Testing ring circuit?

[gnuuser]

When I first went to job I thought it had to ring circuits as there was 2 30amp fuse in board I opened board and see 1 ring 30amp fuse 2.5 mm t&e if it is a ring and there is a break somewhere in the middle and I can't access it to repair it can I do it as 2 radials would this work and comply

with the regs in the UK. i dont know
if it was a US. you would have to run another neutral!
regardless you need to sort it out
if it was a ring and is broken some place you need to find out where and terminate it properly.
if its 2 radials you should install separate breakers

 

[Pete999]

As it has been said before disconnect at the CU (all conductors relating to that circuit) disconnect all the socket outs and do a continuity test, this will enable you to if it is two radials joined at the CU, or you have a broken ring, basic stuff really

 

[Brighton sparky]

Hi
It sounds like you have two radials there, but there may be another explanation for it.
is it possible that the ring circuit has been connected into two separate breakers accidentally. if you turn off the breaker for this ring circuit and check to see if any sockets are still live.
It sounds odd but I have come across this a couple of times.

 

[Flanders]

Hi
It sounds like you have two radials there, but there may be another explanation for it.
is it possible that the ring circuit has been connected into two separate breakers accidentally. if you turn off the breaker for this ring circuit and check to see if any sockets are still live.
It sounds odd but I have come across this a couple of times.

Read the ops post this is not the case

 

[Octopus]

So connect 1 of the ends of the "ring" to an MCB and go around and see what is now live and mark on the sketch of the site you made before you started. Then do the same with the "other" end......

 

[kingeri]

Since when has it not been 'legal' to have two radials on one breaker/fuse? If it's done right it's perfectly acceptable..... Classic newbie mistake to see two cables going into a breaker and assume it's a ring, often it is not. If there is no continuity between the cables then it's not a ring.....next job is to check that it wasn't supposed to be a ring at some point in the past and to ensure that the breaker/fuse is appropriately rated.

 

[Simonslimline]

I have found a situation where the ring and a separate radial had been mixed up between 2 breakers. So one leg of the ring and radial in 1 MCB, and the other leg of the ring in another MCB. Not very likely but it's a possible scenario.

 

[SJD]

Since when has it not been 'legal' to have two radials on one breaker/fuse? If it's done right it's perfectly acceptable..... Classic newbie mistake to see two cables going into a breaker and assume it's a ring, often it is not.

You can also have a spur at the origin, i.e. at the fuse/circuit breaker.

 

[tony mc]

Did you do any testing prior to ripping out the old CU maybe this is a good learning experience !

 

[Zebra Stripe]

Can someone explain what all this crap about 'legal' or 'against the regs' or 'illegal' is supposed to mean? Is it that something doesn't comply with a non statutory Regulation or perhaps is a deviation ?

 

[dingledong]

why do you think its crap

 

[kingeri]

It's crap to refer to something as not being legal just because someone believes (as it happens wrongly) that something doesn't comply with BS7671.

 

[gnuuser]

Can someone explain what all this crap about 'legal' or 'against the regs' or 'illegal' is supposed to mean? Is it that something doesn't comply with a non statutory Regulation or perhaps is a deviation ?

it wasnt intended to alarm anyone
as i stated i dont know about UK regs but is some zones in the US you cannot have more than one conductor on a breaker unless its designed for it, even then it may fail an inspection.

what i was saying is that it sounds like 2 radials under 1 breaker and needs to be sorted out regardless (at least for the OP'S peace of mind)

 

[kingeri]

Our breakers can take more than one conductor, after all we use ring final circuits often enough! And there is nothing preventing you having more than one branch on a radial circuit originating at the breaker either. On a ring you could even have a spur starting at the distribution board, so you'd have three conductors in the breaker. I'm not saying I would do this but as far as the regs go, it's fine.

 

[Flanders]

Our breakers can take more than one conductor, after all we use ring final circuits often enough! And there is nothing preventing you having more than one branch on a radial circuit originating at the breaker either. On a ring you could even have a spur starting at the distribution board, so you'd have three conductors in the breaker. I'm not saying I would do this but as far as the regs go, it's fine.

Reg 314 Covers division of circuits in an Installation you could apply this reg to multiple circuit in one MCB but would only give it a code 3 if you wanted to be really fussy, The Op should take a look at this REG