1mm or 1.5mm T&E for standard lighting circuit in your average house.

[MFS Electrical]

In certain situations the tenants take the light bulbs out and steal them, so there's an argument there as well.

I remember years ago getting called out to a building where all the lights weren't working, a day after they'd been re-lamped, some jakey had stolen all of the starters from the sides of the fittings

 

[MFS Electrical]

deleted - duplicate

 

[MDJ]

Out of interest what's most commonly used?

Pretty suprised you asked to be honest, surely it depends on what your connecting to the circuit? PS, 1.5mm2, well maybe 1.0mm2, or even 2.5mm2, hmm, where shall I start?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Pretty suprised you asked to be honest, surely it depends on what your connecting to the circuit? PS, 1.5mm2, well maybe 1.0mm2, or even 2.5mm2, hmm, where shall I start?

I'm on about a standard lighting circuit, in your standard house. For example if you was pricing/1st fixing a traditional built newbuild 2 bed semi with standard pendants...what would your usual go to cable be for the lighting circuits? Mine would be 1mm T&E others would choose 1.5mm T&E. I was interested in what is most commonly used, hence the poll.

 

[MFS Electrical]

I'm on about a standard lighting circuit, in your standard house. For example if you was pricing/1st fixing a traditional built newbuild 2 bed semi with standard pendants...what would your usual go to cable be for the lighting circuits? Mine would be 1mm T&E others would choose 1.5mm T&E. I was interested in what is most commonly used, hence the poll.

Go for 1mm2 if your doing a couple of new builds then the cost saving will soon add up (I know its a complete contradiction to what I said earlier but your not me so I assume you don't have the same reservations about 1.0mm that I do)

 

[Marvo]

There's a lot of mention of the reduced load of modern LED lighting but no mention of the sometimes appalling power factor and large inrush currents of many of the LED drivers and fittings that at least partially offsets that......

 

[HandySparks]

There's a lot of mention of the reduced load of modern LED lighting but no mention of the sometimes appalling power factor and large inrush currents of many of the LED drivers and fittings that at least partially offsets that......

True, but thinner cable will keep the inrush current down a bit.

 

[MFS Electrical]

True, but thinner cable will keep the inrush current down a bit.

And provide handy auxiliary heating for the gaff

 

[7029 dave]

When rewiring pulling through conduit switch drops etc, 1mm always,an if the circuit needed to be split into 2 circuits say per floor so be it. Never had to do this personally on bog standard 3 beds.

 

[loplug]

Almost always 1mm² for me as well and as mentioned before split to extra circuits if necessary

 

[123]

On these shores not many wholesalers stock 1.0mm T&E, so it's 1.5mm T&E generally used.

All wholesalers stock Twin Brown, PVC/PVC Brown or Blue singles, and PVC/PVC Brown or Blue singles & Earth. All in 1.5mm

 

[Phil Thompson]

Same for me, though have never bought a roll of the single blue only the brown.

Though had a kitchen job on Saturday looking an extra under cupboard light and glass cupboard light on with the rest.

Handily it was going above the light switch, so switch wire wasn’t a worry, but when I opened the switch it was all t&e in and t&e out.

 

[Andy19]

Shirley (!) you use a cable suitable for the design, not 'cos of its physical size?

Quite right, stick to the regs! Unless of course you can depart from the regs in a way that provides greater safety.

 

[sparksfly]

I like to tug a 1.5mm...a wee 1mm does not no do it for me !!, also useful for the odd socket.. although, have used 3c 1mm T/E easier for dimmer switch & 2way terminations.

 

[satori]

Margaret, Margaret, there's a fool down here calling you Maureen.

Twas Maureen when Harry Enfield did it, and Margaret when Little Britain did it. Ha! At last, I'm able to contribute to the forum... shame it's not on topic.