. Can the cable, MCB/RCD handle the new load? Is the cable the same size? no need for a fcu then. What is the total load at the moment and what will you introduce onto it?

 
From the OP:-

"Where do you draw the line and at what point is it not acceptable to connect an item of current using equipment to a lighting circuit that isn't actually a light?"

A. Anything you want or need to feed from the circuit in question. Long as the MCB and cable can handle the load of which your introducing.


Exactly, and well put. A final circuit that serves lighting or power outlet accessed by 13A sockets does do not automatically become 'exclusive' lighting or socket circuits.

Thanks again Paul.
There is no such thing as a "lighting circuit" or "socket circuit", they are all circuits that was designed to function as a lighting or socket circuit at first and then through later design, calculations and installment became a circuit that feeds more than one type of load.

Q. Can the cable, MCB/RCD handle the new load? Is the cable the same size? no need for a fcu then. What is the total load at the moment and what will you introduce onto it?


Exactly, and well put. A final circuit that serves lighting or power outlet accessed by 13A sockets does do not automatically become 'exclusive' lighting or socket circuits.

Thanks again Paul.

- - - Updated - - -

sorry, cocked that up a bit
 
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jedisparks,
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