Spur off a spur.

[kp7722]

Hi all,

I was changing some sockets over the weekend and noticed that one double socket which was already a spur, had another spur coming off to another double socket. Now I know this is wrong even though it's been this way for the last 20+ years, and can be corrected by putting an FCU before the first double socket. However, this will require making a mess in our newly plastered and decorated lounge which is a minor inconvenience compared to telling the missus about making a mess in our newly plastered and decorated lounge. So as far as I can tell I have one solution; drop the second spur and put a blanking plate on (or even leave the double socket on, just not wired for aesthetics).

I was just wondered whether if anybody knows if you can get an fused double socket (even if one half is a socket and one half is the fuse)? I can't seem to fine one but for me this would solve all my problems.

Cheers,
Paul.

 

[timtheenchanter]

not sure about an all in one unit, but you can get a dual backbox allowing you to nstall 2 single way accessories in the space of a double box, so you could replace your existing double with a dual box with an FCU and a single socket (depends on how easy it would be to replace the back box without damaging the wall)

 

[kp7722]

Thanks mate. I didn't realise you could get a dual backbox so I'll whip off the socket this week and have a look at how messy it'll be to replace. That will be the next best solution and mean that I can use the same look sockets. It could also hide the ugly bit of wall between the two sockets!

Just for my information I presume if the first spur was 4mm T+E then it would actually be okay as there's no way of overloading either spur? I doubt it is and I also doubt I can actually see enough of the cable to read the sleeve.

Paul.

 

[cagedanimal2010]

if memory serves me right i think a dual back box is actually bigger than a double! sorry to but a dampner on that. are all the sockets wired in 4mm?

 

[dixon9]

if memory serves me right i think a dual back box is actually bigger than a double! sorry to but a dampner on that. are all the sockets wired in 4mm?

Ah Holmes! You detect a radial if I´m not mistaken?!

 

[kp7722]

I'm not sure if the cabling is 4mm. I never checked when I took the face plates off. I will check though. Saying this the fuse at the CU (old style fuse board) is 30amp...aren't radials less than this?

 

[Jay Sparks]

If the cable is clipped to the wall or buried in a wall behind plaster and it a radial, then 4mm cable can carry 36A so a 30A fuse is ok but if the radial is in 2.5mm then you would use a 16A mcb or in your board a 15A rewireable.

Jay