Wiring up garage lighting

[Spoon]

I don't think the OP will respond. He has 'Liked' @telectrix answer in Post #2 and will most prob just go with that and ignore everything else.

 

[Joe]

Is anything 30mA RCD protected?

Yes! The garage cu has a 30mA RCD incomer and the 3 mcbs run off that. I've also added an rcbo to the consumer unit in the house and run the swa cable from that

 

[ipf]

I know what you're saying, but he only asked about a light switch lol. Why do we have to consider his whole install and certification? Someone is gonna ask about him "exporting" something in a minute hahaha

Maybe he should have stuck with his 'wiring diagram', then, instead of treating us to full details...….obviously milking info, I reckon.
Don't fancy the export business these mid Brexit days, so I'm not too bothered there.

 

[Joe]

Out of curiosity, why an outdoor switch? Why not just put a switch inside the garage?
Are there any extraneous conductive parts in your garage?
Also, as above, any RCD protection?

Purely to keep any moisture out. They are installed inside the garage but my sockets, switch and cu are all waterproof. OTT maybe but I'd rather play it safe

 

[TJ Anderson]

Maybe he should have stuck with his 'wiring diagram', then, instead of treating us to full details...….obviously milking info, I reckon.
Don't fancy the export business these mid Brexit days, so I'm not too bothered there.

Haha, Yeah we can't afford to export any earth in this country, too many people and not enough room already

 

[Joe]

Failing any of the above you could get an Electrician to do the job properly, supply all the relevant certification etc.

Thanks for the advice Pete but if I need a 20mm hole drilling through the wall of MY house, a hole jigsawed through the ceiling of MY bathroom and a trench dug through MY garden, I'll be doing that myself thanks.

 

[TJ Anderson]

I don't think the OP will respond. He has 'Liked' @telectrix answer in Post #2 and will most prob just go with that and ignore everything else.

He liked my post too! But, of,course, I am very likeable!!

 

[Joe]

If that is the case why is everyone offering advice when we all know what is required certificate wise, and the rule of the Forum regarding offering advice to What appears to be a DIY job. Should got the job done by a professional in the first place, of course if the OP says he is an Electrician, then he should give up, or get a new career.

I didn't ask for advice. I asked if my wiring would work and if there was an easier way. You have advised me to pay for an electrician to do my donkey work though. Thanks for taking the time to reply but Ive explained that I've already done the work. You could save yourself the trouble next time.

 

[ipf]

Yes! The garage cu has a 30mA RCD incomer and the 3 mcbs run off that. I've also added an rcbo to the consumer unit in the house and run the swa cable from that

Your choice, I suppose.

 

[TJ Anderson]

Yes! The garage cu has a 30mA RCD incomer and the 3 mcbs run off that. I've also added an rcbo to the consumer unit in the house and run the swa cable from that

Why have you got 2 x 30ma devices in series Joe?

 

[ipf]

Why have you got 2 x 30ma devices in series Joe?

Another thing picked up. No probs....learn as you go along.

 

[TJ Anderson]

18th edition RCD back up back up. Discrimination is so 17th Edition you know lol

 

[Strima]

It's to power a single phase table saw. When I had this set up in my old garage it kept tripping on start up. I changed the MCB to a type C with higher amps to account for the surge when it starts up.

So why a 20 amp now? Do you understand the difference between B & C curves?

 

[ipf]

18th edition RCD back up back up. Discrimination is so 17th Edition you know lol

I remember (14th) when the only discrimination was concerning your colour as an apprentice.

 

[Joe]

In reality, there obviously won't be an electrician but that's up to him isn't it.
Also, the real truth is the job might well be better if an Electrician done it (you would hope so lol), but it is a lot cheaper for him as he has done it himself.

There is still a huge amount of work for sparks so don't worry about it.

The crux of it is, I am getting the feeling that we have a DIY section but it is only to tell people to get an electrician. If the members want to ban DIY advice, then let's vote for that. Get rid of the DIY section if required and lets be honest about it. Otherwise, I don't mind helping someone on here if they ask, within forum rules.

