"Peter Parry" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 22:53:14 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

"Peter Parry" wrote

However, the consequential hazards are not.
A characteristic of many continental installations is that there are
a smaller number of sockets in a house than for a house of similar
age in the UK and consequently much more use of trailing extensions.

Not the fault of the radial system.

Yes it is

It isn't. You just fit more.

as it is both more expensive to fit radials initially and
much more difficult and expensive to add them later. A Dutch friend
of mine has recently returned to a brand new house in Holland after
several years in the UK. In the UK their office room had 15 double
sockets which took a day to retrofit. Their new house in Holland
includes an "office" room which has 5 single sockets. To fit 30
outlets in the new room would cost him well over £3,000 including the
extensive re plastering and redecoration required throughout the
house after fitting the new cables.

Rings are not illegal in Holland.

These are inherently more hazardous than wall sockets and contribute
to far more fires of electric origin than does fixed wiring. The
lack of any form of appliance lead protection coupled with high trip
currents

High trip current? 16A MCBs or RCBOs on 8 sockets is not high.

Yes it is, it is more than high enough to allow a 2A flex to burn for
some time and start a fire.

Fit a 16A flex instead of bell wire.

If a simple
fuse fails in a plug the protection is a 32A MCB (or fuse)

Fuses, which are 13A maximum, don't fail short circuit - only open
circuit. In safety terms usually the simpler things are the safer
and more reliable they are.

I have known a few not to blow.

The IEC continue to peddle IEC
60906-1 which manages to be as unsafe

It isn't.

The improved safety of the ring over the radial stems largely from
secondary effects of the greater number of fixed sockets and fuse
protection of the appliance lead.

"improved safety of the ring" Where?

In its design, in the proper certification of devices to use with it
and with its proven inherently lower risk of causing fires.

Proven? Only in your mind.

A radial circuit with RCBOs, tripping
on neutral and live, on each circuit is much safer.

No it isn't.

It is.

The UK ring system
trips on 32A and only the live. Most new Continental systems have RCBOs.

My Dutch friends brand new just finished house doesn't.

Try Germany.

Most fires are caused by overloads which do not trip high current
protective devices.

When having RCBOs tripping on L & N, there is s high safety factor.

Fires in the UK are caused by the same problem. Most homes I see have
trailing extension leads, especially around computers, TVs, etc.

Indeed, and each appliance plugged in has a low value fuse.

Do they? Sure they do!

Contrary
to your ignorant assertion that most fuses are 13A most low current
devices have moulded on plugs and the same (correct) fuse they were
originally supplied with as they rarely fail.

When they do fail a 13A is invariably fitted.

On a Shuko system there is no protection at all other than the main
16A fuse or circuit breaker.

Or RCBO which is far safer.

There would be. A 16A RCBO at the CU, rather than a 32A RCBO. 1363 relies
on old hat fuses in plug tops.

As fuses are cheaper and inherently more reliable than RCBO's

They are? New to me.

If I did a re-wire, it would have radials and RCBOs.

For some reason you never seem to put your money where your mouth is.
Do you use _any_ of the aberrant ideas you suggest to others
yourself?

My house does not require a rewire. I may consider using RCBOs on some
circuits.