Adding single radial sockets to Ring as spurs

[Calscot]

Hi,

I have recently completed an intensive electricians course and I am at the stage where I am trying to get practical experience wherever I can.

One of my jobs, which I am planning to use to join a competent person scheme, is to change my consumer unit and wire up my extension.

At present, I have two consumer units: one for the night storage heaters and the other for the remaining circuits. The economy 7 and night storage heaters have long been removed and converted into plug sockets, so I have four 16A mcbs devoted to mainly single plug sockets!

Ideally, I would like to replace the two consumer units for one unit. Disconnecting the second CCU from the Henley block will be straight forward as I have an isolator fitted after the meter.

Screwfix do a 10-way board with rcbos at a reasonable price which would be adequate if I can eliminate the four old storage heater circuit.

My plan is to go into the loft (we have a bungalow so all cabling is easily accessible) and connect the old storage heater sockets as spurs from the final ring circuit. Taking care to put in an FCU if there is more than one socket on each spur. That way the sockets can still be used and free up space on the board. I would then have enough spare slots for the ring and lighting circuit I will put into the extension.

I can't think of anything in the regulations which would prevent me doing this but would welcome advice from more experienced electricians as to whether this sounds like an appropriate solution. I feel it is safer to have all the sockets on the same circuit, as at present, someone can isolate the mcb for the ring but still have sockets live.

Any advice would be welcome.

 

[Octopus]

If your planned new fuse board will be full up when you fit it, it's not big enough.

Jmo

 

[westward10]

It is always best to leave some spare ways at the board but I see nothing wrong with your plan to resupply the one gang sockets from the existing ring final circuit.

 

[The Ghost]

Why not wire them into a Ring Final Circuit?

 

[Octopus]

^^ Personally I'd put them on a separate radial..

 

[westward10]

Why not wire them into a Ring Final Circuit?

Assuming you can pull another cable down the wall.

 

[Calscot]

Thank you for your replies. I will have used 9 out of the 10 slots when all of the jobs are finished which does not leave much room for expansion. I will look into getting a bigger board.
I want to avoid wiring them into their own separate ring as I will either have to channel out the wall to each socket or spur off the new ring which is similar to my original solution but will need a bit more copper.

 

[Octopus]

Just connect all 4 existing cables to a single RCBO - that's the most cost effective way to achieve anything ..... and its just a single circuit.

This also avoids unnecessary junction boxes and joints in the loft.....

 

[Calscot]

That would certainly be easier.

 

[uksrevivor]

Agree with Murdoch if possible try and put them on a dedicated radial or ring main circuit feeding all heaters. If not possible then I would make sure every heater had a FCU fed as a spur from the ring final to connect the heater to. This will allow you to isolate an individual heater for any maintenance or upgrade without loosing the power to ring final circuit.

 

[Calscot]

The heaters have been removed and turned into plug sockets.

 

[westward10]

Just connect all 4 existing cables to a single RCBO - that's the most cost effective way to achieve anything ..... and its just a single circuit.

This also avoids unnecessary junction boxes and joints in the loft.....

That in my opinion is a terrible idea.

 

[Octopus]

^^ why?

 

[Pete999]

4 sockets all nicely connected together as a 20Amp Radial circuit, not rocket science is it?

 

[Flanders]

Terminating 4 2.5mm cables into one rcbo might be a tight but spreding the 4 cables over 2 rcbos would be better ,
you mention you would prefer sockets all on one circuit, ir would be much better to have more than on circuit for your sockets because if a fault develops on one circuit you will not loose power to all your sockets at once
Also if you have room look a getting a bigger consumer unit a 14 way probley want cost you much more,
Although your design of seperate rcbos is a good idea and beter than dual rcd split load board , it would be cheaper to go for a split load board and would be perfectly aceptable for a domestic environment