Sparkies in the know?

[gazzawazza]

I've been told (by an electrician mate who is up on the regs) that it's okay to run a cooker hood from the lighting circuit.
However I've also been told by another mate (who is a time-served electrician but no longer works in the trade) that it doesn't sound right to him.
Both lads are good mates and I trust them both and - that's the problem!
The first lad does everything by the book and would never do anything dodgy so that should be enough for me, but the second lad was very highly qualified but has not done any electrical work for a long time. Even he says that if "lad A" (whom he also knows) says it's now okay under Part P then it should be okay but there's that little bit of doubt!
Can anyone give me a definite yes or no on this?

[buildersmate]

It is perfectly acceptable since the rating of a hood is typically 100W (40W lamps, 60W for the fan) and that is well within the cable rating of the lighting circuit.
What is not acceptable though is that anyone other than qualified electrician installs one since all devices in the kitchen are covered under Part P Building Regs (or alternatively the non-qualified person makes an application to BC for them to check the work).

[LCDMAN]

As a fully qualified, certified and time-served electrician, I agree with Buildersmate. It's only a low wattage device and more than OK to go on the lighting circuit. The lighting circuit could be wired in cable as small as 1.0mm but even this is OK for such a low wattage device.

Having said that, I'd probably take the supply from the lighting circuit but via an FCU (fused connection unit) with a 3A fuse in - this satisfies the "regs" requirement for a suitable point of isolation for maintenance purposes. It means you can safely isolate it without having to turn the lighting circuit off at the CU.

[LCDMAN]

no.knowledge - WTF are you on about mate??

[ChuckFickens]

Mark Hughes, man citys managers nickname is Sparky

I assume that was the reference no know was making... if not he has just been on the hard stuff again :)

[BigDave44]

I installed a cooker in our kitchen about 5 years ago, including doing the wiring. A hob had previously been installed, and I took my power off from that. Did I do wrong ?

Chuck - why haven't you answered my Computer question yet?

[gazzawazza]

Thanks Buildersmate (you always give sound advice, I was hoping you'd pop in) and LCDman too. And don't worry, I wouldn't do it myself without having it checked afterwards by someone with greater knowledge than myself. My mate had said it would need to be via a fused spur so it will be. Once again thanks.