Ring FC in domestic inst

[Buzz1980]

Hi all
This is a post regarding wiring of sockets in domestic installation


common practice I have seen would be

downstairs RFC
Upstairs RFC
Kitchen/Utility RFC

Would any of use extend on that further ? Is it a good idea to have kitchen/utility on ring and then down ring ? Would use install radials for certain appliances ? Or since kitchen/utility on own ring should be good . Thanks in advance

 

[radiohead]

Depends entirely on each individual property. A one bed residential is not going to have that same circuit requirements as a high end 5 bed pile with a kitchen the size of a tennis court.
Design each case on it's merits, but a general rule is more circuits are preferable to fewer.

 

[Pete999]

Hi all
This is a post regarding wiring of sockets in domestic installation


common practice I have seen would be

downstairs RFC
Upstairs RFC
Kitchen/Utility RFC

Would any of use extend on that further ? Is it a good idea to have kitchen/utility on ring and then down ring ? Would use install radials for certain appliances ? Or since kitchen/utility on own ring should be good . Thanks in advance

Any thing in the kitchen 2KW and above? Might want to consider putting these items on their own Radial circuit, as it is a recommendation from the IET

 

[Buzz1980]

Hi lads
Thanks for reply lads
3 bed houses with dining area, living area and kitchen With utility.Loads on these premises are Not above 2kw on any ring but have dish, wash, drier ,gas igniter, fan and 4 sockets On same ring. Cooker and oven on own supply. ?

 

[Taylortwocities]

You say houses. More than one. This sounds like a large project. Are you planning on doing this Work yourself?

 

[Buzz1980]

Sorry I am not doing the work, just have noticed this type of wiring carried out whilst carrying out small works. I was just wanting to know how other lads wires these houses. These houses are roughly all the same build.

 

[Taylortwocities]

In older times a typical house would have just one ring final circuit. Plus two radials for up and down lighting, a 32A radial for a cooker and a 16A radial for an immersion heater.

In more recent times one up and one down ring final.

As more stuff is going in to kitchens etc it’s more usual to have one ring for kitchen/utility and another for the rest of the house. Others separate radials used for specific items such as induction hobs, larger ovens, etc that cannot be connected to a ring final.

The having ring finals or radial circuits is something that only the designer can decide. Radials are finding more favour in the UK for socket circuits.

 

[radiohead]

Ok, a recent 3 bed property I rewired.
Upstairs ring, upstairs lights, downstairs lights, kitchen/utility lights, downstairs ring, kitchen ring, 32a radial utility, boiler (combi), oven, hob.
So 10 final circuits.

 

[DefyG]

Each property design on its own merits.
Recent new build we installed radial to each bedroom suite, lounge, study, halls etc. 16 or 20 A as appropriate.
Furthest in 4mm due to VD considerations.
RFC 32A each for kitchen and utility.
Appliances - radials rated per appliance.
Theoretical Max Demand can be a problem though if a great number of circuits!

 

[telectrix]

unless electric heaters are to be used on the circuit/s, i generally install 16A or 20A radials in living and bedroom areas. 1 x RFC for kitchen generally unless a lot of heavy loads, then a 2nd RFC or radial as required.

 

[Buzz1980]

Hi lads thanks for all replies. ?

 

[pc1966]

As a general rule if you have a high current appliance or couple of sockets in one place then probably best to use a radial circuit to feed it.

For covering most other sockets in a typical flat or floor of a house then a ring is better. For current capacity you could do both floors of a typical house on one ring (probably kitchen excluded) but it is better to keep floors separate just to make fault containment/finding better.

As already mentioned, theses days the kitchen will often have more power used on sockets than the rest of the house put together!

So typically flat = 1 ring kitchen, 1 ring rest of property, cooker/hob on radial(s), 2 floor house as you described, etc.