Why does the ring main run in a ring?

[HappyHippyDad]

Hello,

This is the start of the silly questions that I will be asking!

I'll be starting my domestic installers course in february and have lots of questions. Some will sound silly but at least I will learn.

Why does the ring main run from and back to the consumer unit, whereas the lighting circuit doesn't and all other circuits dont? I'm assuming it must allow more load to be taken from it, but I cant see how it could do that? How can the electricity flow both ways, doesn't it bump into itself!!!

Thanks, Steve

 

[leckyant]

ring final circuit YES
gutterball Do you you know what a ring main is generally perceived as. I for one think it's the leccy boards supply, I think they do loop it. but could be corrected,any thoughts?

 

[gottahugenoggin]

A radial radiates from a point, like the spokes from the hub of a wheel.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Thankyou Wirepuller, I found that interesting. I think I need to understand alternating current more (as specialist says)that may help me understand how a ring works. I do find the idea of A/C pretty hard to grasp.

 

[HandySparks]

Talking about this large headon collider, if they are not sure it'll work why oh wht didn't they build a small one first, under say Dorking, I suppose if it doesn't work it'll make one hellava theme park
Pict

What have you got against Dorking? :smiley2:

 

[Specialist]

Don't take too much notice of the Leg pulling mate, that's just us. Once you've read a couple of books on the Basics, you'll get the idea. If you've got any other questions, we'll try & be grown up and take it easy on you.:lol:

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I'm feeling bad here guys I have to come clean.
My apologies to the OP but I was unable to resist the opportunity to have a little giggle at your expense. If you ever venture onto a building site you'll find that most of us are just large children who will mock, ridicule and laugh at someone for the least little thing. A similar environment exists in most sports teams, bands indeed everywhere that men gather without anything to keep them in check.
The most sensible advice I can give is maybe to google ac theory, you'll find a good few sites that will give sensible answers to the questions but will also raise more.
I hope you can forgive my transgressions

Absolutely no offense taken I didn't expect quite such a varied response though to asking about a ring main. It's been an experience! Theres been a few suggestions of certain books to read so thats where I'll start.

Thankyou all :smiley2:

 

[HappyHippyDad]

The question you're asking is very basic electrical theory. The problem isn't the question, it's more that any explanation given in a few lines here will lead to many more questions. It's difficult to explain the very basics on a forum like this without inevitably adding to your confusion. You should probably download the first two books in this series and do some bedtime reading. They cover the very basic theories of electricity and it will help if you're familiar with their content before you start any installer courses. If there's anything in them you can't get to grips with you're welcome to post a question here.

These books are great Marvo! Its gone midnight and I'm still reading. Plus I've just learnt how to make gold, just take a few protons out of lead :smiley2:. So far I've struggled a little trying to understand some basic concepts but these books explain it clearly.

 

[Engineer54]

ring final circuit YES
gutterball Do you you know what a ring main is generally perceived as. I for one think it's the leccy boards supply, I think they do loop it. but could be corrected,any thoughts?

They only generally loop on the distribution MV side of things rather than the LV side!!
But then the two ends are not connected together as in a RFC, they will be separately supplied either from the same source or from two separate sources. The MV ring has the advantage of supplying TX's on the ring, from alternative supply points from the same source, or two completely separate sources.
Even when these MV rings are fed from the same source, the ring will generally still be left in an ''open ring'' configuration!! All the TX's on a MV ring will generally be supplied via RMU's that can if required, isolate either of the two supplies to them, (as well as grounding the cores, when cables need to be replaced or repaired) It's at one of these RMU switch positions that that ring will be left open, somewhere around the ring. With all the RMU switches in the right positions, all the TX's on a ring can be fed from either of the two supplies, or shared between the two supplies....

Hell of a lot more to it than that, but a decent enough overview on the basic idea.

 

[Guest112]

They only generally loop on the distribution MV side of things rather than the LV side!!
But then the two ends are not connected together as in a RFC, they will be separately supplied either from the same source or from two separate sources. The MV ring has the advantage of supplying TX's on the ring, from alternative supply points from the same source, or two completely separate sources.
Even when these MV rings are fed from the same source, the ring will generally still be left in an ''open ring'' configuration!! All the TX's on a MV ring will generally be supplied via RMU's that can if required, isolate either of the two supplies to them, (as well as grounding the cores, when cables need to be replaced or repaired) It's at one of these RMU switch positions that that ring will be left open, somewhere around the ring. With all the RMU switches in the right positions, all the TX's on a ring can be fed from either of the two supplies, or shared between the two supplies....

Hell of a lot more to it than that, but a decent enough overview on the basic idea.

down to 11kv is it e54?

 

[Engineer54]

down to 11kv is it e54?

Generally it is Yes, but on some industrial areas it can also be at 22/33KV....

 

[Geordie Spark]

Don't take too much notice of the Leg pulling mate, that's just us. Once you've read a couple of books on the Basics, you'll get the idea. If you've got any other questions, we'll try & be grown up and take it easy on you.:lol:

Speak for yersel' bonny lad !!! :grinningelf:

 

[Knobhead]

This shows what is called an “Open Ring”. Basically a ring main but fed via two protection devices. Switches shown in RED are ON. The ring is never a closed loop because the protection becomes unstable, as would a RFC in a house if fed by two 16A MCB’s.
You can see that the system is very flexible if there is a cable fault between two tee switch transformer units.
View attachment 9924
View attachment 9925

 

[the pict]

I have nowt against Dorking or the inhabitants thereof, I used to think dorking was the civvy equivilant of bimblling,(standing staring blankly with hands in pockets or wandering around aimlessly)
Pict

 

[linuxthefish]

Ideally, the ring circuit acts like two radial circuits proceeding in opposite directions around the ring, the dividing point between them dependent on the distribution of load in the ring. If the load is evenly split across the two directions, the current in each direction is half of the total, allowing the use of wire with half the current-carrying capacity. In practice, the load does not always split evenly, so thicker wire is used.

Lighting circuits don't carry as much load as sockets, so a ring circuit would be a waste of wire in most installs.

 

[telectrix]

Lighting circuits don't carry as much load as sockets, so a ring circuit would be a waste of wire in most installs.

well they wouldn't would they because, as we all know, lighting is gas. what would be the point of allowing the gas to travel back to the supplier?