Safe Isolation Procedures

May 7, 2012 How To No comments

READ BEFORE COMMENCING ANY ELECTRICAL TASK:

Make sure to follow a safe isolation procedure before commencing any electrical task on your circuit that you are going to do the work on. Safe isolation is achieved by these steps in the following order:

  • Making sure your voltmeter works by Testing/proving your voltmeter with a known electricity source (something you know has electricity to it),
  • Test with your proven voltmeter the circuit you want to carry the work out on while its Live,
  • Isolate the circuit you want to work on and test again with your voltmeter to see that the circuit is “dead” indeed,
  • To stop someone from accidently re-energizing the circuit, a locking off device must be used to isolate the MCB/isolator. If this is not possible a person must be placed at the isolator/MCB to assist you to stop someone else re-energizing the circuit,
  • Test your voltmeter again at a known electricity source to make sure your voltmeter is still functioning correct.

How To Light A Bathroom

April 29, 2012 Lighting No comments

Bathroom light fittings is probably the least understood of all lights in the house and knowing how to light a bathroom shouldn’t be a difficult task. A probable reason for this is that the bathroom is normally the last priority when thinking of fitting atractive light fittings in the home and needs more knowledge about when choosing one. Well, at least in most households.

The opposite, however, is true. Let’s look at the reasons behind this. The first thing about bathroom light fixtures is that it is faced with repeated fluctuation in high moisture and enclosed spaces unlike regular flush mount lighting in the rest of the house.
The high moisture levels have a way of sneaking into the fixtures and possibly causing an electrical problem. If not for anything else, buy lighting that is specifically bathroom rated light fixtures as they are manufactured to withstand this very conditions.

Aside form keeping the wiring and circuitry in water and moisture proof cases, the paint or specific type of finish is also different and is designed to protect the unit from corrosion and water damage that could make the fittings fail their IP Rating. Corrosion is an issue that is specifically addressed when designing
and manufacturing bathroom light fixtures.

This articles has, up to this point discussed the various physical attributes of fixtures that are exposed to the moisture levels typically found in a bathroom, aesthetically speaking the bathroom has been relegated by most to the farthest reaches of the realm. If possible people would rather not think about it.
But most of us who value our hygiene and sanity, you’ll know that bathroom light fixtures are where it all starts.

Aesthetically, the bathroom must be bright, without being glaring to the occupant. So, white, diffused lighting that will illuminate the space without the need for sunglasses is the simple requirement. Appealing wall paper and corresponding accents will go a long way.

When choosing the bathroom light fixtures, you can choose designs that are in harmony with the rest of the house. So that a guest using the facilities, doesn’t feel he has walked in from a beautiful home and into the twilight zone.

How to Install A Power Supply In Your Garden

April 27, 2012 How To No comments

Before starting your outdoor power circuit you first have to consider first the method of electrical installation, path of circuit, length of circuit, number of fixtures on circuit, type of cable to be used, type of voltage (LV or ELV) and type of lights and fixtures to be used. All electrical installations should conform to Part P of the IET Wiring Regulations : BS7671 (2011). All outdoor circuits must be protected by a RCD as the circuit would be outside the equipotential zone. This does not necessarily apply to lights mounted on the exterior walls of a dwelling and depends all on the method of electrical installation. If possible it is best to install the outdoor power circuit on its own protective device (MCB or RCBO depending on method of installation) in the consumer unit to separate it from the remainder of the electrical installation in the house to prevent nuisance tripping.

Outdoor lights

The power source for outdoor or garden lights can be either 230V A.C LV(low voltage) or 12V ELV(extra low voltage). ELV would simplify the installation dramatically. No RCD would be required if installed with ELV as long as the spur feeding the outdoor circuit is located inside the dwelling. If powering your outdoor lights with a LV power source the circuit must be protected with a RCD or RCBO, either at the source or from a RCD protected Spur on the circuit that feeds the outdoor lights. The cable used must be shock and impact resistance and weatherproof. For examble SWA cable and must be installed, if under ground in suitable ducting at a depth of 2ft. Weatherproof junction boxes must be used where light fittings or any spur off the main outdoor circuit is connected.

How To Install Power To Shed

To supply power to your shed in the garden a supply will need to be fed from a seperate MCB in the Consumer Unit in the house. Make sure there is an available way in the Consumer Unit. The rating of the MCB to be used will depend on your demand in the shed. Typically you will require lights and sockets in the shed fed from a local Consumer Unit in the Shed. This Consumer Unit will be fed from the Consumer Unit in the house from an MCB with a rating calculated by the volt drop on the cable size over the length to the shed and the cable method of installation. The current-carrying capacity of the cable and voltage drop of cable sizes can be referenced to in the IEE On-site Guide; BS 7671 : 2008 IEE Wiring Regulations 17th Edition, Appendix 6.

The cable to be used should be weather and impact resistant, ie. SWA cable installed with cable ducting if being burried underground, 2ft deep preferably. It may also be clipped with cable cleats to a wall of fence. Remember to use SWA cable glands at either end. The cable can either be 3 core or 2 core but if 2 core cable is used an additional earth cable will need to be installed alongside the SWA cable. Reference your On-Site guide for the size of the additional earth cable. If unsure the earth cable does not need to be greater in size than the SWA cable core size.

A basic 2 way SHOWER CONSUMER UNIT can be used as the Consumer Unit in the shed which should give enough ways for a 6A lighting circuit and a 32A socket final ring circuit.



Wiring Regulations

April 24, 2012 Uncategorized No comments

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