Ring on the end of a Radial!!?!?

[Geoffers]

Hi Folks,

Ok, advice required.

A neighbour a few doors down, wants a CU change. It's as straightforward as you like. Most of the earthing is in place. Basic circuits etc, everything on rewirealble fuses at the moment. The sockets are all on 6mm T&E 30A radials, no problem there apart from the kitchen.

A 6mm comes into the kitchen and feeds one double socket outlet. In the last few years, someone has installed a ring in 2.5mm t&e that goes out and feeds about 3 sockets plus a spur for the boiler and comes back again to this socket. There's no electric cooker or anything. Just your normal kitchen appliances.

I've never actually seen anything like this so not sure if ok. The reason i'm not sure is beacuse the initial cable from the CU is 6mm so it seems to me that there is enough capacity for a 2.5mm on the end. I can't see why they just didn't extend the radial instead. I'm thinking that this used to be for a old electric cooker or something and they've just assumed it should be a ring but couldn't be arsed to run a new cable in and used the 6mm instead.

The problem now is virtually all the 2.5mm is buried, tiling has been done (cables behind etc.) Don't want to have to rip out to get to cables, they go under a tiled floor and all that too apparently.

Any suggestions? ...as in leave it alone / sort it out.

i've not done any testing on it yet either....

Cheers
Geoff

 

[KINKY]

We do a similar thing, non domestic BTW.

6mm SWA to RCD, 2.5mm singles out from RCD to sockets and 2.5mm singles back to RCD

 

[Hawk81]

as long as the ring is fine and all your tests give you. correct reading and this joint is accessible then i dont see a problem

 

[Geoffers]

Thanks fellas! thats enough confirmation for me....i'll double check when i test everything anyway...cheers!

geoff

 

[Sintra]

Just going to throw a spanner in the works.

A ring final circuit must start and finish in the consumer unit and be connected to a 30/32a fuse or mcb. Appendix 15 p362

 

[davelerave]

it's prob not a hazard

but the rings should start/finish at board alright for clarity and testing

 

[ukpablo]

just disconnect the last return leg from last socket of 2.5mm and where it returns to the 6mm cable, this then making it a radial............then note this on cert about the different size of cabling etc and where it is?!

 

[Hawk81]

just disconnect the last return leg from last socket of 2.5mm and where it returns to the 6mm cable, this then making it a radial............then note this on cert about the different size of cabling etc and where it is?!

and change the fuse to a 20amp

 

[ukpablo]

yea.....................that too...............

 

[Des 56]

Its an unconventional circuit, but the regs do not prohibit the use of alternative methods
There doesn't appear to be any safety issues with the circuit
The statement of a ring main starting and finishing in the consumer unit would be correct,if it were a conventional ring,it isn't,so I will take that as a description not applicable to this circuit

Why would you want to reduce the ccc of this circuit unless the cable couldn't carry what the overcurrent is rated at?
It seems to me that there is little,if any,problem with the install method,unconventional yes,but not unsafe

Perhaps a note on the certificate or near the consumer unit wouldn't go amiss, describing the circuit,for someione working or testing it in future

 

[Hawk81]

Its an unconventional circuit, but the regs do not prohibit the use of alternative methods
There doesn't appear to be any safety issues with the circuit
The statement of a ring main starting and finishing in the consumer unit would be correct,if it were a conventional ring,it isn't,so I will take that as a description not applicable to this circuit

Why would you want to reduce the ccc of this circuit unless the cable couldn't carry what the overcurrent is rated at?
It seems to me that there is little,if any,problem with the install method,unconventional yes,but not unsafe

Perhaps a note on the certificate or near the consumer unit wouldn't go amiss, describing the circuit,for someione working or testing it in future

agreed

 

[ezzzekiel]

would tend to agree with above, i would prefer to renew if possible but apart from not being a standard arrangement i cant see anything wrong with it - providing the cables can carry the required current safely then i wouldnt worry

 

[1shortcircuit]

Would incorporating one of these be a worthwhile exercise?

 

[Hawk81]

Would incorporating one of these be a worthwhile exercise?

i dont see how an rcd spur will help. this circuit will be rcd protected at the board.

 

[1shortcircuit]

i dont see how an rcd spur will help. this circuit will be rcd protected at the board.

I suppose it helps if I read posts correctly

wants a CU change. It's as straightforward as you like. Most of the earthing is in place. Basic circuits etc, everything on rewirealble fuses at the moment

For some reason "rewireable fuses" is what stuck in my mind