agree with what you say but the breaker was spare ie it is fitted to the consumer unit but had no cable connected to it,if i was then the 1st person to connect a cable to it then i would be creating a new circuit,i am aware that you can spur from inside a consumer unit from an existing circuit but cant start a new one,just think its madness that i could have piggy backed into another circuit but am not allowed to use the empty breaker terminals a few inches away.sorry if i wasent clear.

this was argued on the IET forum by a lot more knowledgeable folk that us - using the fitted breaker does not make a new circuit, it`s there and part of the installation prior to your arrival - therefore the need for notification doesn`t apply.

your not supposed to spur from an mcb but obviously you can from a j box outside a consumer unit - now thats madness.

You cant get better than using a mcb dedicated to that circuit, spurring off an existing circuit and you can become liable for all thats on that circuit, madness yet again

who says your not supposed too?

this was argued on the IET forum by a lot more knowledgeable folk that us - using the fitted breaker does not make a new circuit, it`s there and part of the installation prior to your arrival - therefore the need for notification doesn`t apply.

imho i wouldet feel comfotable with it,there is far more that defines a circuit not just the protective device,the way i see it is if my cable is the only one going into the breaker then its my circuit (my new circuit)regardless of who fitted the breaker or when it as fitted.i wouldent want to the finer points in a court.however way i see it is that the breaker is only the circuit protective device and not the circuit,the circuit is the cable and whats on the end of it (fcu socket etc)and if there is no existing cable fitted to that breaker on arrival and you pop your cable in there i would say that you were running a new circuit albeit on a second hand breaker,just my opinion dont mean its the right one.

who says your not supposed too?

this question was asked on my c&g 2360 course back in 1999,dont know why but it was one of those questions that i seem to recall quite well,our instructor (30 years on the tools and well qualified)had no probs with taking a spur from a breaker however the same rules apply in that if its done once you cant do it again (cant spur off a spur etc).

imho i wouldet feel comfotable with it,there is far more that defines a circuit not just the protective device,the way i see it is if my cable is the only one going into the breaker then its my circuit (my new circuit)regardless of who fitted the breaker or when it as fitted.i wouldent want to the finer points in a court.however way i see it is that the breaker is only the circuit protective device and not the circuit,the circuit is the cable and whats on the end of it (fcu socket etc)and if there is no existing cable fitted to that breaker on arrival and you pop your cable in there i would say that you were running a new circuit albeit on a second hand breaker,just my opinion dont mean its the right one.

Like you say, just opinion.

Can be equally argued that the circuit in the CU was already in place and that you have simply modified it. The cable is only part of the circuit, not the whole.

Like you say, just opinion.

Can be equally argued that the circuit in the CU was already in place and that you have simply modified it. The cable is only part of the circuit, not the whole.

like I say, cleverer minds than us decided that was the case.

like I say, cleverer minds than us decided that was the case.

you do realise i wasn't referring to your earlier quote? but to the incorrectly edited one.

you do realise i wasn't referring to your earlier quote? but to the incorrectly edited one.

yes and I was saying you we`re correct.

this was argued on the IET forum by a lot more knowledgeable folk that us - using the fitted breaker does not make a new circuit, it`s there and part of the installation prior to your arrival - therefore the need for notification doesn`t apply.

who says your not supposed too?

sparkies, a few have said it, based on the 17th edition, i'll have a butchers at it later if i get time

Electrical IEE regs BS7671 are a little confusing sometimes but inshort the person doing the work needs to be suitably qualified and also be deemed a comptent person.Depending on how the spur is installed it could attract a minor works or installation certification.Also the work would probably need RCD protection in some form as req.The work would req testing and the results recorded on the cert.This work would also be notifiable to a regulatindg body NIC EIC or building control.Hope this helps.

the legal requirment for any electrical work is to be competent even periodic inspection and testing. everything above is right apart from it prob wounldnt need to notify LABC

also NICEIC isnt a regulating body nor is elseca/ECA, napit or bsi, as there isnt one (but we should have one)

your not supposed to spur from an mcb but obviously you can from a j box outside a consumer unit - now thats madness.

You cant get better than using a mcb dedicated to that circuit, spurring off an existing circuit and you can become liable for all thats on that circuit, madness yet again

You can take one spur directly off an mcb at the CU

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/7621/lol1ib.jpg

Edited June 8, 201114 yr by 9651

As long as its not in a kitchen or bathroom! Then you have to be registered with a part p scheme.