Re-wire advice

[hoppy]

Hi about to re-wire my house and use it for assessment with napit.

Can't decide on how many circuits to do, only a 3 bed semi, but can't decide on whether to do rings or 4mm radials for power.

Not concerned on size of d/b or cost, what do you guys think, are radial circuits extinct or do you think they still have a place in domestic premises?

Thanks

Craig

 

[malcolmsanford]

As your the designer of the installation it is really up to you. Each installation will have it's own problems and criteria for design. If your going to use a split board then:

Before we get onto power and it's your home, I would wire the lights instead of up/down but half/half so you would have half up/down on one circuit and the other half up/down on another.

Power in a modern home for me would be radials, 3 bedrooms for me would be 2 A3 radials, 2 beds on one other bed/landing on another.

Downstairs in living area and hall 1 A2 radial. If as you say circuits are no problem then in kitchen I would do the sockets in a A3 radial, and appliances on their own individual radials.

I would think about an high integrity board if you were looking for outside power to a shed or garage, and perhaps for an individual socket or circuit for non RCD protection.

High powered applainces as usual on radials.

I would aslo think about data/ telephone/TV while you have the chance, though with wireless now perhaps data is something you might want to look at differently

 

[oldtimer]

1. 32A Cooker circuit
2. 16A Immersion circuit (I still have mines just in case the gas goes off)
3. 40A shower circuit or 16A for garage power ie 2 or 3 twins (I have a power shower)
4. 32A ring Kitchen
5. 32A ring Upstairs
6. 32A ring downstairs
7. 6A lights upstairs
8. 6A lights downstairs
9. 6A lights outside lights front and back / garage lights + attic lights
10.6A Alarm/smoke heads/door intercom

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Split upstairs bedrooms and landing across 2 circuits for sockets.
Upstairs lighting circuit to include downstairs hallway light.
Downstairs lighting circuit to include upstairs landing light.
Kitchen lighting circuit.
Split kitchen, living room, and any other downstairs sockets across 2 or 3 circuits as the size of the property dictates.
Smoke alarm circuit.
Boiler or Immersion heater circuit.
Any other requirements on their own circuits.

Either use a RCBO for each circuit, or if using a split load board then segregate as best you can to cause least inconvenience in the event of a fault.

I also fit a surface mounted twin socket at the side of the consumer unit non RCD protected, labelled up as "emergency use only, not to be used to power equipment used outside". This is the get out of jail card if they lose an RCD and you cant get there for whatever reason, at least they can get the freezer plugged back in or whatever.

Ultimately it is up to you, and there are no right and wrongs as long as it is compliant. I prefer radials, but in kitchens and utility rooms i use ring finals.

Cheers..........Howard

 

[sparkiegaz]

sod rings sling radials in less testing,,,,

 

[egginyourface]

if u get a fault half way through ring circuit its much easier to repair and get power back on with NO damage.

if u get a fault half way through a radial ur fudged!! it ends up costing cliet more because you want to save yourself a bit on the testing side

 

[sparkiegaz]

i still say rings are pain in the arse,,,radials for me,,,

 

[telectrix]

and me. no hassle wth spurs.

 

[egginyourface]

went to a job yesterday where 2 radials were run to supply kitchen. one of the radials were tripping out.

found problem and had to lose half circuit. told the customer if they wanted the other sockets to work would need chase out the wall and make all this damage.

if only electrician had run a ring....

 

[telectrix]

so you could make 2 radials? faults on rings should be fixed anyway.chasing or not.

 

[egginyourface]

Why do faults on ring circuits HAVE to be fixed?? as you said you could make two radials no damage job done

 

[telectrix]

just my preference. like to fix if at all possible.

 

[egginyourface]

i know what you mean. if the fault occurs and i find that turning it into 2 radials means that all but one socket is on a 16 amp breaker i will make decision whether it needs to be kept as a ring circuit.

but if it turns out that ive split the ground floor into 2 equal circuits then why bother with the hassle.

radial for me is last option.

 

[RWJ]

Why do faults on ring circuits HAVE to be fixed?? as you said you could make two radials no damage job done

You could as long as you changed the MCB for a 20a or 16a

 

[Electricalserv]

if u get a fault half way through ring circuit its much easier to repair and get power back on with NO damage.

if u get a fault half way through a radial ur fudged!! it ends up costing cliet more because you want to save yourself a bit on the testing side

If you get a fault in a ring i.e loose connection....you would never know...because it would end up like 2 radials....if you get a fault the sockets after the fault will stop working....radials all day long for me

Edit......should read further posts before commenting!!!!