13-08-12, 10:35 PM
Quote:maximum current carrying capacity for a 1mm cable reference method c is 13.5 amps
Is it not 10 amps? 1.5 15amps? I dunno.
Then you have voltage drop per metre, as well further possible drops/heat for bunching and burying in insulation.
A lighting circuit is protected by a 5 amp fuse (if you still have these you really should upgrade) or 6amp breaker (plus RCB if you wish to upgrade to meet 17th edition regs.)
I rewired my house and went for 1.5mm cable for the lighting and kept the circuits well within 1200 watt max possible (in reality two circuits the bigger is up to about 600watt max). As I've got tall ceilings and a few chandeliers (ooh err I know) I wired it up junction box style (ceiling roses don't work with hanging lights) and I didn't want to worry about bunching or insulation calculations. With 1.5mm you really shouldn't ever be able to stress the cable on a conservatively designed 6 amp circuit. Plus I just don't like the feebleness of 1mm on terminations personally.
Oh I'm not a spark, I'm an Inst Tech, but basic industrial electrical installation is part of my job.
Assuming a suitably qualified and competent person is finishing or checking your work, that person is really the person you should check with if you have any questions before you start wiring up.
It's really quite simple, but asking a variety of different people might make it complicated!