On 2007-04-26 21:50:08 +0100, "Clark" said:


"Jim Alexander" wrote in message
. uk...

"Axel G" Axel wrote in message
...

I had the floorboards up in my one-bed flat today, to check the
wiring, and noticed that the socket circuit is not the usual "ring"
configuration. It simply has a 2.5 sq.mm T&E cable coming from the
fuse box, going to a connector block from which run three spurs: One
goes to a double socket in the lounge (for TV, Hi-Fi, etc). One goes
to my study (for computer gear, electric fan, etc) and the 3rd spur
goes to a socket in the bedroom, and then on to a dual socket in the
kitchen. The dual socket in the kitchen feeds a microwave a toaster, a
dishwasher, a washing machine and an electric kettle.

Is the above cirquit safe?

whether it is safe or not depends on the fusing

Jim A


Wrong. It depends on the area covered and the expected load as to whether
it should be ring or radial. Socket circuits are 30A and cable size 2.5mm.

Rubbish.

They have protection at 32A if ring final circuits and either 20A or
32A depending on cable size for radial circuits.

Either may be chosen. If a radial circuit has been implemented and
protected at 20A, then as long as there are not contraventions of other
rules this can be a safe installation. The sockets on a radial circuit
can be connected as required.


What he has is perfectly acceptable, if worried he could always run another
cable from the end socket back to the consumer unit and put it in parallel.

That's nonsense. It is not necessariy the case that running a
parallel cable from one socket back to the CU will legitimise the
circuit as a whole by creating a ring final circuit because the created
circuit may still have other non conforming issues.



A dishwasher shouldn't really be plugged in to a socket!

Nonsense. It can be plugged into a socket or connected to an FCU.


No way of telling if your wiring is safe without pictures or inspecting it.
You have no chance of getting "compensation" by claiming it's unsafe, so
don't let anyone put that idea in your head.

Who said anything about compensation?



You should really have a nice new split load consumer unit with MCBs and the
new harmonised wiring.

There may be wiring to the old colour standard and hence special
requirements to indicate the presence of both. The new colours do not
inherently make an installation safer.

The consumer unit is another issue.