In article , Harry
Bloomfield writes
Stephen wrote :
Hello,

I was thinking of fitting an emergency light near the CU. It's under
the stairs, so there's no daylight to see by when an RCD or MCB trips.
I see they use an 8w bulb. How bright are these? I know a 7w cfl is
supposed to be equivalent to a 40w filament bulb. Are these lights as
bright as a 40w bulb? I'm wondering whether it could be used as the
only light in the room or whether I need a "normal" light in addition
to the emergency one?

It will be perfectly adequate to see your way to reset the tripped MCB.
No need for a separate light, just buy a maintained type. These work
like a normal light as in operated by a switch, but if the supply fails
it comes on fed from the internal battery. The light output is always a
little over estimated, but you can buy larger ones if necessary. It
should be fed from the same circuit as the normal light, so that if
that MCB trips, it comes on. For under the stairs, it should be
perfectly adequate.

We have a few at Church (non-maintained type) and they are perfectly
adequate to see your way around a large room, down stairs, etc. once
your eyes get used to them after the normal lights. For under stairs I
would say they would be perfectly adequate and I would rate them
equivalent to a bit under a 40W conventional bulb.
--
John Alexander,

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