16A off 32A ring

[John-SJW]

How do you guys get over taking an appliance which is 16A off a 32A ring?

thx

 

[pc1966]

If it were something that I had to do, I would have the RFC on 32A as normal and a separate isolation switch and 16A MCB 'FCU' just for the 16A socket.

As with the long thread on two rings on one MCB a couple of months ago, it is difficult to point to a 16A breaker-fed load on an RFC as being much of a danger compared to 20A from a double 13A-fed sockets.

But to me the main problem is when something very odd like this is done, the next person to fiddle with the system has a much higher risk of causing danger due to it not being correctly documents and/or the documentation not being read by said person.

One benefit of the RFC comes from the diversity possible from multiple loads below 13A along with a 30A fuse / 32A MCB supply OCPD. Reducing that to allow for a very unusual socket for domestic work seems wrong. Equally not having a 16A socket limited to 16-20A MCB is also a hazard, as even with a fixed load one might assume a higher chance of flex damage if it can be plugged in and out.
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Also I don't not think you can ever safely assume that a load plugged in to a socket is fixed. What you originally fitted it for might be, but next occupant might well decide to plug in a totally different appliance / extension cable to the socket. So the socket must be overload protected.

 

[John-SJW]

pc1966, your concerns are what people might do in the future.
That is merely a concern.

I saw a 16A tumble dryer off a 32A ring. A Wylex fused switch was on the ring with a 16A fuse. This switched a 16A commercial socket that was on the continental tumble dryer. They guy who fitted it, in his own home, said it was 100% safe. It was. He worked in complex commercial electrical switching and whatnot, so was fully understanding of electrical matters. He said if I leave this house I will install a 13A socket. By the OSG posted on this thread he half conformed to the current regs. They state a switch with a 16A mcb off the 32A ring is fine, but the appliance must be permanently fixed.

The OSG does make it easy to install an oven that draws over 13A but lower than 16A on a 32A ring. The point of an oven did come up in this thread. Of course the loadings on the ring have to be taken into account.

About 5 years ago a friend of mine renovating his house was told by me to buy an oven of 13A. I then saw a Meile oven they were smitten on that drew 15A or so, that was delivered. This was got around by splitting a ring, so not problem in the end. But the ring could have stayed by fitting a local switch and a 16A mcb for the oven with a permanent fix. All legal.

So, what has been determined is a 32A ring is not limted to just a maximum of a 13A appliance.

 

[DPG]

pc1966, your concerns are what people might do in the future.
That is merely a concern.

I saw a 16A tumble dryer off a 32A ring. A Wylex fused switch was on the ring with a 16A fuse. This switched a 16A commercial socket that was on the continental tumble dryer. They guy who fitted it, in his own home, said it was 100% safe. It was. He worked in complex commercial electrical switching and whatnot, so was fully understanding of electrical matters. He said if I leave this house I will install a 13A socket. By the OSG posted on this thread he half conformed to the current regs. They state a switch with a 16A mcb off the 32A ring is fine, but the appliance must be permanently fixed.

The OSG does make it easy to install an oven that draws over 13A but lower than 16A on a 32A ring. The point of an oven did come up in this thread. Of course the loadings on the ring have to be taken into account.

About 5 years ago a friend of mine renovating his house was told by me to buy an oven of 13A. I then saw a Meile oven they were smitten on that drew 15A or so, that was delivered. This was got around by splitting a ring, so not problem in the end. But the ring could have stayed by fitting a local switch and a 16A mcb for the oven with a permanent fix. All legal.

So, what has been determined is a 32A ring is not limted to just a maximum of a 13A appliance.

Ring split into 2 x 16A radials? Were both legs still able to cope with the other loads in addition to the cooker?

 

[John-SJW]

Of course the split into two radials was capable. Why do you ask such a question?

 

[DPG]

Of course. Why do you ask such a question?

I thought it was a reasonable question to ask. Sorry. I'm out.

 

[John-SJW]

I will ignore such inappropriate off topic questions, that merely fill up the thread.

 

[DPG]

I will ignore such inappropriate off topic questions, that merely fill up the thread.

Do what you like. It was a fair question and I thought on-topic. You seem to know best though.

 

[John-SJW]

I know how to size up loads on a radial. I did know best as I was on site at the time. Leave it at that.

 

[Pete999]

Do what you like. It was a fair question and I thought on-topic. You seem to know best though.

I agree as well,

 

[westward10]

Unbelievable, thread closed again.