Sockets on different phases

[Mark6098]

2 sockets on dado trunking within half a metre of each other, would you agree on warning notices for potential 400v?

 

[Paul.M]

Easy resolve, label up each socket in that room with sockets on different phases so the next electrician knows the circuit/s he is working on. eg ph1/circuit No7.... ph2/circuit No8 etc etc.

The users wont understand what it means but it keeps us lot safe regardless of regs.

 

[Engineer54]

As Hawkmoon says it shouldn't really happen imo it's bad design and bad practice .

What's bad design and bad practice??

 

[Darkwood]

If proper testing procedures are done the setup of having circuits adjacent to each other is of no consequence nor is it bad practice or bad design.... consider a school kitchen where powered heating appliance in close proximity require to be on different phases to maintain a balanced load on the supply ... it very common practice is often done and is good practice for many reasons its just the fact that the domestic brigade will never really address this situe that they place a dark cloud over the practice.... this is more to do with inexperience as appose to bad practice.

 

[Hawkmoon]

As Hawkmoon says it shouldn't really happen imo it's bad design and bad practice .

Sorry...I said what?

 

[ipf]

Something about nothing this.
As Paul M says, label the sockets and get on with it.

 

[Marvo]

Something about nothing this.

Problem is when it comes to EICR codes and lack of consistency with different electricians.

 

[GMES]

Sorry...I said what?

Hawkmoon my apologies you didn't say that did you, only excuse i have is i had a few beers today for the 1st time in ages so maybe had a few brain farts.

 

[GMES]

What's bad design and bad practice??

I didn't think about the wider picture of balancing phases which you are quite correct about Engineer, my Apologies.
Right that is 2 apologies in one day i am not going to have a drink again, i only had 4 cans and started talking :censored:

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

Can't be fussed reading all your responses but to the OP. It's not a reg but for good measure if I can touch both, I will re arrange the DB if possible or blank one off.

 

[Hawkmoon]

Hawkmoon my apologies you didn't say that did you, only excuse i have is i had a few beers today for the 1st time in ages so maybe had a few brain farts.

lol - no prob - 3 large glasses ozzy white inside me so can't really complain - hic!

 

[Engineer54]

Can't be fussed reading all your responses but to the OP. It's not a reg but for good measure if I can touch both, I will re arrange the DB if possible or blank one off.

I Think for good measure, you need to read post #33, ....As neither of you're measures are either required or needed!!!

 

[Darkwood]

I can see it now, someone who is not competent to do so removing both socket covers and reaching between them and been killed!!!

No mention that 230v to earth can do it just as good if all on same phase ...as i said competence will ensure no issues of safety if non competent person enters the scenario then Darwins law is a useful universal law to which i agree with.

 

[Engineer54]

I think some of these people need to visit some industrial or large commercial premises to see for themselves, that it's not only common, but is standard practice!!

In this instance (OP's situation) it's an office installation, and would be a perfectly acceptable and normal method of wiring large amounts of socket outlets across a 3 phase supply....

 

[Rockingit]

Come to a large theatre or onto a live stage and you'll find ph<>ph in all manner of combinations all over the shop. Lighting bars will often have socket outlets as 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3... and so on, simply as they are hard wired back to 3ph dimmers!

 

[Lucien Nunes]

the only issue I see is the average joe blogs seeing 400v next to a socket and worrying about using it.

Agreed also. I would not label sockets now that there is no requirement to do so. Lots of so-called electricians don't understand where the 400V comes from so the average user won't have a clue. Labels that don't convey useful information are a menace and cause confusion. I saw a similar situation in an office where a 6-way plastic gridswitch on a new install had a 'Danger 400V' label stuck on the dado trunking next to it. The office staff were pushing the switches with a plastic rule because no-one knew what the danger actually was!

Stage lighting is a bit of an exception because the sockets are normally intended for use by instructed persons. We used to do the Trafolyte channel labels in the appropriate colours but you can't see the difference with harmonised colours so use the numbers now.