ring main in 4 storey house

[IRB]

hi, i'm about to rewire a 4 storey house, the CU is in the basement, so I was wondering if the ring main for the 4th floor should be wired in 4mm2 t+e, there's only going to be 7 sockets on this ring. the total run will be about 50m, any advice please?

 

[GStueyXR]

More info is required!

Installation methods? running through isulation? usage and expected loads?

 

[IRB]

singly clipped and buried in walls and capped, no insulation, as for usage, just usual bedroom usage ie: tv dvd etc and an electric fire which is more for show than use, don't know the rating for this yet though. thanks

 

[IQ Electrical]

Of course you can wire it in 4mm if you like but from that information, a standard 2.5mm ring final would seem to be perfectly acceptable.

 

[IRB]

Thank you, just wanted to make sure.

 

[Deleted member 19807]

you could run a 4mm radial if the calcs checked out, only 1 cable to run then instead of 2, just another option.

 

[AlanWirral]

Could even run 20 amp 2.5 radials!

 

[IRB]

I'm limited for breakers, so the ring mains my best option, thanks for the input though, regards Irb

 

[telectrix]

i'm with hifly on this one. as long as you can satisfy CCC and VD, i'd go with a 4mm radial. only one cable to feed up 4 floors.

 

[AlanWirral]

I suppose it comes down to preference then as long as all the factors are covered...Me? I'd be putting in two 2.5 20 amp radials as I wouldn't be happy with all 4 floors running off the same circuit. Nothing wrong with 4mm etc but to me the 2.5's would be ideal and easier to work with. Also is the house not got a big supply? Ie 100amp? To be short on breakers you must have a lot of circuits or a small supply?

 

[IRB]

That ring is just feeding the 4th floor

 

[malcolmsanford]

Just read the replies here and I totally agree with Hifly, alanwirral and telectrix. I'm amazed how ring final circuits seems to still be the preferred method for sockets. A radial is so much easier to work with espicially running to a 4th floor Testing is so much easier as well.

 

[robswainelect]

A 2.5 cable Ring Circuit will be fine.

 

[telectrix]

Just read the replies here and I totally agree with Hifly, alanwirral and telectrix. I'm amazed how ring final circuits seems to still be the preferred method for sockets. A radial is so much easier to work with espicially running to a 4th floor Testing is so much easier as well.

not only that, but 4mm is proper cable, stranded. not like the solid, nightmare to use when cold, rubbish 2.5mm. (that's a personal opinion, no disrespect to the makers of solid conductor cable)

 

[robswainelect]

I agree, Ring Circuits can be a pain and 4mm Radials are much easier to test!
Have you ever compared the cable costs between installing a ring in 2.5 and a radial in 4mm?