Bathroom Electrics

markyrp · Sep 1, 2014

Hi All,
Just looking for some advice with respect to Bathroom Electrics.
I am going to be installing a new bathroom suite with the addition of a mixer shower with a fixed head above the bath.
The house was built in 2006 and currently has an external 2 gang switch so the lighting and extractor fan are operated independently. There is no isolator and the circuits are not RCD protected.
I intend fitting some mains voltage LED downlighters with integrated drivers and also replace the extractor. 1 of the downlighters will be above the bath.
The downlighters are IP65 and the ceiling height is approx 2.4m. My question really is whether or not I would have to provide RCD protection following the alteration to the lighting cct. Also would I have to fit an isolator. As it is not a new cct I was just hoping for some clarification.
Many thanks.

markyrp · Sep 4, 2014

Anybody?

Octopus · Sep 4, 2014

An rcd covering all the circuits in a bathroom is recommended

markyrp · Sep 4, 2014

Murdoch said:
An rcd covering all the circuits in a bathroom is recommended

Thanks for that.Would you suggest moving the upstairs lights MCB to the RCD protected side of the CU?

Richard Burns · Sep 5, 2014

Easiest way to do it if you have space on the RCD side.
Careful of nuisance tripping of all upstairs power, but you may have no other option.
Alternatively you could if the parts are available replace the MCB with an RCBO.
However this would need full testing of the circuit to ensure regulatory compliance.

markyrp · Sep 5, 2014

Thanks Richard,
I will open up the CU to see how much cable I have and see if there is sufficient to move the MCB.
Might have to go down the RCBO route. If so might as well do the downstairs lighting as well.