Why does the UK use rings for sockets?

[Mike Johnson]

Nearly everyone I know has more than one cutting board, where do they keep them, mostly on the worktops cluttering up the usable area, most of the people I know are average punter's. (wink face)

 

[LastManOnline]

My own view on fitted kitchens is the concern that once an appliance dies you can't get a replacement that fits the "fitted" hole. In my own case i have very limited depth for the washing machine and recently found only 2-3 models out of 100+ on most sites would fit. Same issue with the fridge/freezer, NEF stopped making that size years ago so I had to get creative with the jigsaw to fit something else

Maybe not a concern for those who feel an "upgrade" is needed every 5 years, but for a tight-wad like myself I want to use the same layout for decades!

Yes. Unfortunately time teaches all sparks that the jigsaw is an essential tool when working in kitchens. I find replacing hobs to be the worst culprit in this regard.
Regarding kitchens in general though, two of my golden rules are..
1 get kitchen plan
2 get kitchen fitters number
After that I can usually work out the easiest wiring routes and most convenient locations for installing appliances sockets. Plus I suggest to customers where the isolators can be mounted in order to be be "accessible" but "out of sight". Don't like looking at them myself. Spoils the tiling too

 

[LastManOnline]

The sliding tray space with door I have incorporated into our kitchen design in France, is also used to house the many cutting boards we have, it is so convenient I can't see us doing without it, cleans up the kitchen worktops and stops us have to search for

I like this, design by the way. Works a treat in utilities where homeowners are, nt fixated on appearance.
Regarding kitchen design, I have done 2 of my own where I built what I call a"tower unit". Basically it's a converted fridge freezer unit where I place instead all the appliances you would normally use in a kitchen along with all the sockets, isolators etc. When you walk in to my kitchen you ee only 1 socket for the kettle and it's covered by the fruit bowl. Tried to get kitchen designers interested in it but zero interest I, m afraid ?

 

[Mike Johnson]

I like this, design by the way. Works a treat in utilities where homeowners are, nt fixated on appearance.

Nasty back handed slight.

 

[LastManOnline]

Nasty back handed slight.

Mike. You have made me laugh. I can see in hindsight how it could be read that way. Believe me, no slight intended. I, m not clever enough for subtle humour (or sarcasm)

 

[pirate]

I keep my chopping boards on the worktop, propped up between the toaster and the microwave oven. Once they have warped a bit from the heat, I simply turn them round...

 

[Zerax]

I've only got one chopping board... it's used so often it's almost become a permanent fixture to the worktop. In fact since the wife left me... it really has become a permanent fixture as it's kind of glued itself to the worktop. It's hard to see exactly what's holding it down with all the breadcrumbs and congealed bits around it though...

 

[DPG]

I've only got one chopping board... it's used so often it's almost become a permanent fixture to the worktop. In fact since the wife left me... it really has become a permanent fixture as it's kind of glued itself to the worktop. It's hard to see exactly what's holding it down with all the breadcrumbs and congealed bits around it though...

We've got 2 chopping boards in use. And a glass worktop saver - does that count?

 

[Mike Johnson]

I cut up an Ikea chopping board to use as mitre board sliders for my table saw, I did take it off the worktop first though.

 

[LastManOnline]

The sliding tray space with door I have incorporated into our kitchen design in France, is also used to house the many cutting boards we have, it is so convenient I can't see us doing without it, cleans up the kitchen worktops and stops us have to search for a cutting board.

We've got 2 chopping boards in use. And a glass worktop saver - does that count?

From rings and radials to chopping boards. Gotta, love the versatility of this forum?

 

[John-SJW]

I take it you're allowed to use radials for sockets?

So why does anyone bother with rings, seems like extra hassle to me.

A final ring has many advantages. It is interesting on how it came about. The ultimate socket design is to have a radial to each socket outlet on its own fuse at the Consumer Unit - the optimum solution of course. One fuse at the Consumer Unit for each socket.
This means you will need a very large consumer unit and lots of fuses (one for each socket) in the consumer unit, and an amazing amount of cable.

BINGO A ring gives this by distributing the consumer unit around the house via a ring cable, having a fuse on each socket (the plug). The ring cable is a fused bus. This saves the vast expense of a plethora of radial cables back to the main panel and also a plethora of fuses at a very large consumer unit. This distribution saves on costs.

Simple and highly effective

 

[DPG]

A final ring has many advantages. It is interesting on how it came about. The ultimate socket design is to have a radial to each socket outlet on its own fuse at the Consumer Unit - the optimum solution of course. One fuse at the Consumer Unit for each socket.
This means you will need a very large consumer unit and lots of fuses (one for each socket) in the consumer unit, and an amazing amount of cable.

BINGO A ring gives this by distributing the consumer unit around the house via a ring cable, having a fuse on each socket (the plug). The ring cable is a fused bus. This saves the vast expense of a plethora of radial cables back to the main panel and also a plethora of fuses at a very large consumer unit. This distribution saves on costs.

Simple and highly effective

You're replying to someone who hasn't been on the forum since May 2020.

 

[John-SJW]

You're replying to someone who hasn't been on the forum since May 2020.

For information. People read the threads.

 

[DPG]

For information. People read the threads.

Fair point.

 

[7029 dave]

IMO we have turned full circle, fuseboxes are even bigger now with the various devices that have to be put in them, plus the reintroduction (preferred) of radial circuits over RFC. Also the increasing number of multiple switchgear being used eg to separate existing installations to new work being provided eg plastic/metal CU's forced on by the current regulations which cant be avoided in some situations cost being one big identifier.