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Christian McArdle
 
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Default Lighting circuits and MCB's tripping

If I split down to 4 seperate 6A MCB's, will that prevent this?
Or, replace the present 6A MCB's with 10A


This will not help (except in ensuring that fewer lights fail when it
trips). When an incandescent bulb blows, it ionises and goes pratically
short circuit and may draw hundreds of amps. It is not related to the number
of bulbs on the circuit. The solution is either to use a slower protective
device, such as a cartridge fuse carrier (Type C MCB probably still too
sensitive), or to use compact fluorescent bulbs.

The second solution is by far the best, as it also reduces environmental
pollution and global warming. If you had all 32 lights on at 60W average,
you are drawing almost 2kW of power, which is as much as a kettle or fan
heater. With compact fluorescents, you'd probably be drawing around 11W per
bulb, or 350W.

Christian.