Scrap the Ring final circuit

[Cadgey123]

After coming across countless faults in domestic premises regarding ring final circuits, I reckon they should scrap em...

Gets frustrating when you go to check
continuity and there is nothing between each leg. Or you get a call to check a burning smell from the C.U and once again a broken ring feeding kitchen appliances.
Obviously over the years it's just been cowboys let loose.
Even a few agency guys I had working with me never knew what a ring was ???

I read this article and it talks about the advantages but they sound very outdated.

If we started buying 4.0mm2 t & e and throwing that in everywhere jobs a good un.

What's everyone else's thoughts?

 

[Pete999]

After coming across countless faults in domestic premises regarding ring final circuits, I reckon they should scrap em...

Gets frustrating when you go to check
continuity and there is nothing between each leg. Or you get a call to check a burning smell from the C.U and once again a broken ring feeding kitchen appliances.
Obviously over the years it's just been cowboys let loose.
Even a few agency guys I had working with me never knew what a ring was ???

I read this article and it talks about the advantages but they sound very outdated.

If we started buying 4.0mm2 t & e and throwing that in everywhere jobs a good un.

What's everyone else's thoughts?

I wouldn't say all the RFCs over the years have been installed by Cowboys Mate you might upset a few of us "cowboys"

 

[Cadgey123]

I wouldn't say all the RFCs over the years have been installed by Cowboys Mate you might upset a few of us "cowboys"

What I meant to say was:

They were initially installed correctly.

But over the years the level of care and compotence has been reduced. Therefor making unnecessary faults

 

[Pete999]

What I meant to say was:

They were initially installed correctly.

But over the years the level of care and compotence has been reduced. Therefor making unnecessary faults

Oh right OK

 

[Toneyz]

I'm concerned by the line that you had agency electricians that did not know what a RFC was

 

[Cadgey123]

I'm concerned by the line that you had agency electricians that did not know what a RFC was

Yeah so was I until I sent them packing.

 

[Pete999]

I'm concerned by the line that you had agency electricians that did not know what a RFC was

I agree Ant but you must admit some of the work you and I have seen, it makes you wonder, but then again I'm an old cowboy according to some. Need to hang up my spurs and Ring Finals.

 

[Andy78]

There is nothing wrong with a ring final circuit and its use in modern installations. Just because they get abused by diyers and the like does not mean they are unsafe. Should we install everything to cater for the incompetent ?
We have already started down that dark route with metal CUs. It's not hard to install and test a RFC, but many seem to struggle. I'm not of the opinion that regs should be dumbed down to cater for lack of training.

4mm radials are more limited in their capacity. To be used in as many different reference methods as 2.5mm can in a 32A RFC, they must be limited to a 25A OCPD. I think I'd rather install a 20A 2.5mm radial myself.

 

[Octopus]

I'm concerned by the line that you had agency electricians that did not know what a RFC was

That's almost certainly because they weren't trained in the uk.....

 

[Pete999]

That's almost certainly because they weren't trained in the uk.....

Were they ever TRAINED?

 

[7029 dave]

After coming across countless faults in domestic premises regarding ring final circuits, I reckon they should scrap em...

Gets frustrating when you go to check
continuity and there is nothing between each leg. Or you get a call to check a burning smell from the C.U and once again a broken ring feeding kitchen appliances.
Obviously over the years it's just been cowboys let loose.
Even a few agency guys I had working with me never knew what a ring was ???

I read this article and it talks about the advantages but they sound very outdated.

If we started buying 4.0mm2 t & e and throwing that in everywhere jobs a good un.

What's everyone else's thoughts?

WHY?

 

[snowhead]

If the "Cowboys " can't tighten cables or understand wiring methods then nothing will improve by scrapping the RFC.
It'll just end up with 2 or 3 radials joined together somewhere.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I have noticed on the job spec sheets of late that 4mm t&e is becoming much more common and standard on a RFC and radials. its almost become the default choice in case of future needs on some new builds. I have seen it quite a bit on prefab modular stuff they use to put together budget hotels and chain restuarants. each room comes ready wired ready to connect.

On the one hand modern devices use and draw much less power so in theory 2.5mm is if anything becoming more suitable. When i asked the designer once he said its a mixture of all the insulation they are packing into the new buildings and also to future proof against future changes in use and demand.

RFC's have lasted this long and i doubt this little british quirk will go away anytime soon

 

[Pete999]

Long live the Ring Main, Ooops SORRY RFC

 

[Toneyz]

Long live the Ring Main, Ooops SORRY RFC

Slip of the tongue there Pete