Understanding domestic electric lighting circuits (UK)

In modern domestic properties in the UK, the main electric lighting circuits are separate from the power ring main circuit. Each house should ideally have at least two lighting circuits; each protected by a 5 amp fuse or 6 amp trip in the consumer unit.

Radial circuits are used for lighting.There is one lighting circuit on each lighting MCB.Lighting circuits are usually on a 6A MCB or 5A fuse, though 10A can be used (with some extra restrictions (now removed in the 17th edition of the wiring regs)) for large circuits.However if the area served is large, more 5A or 6A circuits would in most cases be preferable.

All the light wiring diagrams are available in the old and the new cable colours to avoid confusion. So, before we get stuck in to some wiring diagrams, Start Here to make sure you keep yourself safe. Once you have read the safety tips, a good place to start is by getting up to speed on the basic radial lighting circuit. Sometimes called a loop ...

This is an alternative way of wiring a lighting circuit. Instead of taking the feed wire from the consumer unit to the ceiling rose it is taken to the switch. The permanent live wire is wired into the switch and the switched live into the switched live terminal. The neutrals are connected together using a terminal connector.

Type one lighting circuit. The second system in popular use is the junction box circuit or system. Power is taken from the consumer unit to the first junction box. The live is interrupted by the switch wiring and the circuit is carried on to the next junction box. A cable is run from the junction box to the light, usually via a ceiling rose.

Welcome to the Home Wiring Guide (UK) Home improvement can be a minefield, unexpected problems can cause grief and home wiring is one problems than most people hate. We here at the GUIDE hope that you can with our help and step by step guides will help to guide you through your home wiring projects.

Step 1: The first step is to wire up the light pendant. The first length of cable will be from the supply to the light itself. Usually the light base or pendant provides all the terminals necessary to wire up the lighting circuit. If this is not the case, push-in or strip connectors are the preferred way of connecting up the circuit.

This wiring diagram shows how all houses and most of commercial lighting installations are wired these days. It is a modern way of wiring which reduces breaks in the cable and makes the work much easier and faster. Let's break down the wiring to steps. Step 1: The first thing we need to understand is how to wire a light pendant. Light pendants ...

In addition to household wiring, all plugs in the UK feature the three colours of wire we mention above. The primary purpose for doing this is to make the wiring consistent across appliances and the electrical wiring used in sockets and lights including their corresponding circuits and mains.

Most commonly used diagram for home wiring in the UK. House wiring diagrams including floor plans as part of electrical project can be found at this part of our website. Learning those pictures will help you better understand the basics of home wiring and could implement these principles in practise.