Thank you.
The simple truth is you are not going to stop people from doing DIY jobs on their own house, particularly if they are confident they understand what they are doing and work in other trades. Wiring the swa to the garage and wiring lights to a garage consumer unit couldnt have been more straightforward - 100% confident about the work I did. With the switch I was concerned that I might short the circuit if I got it wrong; without a ceiling rose I couldnt see a way of avoiding running the switched live to a neutral. This is why I asked the question to qualified trusted tradesmen rather than making a stupid mistake. Many thanks to everyone who replied and especially those who have helped.

 

[TJ Anderson]

Thank you.
The simple truth is you are not going to stop people from doing DIY jobs on their own house, particularly if they are confident they understand what they are doing and work in other trades. Wiring the swa to the garage and wiring lights to a garage consumer unit couldnt have been more straightforward - 100% confident about the work I did. With the switch I was concerned that I might short the circuit if I got it wrong; without a ceiling rose I couldnt see a way of avoiding running the switched live to a neutral. This is why I asked the question to qualified trusted tradesmen rather than making a stupid mistake. Many thanks to everyone who replied and especially those who have helped.

You're welcome. Regarding my last..... What do you think about RCBO & RCD though?

 

[Spoon]

Why a 20 amp MCB for a 16 amp socket?

It's to power a single phase table saw. When I had this set up in my old garage it kept tripping on start up. I changed the MCB to a type C with higher amps to account for the surge when it starts up.

100% confident about the work I did

So now you have a 16A socket wired to a 20A circuit..... Interesting....

 

[TJ Anderson]

So now you have a 16A socket wired to a 20A circuit..... Interesting....

It is prob one of the new type fused industrial sockets so it's all cool

 

[Joe]

Why have you got 2 x 30ma d

18th edition RCD back up back up. Discrimination is so 17th Edition you know lol

Why have you got 2 x 30ma devices in series Joe?

The rcbo in the house was just to isolate the circuit from the rest of the house. If the cable gets cut or damaged in the garden, I don't want anything else being affected in the house. I could have fitted another rcd + MCB instead but there wasn't room on the board. The RCD in the garage is for the garage circuits. I didn't see the need to add another main switch in the garage. Is that against regulations?

 

[Joe]

So why a 20 amp now? Do you understand the difference between B & C curves?

No I don't! This is what I have always used with this table saw. From my rudimentary understanding a type C can cope with a surge in power twice as well as a type b!

 

[davesparks]

The rcbo in the house was just to isolate the circuit from the rest of the house. If the cable gets cut or damaged in the garden, I don't want anything else being affected in the house. I could have fitted another rcd + MCB instead but there wasn't room on the board. The RCD in the garage is for the garage circuits. I didn't see the need to add another main switch in the garage. Is that against regulations?

The point is that you have put two RCDs in series which does not comply. It raises the question of why you have provided RCD protection to the SWA distribution circuit which is normally unnecessary?

 

[davesparks]

Purely to keep any moisture out. They are installed inside the garage but my sockets, switch and cu are all waterproof. OTT maybe but I'd rather play it safe

You say you’d rather play it safe but you won’t even pay for an electrician to check the work you have done? This is nonsense, if you wanted to play it safe you would employ a competent electrician.
Instead you have carried out the work yourself and created an installation which, based on what you have said, is non-compliant and dangerous.

 

[Joe]

The point is that you have put two RCDs in series which does not comply. It raises the question of why you have provided RCD protection to the SWA distribution circuit which is normally unnecessary?

Thanks Dave. If it's against regs ill change it.

 

[Joe]

You say you’d rather play it safe but you won’t even pay for an electrician to check the work you have done? This is nonsense, if you wanted to play it safe you would employ a competent electrician.
Instead you have carried out the work yourself and created an installation which, based on what you have said, is non-compliant and dangerous.

Non compliant; fine. I can change it. I can't see that's in any way dangerous though

 

[davesparks]

Thanks Dave. If it's against regs ill change it.

Good, what will you change it to?
What is the EFLI of the distribution circuit?