domestic lighting and consumer unit

[stone age man]

Sorry new here, just had an electrician pop round to quote for work, domestic home electrics, uk, worcestershire, when he saw that my downstairs lighting was wired in a ring (ie consumer unit has 2 lives to the RCBO, away and return - sorry not sure on the best terminology) he was unhappy as he would have expected it to be a spur, should i be worried about it?

 

[James]

A ring would be unusual for domestic lighting, however, even if it is a ring it would not fall foul of any regulation I can think of.

Assuming that they just took the lid off, looked at the wires and said "this is a ring and it is wrong so i won't touch it"
It is probably not a ring, the only way to be sure is to test it.

I would recommend finding a different electrician.

 

[stone age man]

A ring would be unusual for domestic lighting, however, even if it is a ring it would not fall foul of any regulation I can think of.

Assuming that they just took the lid off, looked at the wires and said "this is a ring and it is wrong so i won't touch it"
It is probably not a ring, the only way to be sure is to test it.

I would recommend finding a different electrician.

Thank you, that was my feeling spent all day feeling like i should be wearing short trousers and asking for a packed lunch.

He also had a problem with there being 3 wires in a downstairs ring main RCBO these were the downstairs ring (2 live wires) and a single additional socket on a spur powering the BT router right next door to the consumer unit, can't say i am a fan of the mechanical aspects of electrical connectors (as a mechanical engineer) but i am puzzled about this being a problem

 

[James]

again, i would doubt his experience and knowledge.

A spur from a ring may be taken from any point of the ring (socket, fused connection point, junction box) or indeed the origin (circuit breaker)

appendix 15 in the blue book (p.s. i know it is not the latest edition but it is what is at hand right now!!)

 

[stone age man]

again, i would doubt his experience and knowledge.

A spur from a ring may be taken from any point of the ring (socket, fused connection point, junction box) or indeed the origin (circuit breaker)

appendix 15 in the blue book (p.s. i know it is not the latest edition but it is what is at hand right now!!)

Thank you, looks like going back to getting 3 quotes might be the best way

 

[littlespark]

i dont know how anyone with any experience looks at 2 cables at the rcbo and instantly assumes its a ring....

Sometimes it is the easiest place to branch off to feed a single outside light... or doorbell transformer... or anything!


Makes me wonder what they're being taught these days

 

[stone age man]

thank you it really made me feel small, maybe i played it a bit thick, but as the one needing the work done i was cap in hand, will try another company