Extending a ring

[David Prosser]

"Need help with a calculator battery and that should be ok "

Unless of course it's a work !!

 

[The Ghost]

From my view point step by step instructions are not possible as each and every house is different for so many reasons. I do not know if you wiring is old, badly or well done, type of supply you have, what the circuit is, the correct cable used, earthing correctly installed, voltage, earth loop impedance, protective devices, environmental factors i.e. damp/dry hot/cool, your level of ability and most importantly, if you have a properly wired house why are there no sockets in the bedrooms already it is quite unusual. Then there is the thought, do you know about building regs and notification, how to terminate cables and then finally test the new addition to ensure it complies with regs? When you have all these questions in mind you may understand it is not without trepidation one considers carefully whether and how far to go to advise someone.
As you really asked what the forum thinks, and for advice, I think it very much echoes what the DIY Doctor said about regulations safely isolating, and appraisal of existing circuit safety and length, insurance implications, the fact it is an offence not to notify, the fact it can affect the sale of your property etc. Having said that, yes it does look perfectly straight forward doesn't it.
And Padraig, thats a bit of a low blow "trying to get work.." I'm fully booked I'm afraid. Your being offered pro bono professional advice, take it, it may just save not only your life but your loved ones. It is given with the best intentions, but perhaps not always in the most palatable way sadly.

 

[Pat H]

Hi Pat - in the nicest way, you have spent decades gaining the experience required to interpret internet based advice on motorcycle brakes (to use your example). And at least once a year a licensed expert puts your bike through its paces to make an independent assessment of its safe functioning and any work you have done. I would not like to encourage a novice to do what you do, or to have a novice being an MOT inspector.

So I will limit the Internet advice I give to novices. For me, advice on how to complete work that would trigger a MWC is a step beyond what is safe for them. They cannot safe isolate, they cannot test and they cannot complete the MW certificate. I completely understand there will be other views, and I might change my mind too

Its not often I need or get advice on mechanical things. I was a car mechanic many decades ago and have always done my own servicing on all my vehicles. Its that fact I have no issues about sharing that experience or knowledge online. If somebody asks and I know I will share. Its for them to decide if they have the skills to attempt the task.

As you say for electrical work you often need specialist test equipment like a low resistance ohm meter and Insulation resistance test equipment as well and Prospective fault measurement equipment and more.
And if they are needed and a DIYer doesn't have then they aren't equipped.

The flip side of with holding back advice is a lot of people will just find something online (more than likely not what they need or even correct) or give it ago anyway. Is it helping them to let them do it wrong, potentially unsafe?

 

[davesparks]

Thanks for the advice so far everyone, which, if I may sum up, is basically......get an electrician to do it. Right?

I understand that some of you are motivated by the safety risks involved in a DIYer tackling even the smallest of electrical jobs, and I would presume some are also motivated by the need to keep DIYers ignorant of even the simplest of electrical jobs to ensure a constant flow of business for electricians themselves, even if on forums like this, there is little direct opportunity to gain work (or maybe there is?).

I do, therefore, wonder what the point of this DIY forum is.

I understand electrics is dangerous, and I have never before attempted anything more complex than moving power sockets and light switches, which I have done several times, always taking the right safety precautions, and I have never had any problems. But basic electrics so seem pretty simple to me, and should be achievable by a competent DIYer who has more than just a few brain cells to rub together, given the right advice.

And if this kind of forum is not the place to get professional advice, then what is the point of it.

Extending the existing ring to accommodate three additional double sockets, which would involved: turning off the power at the consumer unit; a screw driver; un-coupling the existing cable from the existing socket; an additional 6m of cable (I would guess) to loop in the additional sockets; stripping a load of cable ends that had been cut for the sockets; and screwing all the skinned ends back in, seems to me to be closer to the simple side of electrics, than, say, replacing a Consumer Unit, which I have neither the knowledge, skill nor inclination of tackling.....ever.

What would be good is to understand what issues, if any, an extra 6m of cable might cause; are there any things to consider about the type of cable and sockets to get; are any 30amp junction boxes needed; is there in fact anywhere where one might get step by step instructions?

Thanks anyway.

Cheers


Padraig

Do you want to do this job in a way which ensures your own safety and the safety of your family? Of course you do, so you need to carry out work in accordance with the regulations.

The first thing you need to do is ensure that the existing installation, particularly the circuit you wish to extend, is in an acceptable and safe condition. If you start from an unsafe condition without fixing it then you can only make the danger worse.
Extending or altering an existing circuit can be a lot more tricky than installing a brand new on earth because you have to assess and deal with the condition of the existing wiring.

So the first steps of your step by step guide are to assess the existing installation for the adequacy of the earthing and bonding arrangements, the adequacy of the protectiveness devices and the presence of suitable RCD protection. Also check that the existing circuit is designed correctly, is not overloaded, has the correct size And type of cable and is not already at the maximum allowed length of cable for the particular circuit design.
You also need to carry out testing as part of this, including the continuity of the CPC, integrity of the ring circuit, insulation resistance and earth fault loop impedance.

Only once you have an accurate picture of the condition of the existing can you begin to consider the design of the alteration to the circuit.