Sparkingchip:

2 socket circuits with the house split vertically 

Modern practice is to have 3 ring mains - upstairs, downstairs, kitchen - or else a separate socket for a washing machine on a 16A breaker if the kitchen doesn't have its own ring main.

Lighting 

It's convention to have 2 circuits for upstairs and downstairs lights although with LED bulbs just one circuit on a 6A breaker should be sufficient for most houses. I hold the view that outside lights should be on a separate circuit from inside lights in order to prevent water ingress from tripping a breaker that plunges the inside of the house into darkness.  

Space and water heating 

I hold the view that a central heating boiler should have its own circuit rather than being powered from a ring main despite it being a fairly low current device. An electric water heater should definitely have its own circuit. The number of circuits for space heating will depend on the systems that are installed.

Cooker

A 32A circuit

EV charger

Always have a spare position or two in the consumer unit for when the time comes to install the EV charger.

That is six circuits, seven if you split the space and water heating. There is no reason for the burglar alarm to have it’s own circuit.

A burglar alarm is a safety critical circuit. You don't want to ever encounter a situation where a burglar breaks in and the burglar alarm doesn't operate because it lost its power when something plugged into a bedroom socket tripped the breaker!

With a supply capped at 45-amps that is more than enough circuits.


Currently most supplies are being capped at 60-amps, that’s not enough to fully load two 32-amp socket circuits without any other usage.

I have an 80A supply fuse. 60A is probably enough for most houses with gas heating and cooking but all electric houses require at least 80A to be on the safe side although in reality 60A supply fuses can sustain a 100A load for a few hours without blowing. 100A supply fuses are common in recently built houses.

Sparkingchip:

2 socket circuits with the house split vertically 

Modern practice is to have 3 ring mains - upstairs, downstairs, kitchen - or else a separate socket for a washing machine on a 16A breaker if the kitchen doesn't have its own ring main.

Lighting 

It's convention to have 2 circuits for upstairs and downstairs lights although with LED bulbs just one circuit on a 6A breaker should be sufficient for most houses. I hold the view that outside lights should be on a separate circuit from inside lights in order to prevent water ingress from tripping a breaker that plunges the inside of the house into darkness.  

Space and water heating 

I hold the view that a central heating boiler should have its own circuit rather than being powered from a ring main despite it being a fairly low current device. An electric water heater should definitely have its own circuit. The number of circuits for space heating will depend on the systems that are installed.

Cooker

A 32A circuit

EV charger

Always have a spare position or two in the consumer unit for when the time comes to install the EV charger.

That is six circuits, seven if you split the space and water heating. There is no reason for the burglar alarm to have it’s own circuit.

A burglar alarm is a safety critical circuit. You don't want to ever encounter a situation where a burglar breaks in and the burglar alarm doesn't operate because it lost its power when something plugged into a bedroom socket tripped the breaker!

With a supply capped at 45-amps that is more than enough circuits.


Currently most supplies are being capped at 60-amps, that’s not enough to fully load two 32-amp socket circuits without any other usage.

I have an 80A supply fuse. 60A is probably enough for most houses with gas heating and cooking but all electric houses require at least 80A to be on the safe side although in reality 60A supply fuses can sustain a 100A load for a few hours without blowing. 100A supply fuses are common in recently built houses.