Thoughts about early 1960's wiring methods .... please

[Octopus]

All,

Just got in from fault finding a house with a RCD tripping issue ....... it clear cut which circuit is the problem as its almost a dead short L-E

The issue is more about understanding the installation methods used around 1960 ..... the end to end readings for the live and neutral are around 0.15 so that suggests a very short ring - but the ring serves nearly all the sockets in the older part of the house .....

When looking to split the ring, early all the sockets are either 1 cable or 1 old cable and 1 newer cable (and then a socket with the newer cable is close by) which suggests that I'm going to have to start lifting floorboards.........

So my question is was there any "standard" way of achieving such a circuit ... which would make locating the junction boxes easier?

I think I can spot all the "original" sockets as they are just above the skirting board ......

There was 1 point I couldn't access:

This is the immersion switch , on the same circuit, completely covered by the megaflow tank installed about 7 years ago .................. Mr Wet Pants - why didn't you relocate the switch to the right?

 

[camerabloke]

Both

 

[Pete999]

I'll echo that, mate.....th'owd fella's still kicking, though

My mentor passed away far to early

 

[Andy78]

My brother's house was wired in a spider ring. The ring ran round the upstairs sockets and each downstairs socket was a spur that was chased down from above.

 

[MDJ]

The rings back then were Jamaican ring mains, a ring run around the house and JBs connected to the rings in several places. Then radial circuits connected to the ring mains.

 

[MDJ]

My brother's house was wired in a spider ring. The ring ran round the upstairs sockets and each downstairs socket was a spur that was chased down from above.

Yep, and believe it or not they were called Jamaican Ring mains Andy

 

[KEV 1 N]

My parents house (built 1972) and my house (built 1965) both houses (ex council) had the sockets wired in the spider method, although not wired in a ring, but a 6mm (or imperial equivalent) t&e radial came from the DB to a central point under the floor then 2.5mm was ran off to each socket! The connections were made with line tap connectors under the floor!
Also the lighting was done this way, one cable at every switch and light running back to a central joint box.
Was this ever a recognised way of wiring sockets or were the council sparks being lazy?

 

[Andy78]

Yep, and believe it or not they were called Jamaican Ring mains Andy

Not heard that one before. Do you know why they were called that ?

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

It is a bit late in time but it could be a spider ring, a loop of cable from the fuse run around the area in the floor and then a junction box with a single cable out to a socket for each socket location.
Then you have a short ring and each socket has one cable to it?
View attachment 41276

Have seen that type of 'ring' in a lot of ex local authority properties i have been involved in rewiring. It always seemed to me the old council houses were always well built and have lasted well. These new modern houses after 10 years they are often in need of rufurbishment.

 

[PEG]

Not heard that one before. Do you know why they were called that ?

If i had to guess,it would be because after a load of curried goat,there is a lot of tidying up,to do...

 

[telectrix]

these guys did it:

 

[westward10]

The original lyric to that song was kutchie which was deemed unsuitable as most of Musical Youth were of school age so it was changed to dutchie, some kind of Jamaican cooking pot.

 

[Pete999]

Yep, and believe it or not they were called Jamaican Ring mains Andy

Gannjarings

 

[Octopus]

I wish Dan would introduce an "off topic" button!

 

[Andy78]

I wish Dan would introduce an "off topic" button!

Admin could start inserting this at the precise post where the thread became derailed

 

[Pete999]

The occasional off topic quote makes this Forum the best ever perhaps we should have a "spoilsport" button instead?