Splitting circuits in 17th CU - Suggestions?

[Vessy]

Hi,

After some opinions on how to split the circuits, I have as follows

Upstairs lighting - 6A
Downstairs lighting - 6A
Ring main (up & down) - 32A
2nd Ring main (kitchen sockets, Conservatory & shower (5A spur from immersion socket - no immersion fitted) - 32A
Cooker - 32A
Alarm & understairs socket - 16A
Boiler - 6A
Garage Ring - 32A
Garage Lights - 6A
Washing machine (was kitchen water heater!) 16A

CU has 2 x 80A 30ma RCD's, so could move away from a 50/50 split, just can't come up with the best ideal, maybe there isn't an ideal!!

Thanks.

 

[roukel01]

Use RCBO's they're much better, they've also come down in price loads recently.

 

[Vessy]

Use RCBO's they're much better, they've also come down in price loads recently.

Agree, nice and straight forward, unfortunately it's all about the $.

CU kit purchased, customer defo won't be happy spending another £200!

 

[roukel01]

In that case don't worry too much about the split, just do the best you can. Split the rings up and just try and get the up and down lights on seperate RCD's

 

[KINKY]

Very quickly here is my best effort, based this upon down stairs lighting been more critical than up and that taking into account diversity the RCD rating will not be maxed.

RCD 1
Upstairs lighting - 6A
Ring main (up & down) - 32A
2nd Ring main (kitchen sockets, Conservatory & shower (5A spur from immersion socket - no immersion fitted) - 32A
Cooker - 32A
Garage Ring - 32A


RCD 2
Downstairs lighting - 6A
Alarm & understairs socket - 16A
Boiler - 6A
Garage Lights - 6A
Washing machine (was kitchen water heater!) 16A


Its not ideal but its what you have so.....

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I'd put the rings on separate RCD's

 

[mrmatt]

Split up and down lights and I usually try to split up and down sockets but if you cant then thats another story

I would proberly go for something similar to below

RCD 1
Upstairs lighting - 6A
Ring main (up & down) - 32A
Cooker - 32A
Garage Ring - 32A
Boiler - 6A


RCD 2
Downstairs lighting - 6A
2nd Ring main (kitchen sockets, Conservatory & shower (5A spur from immersion socket - no immersion fitted) - 32A
Alarm & understairs socket - 16A
Garage Lights - 6A
Washing machine (was kitchen water heater!) 16A

 

[Vessy]

Thanks Kinky, almost the same as my plan, only diff was to swap the Garage ring and lights, theory is if the garage lights go faulty then down lights will still be on to see the RCD (in hallway).

 

[roukel01]

I'd go with MrMatt's

 

[Darkwood]

Usually there is a few ways after the main switch not covered by rcd, use these to fit a few rcbo's that will cover essential circuits;

Rcbo1-heating
Rcbo2-alarm
Rcbo3-fridge/freezer
then alternate the lighting and sockets over the 2 rcd units thus upstairs sockets with downstairs lights and vice versa this way if you loose lighting upstairs you can plug lamps in.
If the fridge/freezer is part of the ring make the suggestion of a seperate radial with rcbo protection so tripping of any rcd wont loose you your weeks shopping and like above rcd tripping wont loose your heating in winter or alarm going off once battery runs low.

 

[Robo]

Got a db change coming up. As far as im aware there looks to be only 1 lighting circuit. Is this ok if i do a db change, as if rcd trip i loose all lighting. Do i need put a new feed to up or down lights n remove the link. Also. Its on a 60 a cut out. is 16mm meter tails n 10 for earth ok or do i need to upgrade to 25 and 16. Robo

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Got a db change coming up. As far as im aware there looks to be only 1 lighting circuit. Is this ok if i do a db change, as if rcd trip i loose all lighting. Do i need put a new feed to up or down lights n remove the link. Also. Its on a 60 a cut out. is 16mm meter tails n 10 for earth ok or do i need to upgrade to 25 and 16. Robo

No mate you dont, and 16mm tails are Ok too, but i would replace with 25 and 16 just to be on the safe side. Do you know for definite it is 60a? and they may get the fuse replaced at a later date.

 

[Robo]

Iv always changed 16m tails for 25 in the past. Well im assumin its a 60a cut out. says it is but it could have a 100 i guess. If it was 60 im thinking of leavin cos i think it may b a pain in the arse to swap them. Well im gettin this all nic eic signed off and mate mate said 16 was ok but he tells me i need to split the lighting incase the rcd trips you loose all lights. ?? So what to do. any more thoughts plz. cheers sirket breaker