wrote in message
ps.com...
Hey Folks,

I recently had to replace a ring main socket in a part of the house
that was re-wired 20+ years ago by an ex-electricity board inspector.

Which means nothing! 20+ years ago people did things differently.

I was surprised to see that the earth connectors, instead of being
wired into the socket, were twisted together along with a flying earth
and connected to the earth connector in the metal box. The flying
earth alone went to the socket. None of the earths were sheathed!


Why would that matter? The socket usually stays where it is.

Previously, I would have connected all three earth wires into the
socket. However, this unexpected configuration seems less likely to
come adrift because the three-wire collection goes into a fixed
connector and only a single wire goes to the socket. The three-wire
collection only needs disturbing if re-wiring is needed, not whenever
a socket is replaced.

More sensible doing it that way.

(I recently bought a socket from Wickes; it had a square hole for the
earths and I had difficulty getting three thin earths to stay in. I
dislike bending the ends as they fall off if you have to straighten
them out.)

Apart from the sheathing, is the unexpected configuration: legal, less
safe, more safe?

TIA

Peter

Legal with respect to which Law? People often use the word "legal" when
they mean complying with an advisory regulation. This is not correct as
"legal" would refer to criminal law.
Sheathing doesn't matter inside the box on the back of a socket or a
switch - why would it?
I would connect the earth wires as you describe, but not all sockets are
good quality - so if you tighten the wires the screw keeps turning.