Worldwide ring mains

[KevinS]

Quick question here, does anyone know if any other countries use ring mains
reason I ask, I have made a proto-type socket where you can do your continuity checks and r1+r2 tests WITHOUT taking the socket off.
i don't know how much more money and time to spend on this idea

 

[KevinS]

Biff, that's why I don't think it's worth spending more time and money on it.
I can also see rings coming to an end here in the uk.

 

[electric will]

Kevin I agree with the cables coming out as the terminals are tightened, (i use Crabtree and these seem to push the conductor out as I tighten them but that's another topic) but when testing why would you be disconnecting conductors at the socket? You only need to disconnect at the db

 

[alarm man]

rings coming to an end,why?

 

[KevinS]

Guitarist,
my initial thoughts were:-
the socket would be fitted during the initial wiring, after the job was complete you could take your readings, but the main reason was, any periodics that needed doing the circuit would not needed to be disconnected/taken apart
i was more thinking along the lines of student accommodation etc where a periodic would be done more often.
but what would the harm be fitting one to every circuit (ring)

 

[Guest55]

rings coming to an end,why?

harmonisation with european standards

if we were prepared to change the whole countries wiring colours to keep brussels happy then phasing out rings will be a piece of cake in comparison.
lets see what happens when the 18th regs comes around.

 

[sparks1973]

well i dont know about world wide ring circuits....but theres this:

World Wide Tools

available in pound shops up and down the country...

 

[electric will]

Kevin, I have a rough idea of what your thinking of, instead of a socket you'd be better to have the same stuff in it but install it on the ring near the consumer unit, how ever I think your trying to solve a problem that don't really exist.

 

[ExArmy]

so it's a double socket, with 6 terminations at the back (2 L 2N and 2 CPC) and some way of testing the ring end to end ?

and you have to fit this to every point on the ring before this system works? i'm struggling to comprehend this. whats wrong with end to ends a the board, cross connect fig 8 and measure at each point(no need to remove any fronts anyway)

 

[SKY]

The firm I have done lots of work for are fitting more radials than rings these days.
Seem to find that when designers are involved radials are used more.

 

[KevinS]

There is nothing to stop a wire coming out of the db. (much easier to spot I agree)
I agree the db is the best place to test but some db's are a right rats nest and it's easier to go to a socket.
Surely it must be easier not having to remove/disconnect wires/reconnect/ replace.

 

[Adam]

IMO, this will not be popular.

There are hundreds of different socket designs, and everyone preferences are different. It would be difficult to make the socket suitable for most installations. Perhaps a device near / in DB would be more practical?


With regards to Ring Mains,

I can not see them coming to an end anytime soon with the current prices of copper. It was the high copper prices that made us introduce ring final circuits. I can see radials being the more common option in the future as many modern homes (especially kitchens) have many high current electrical items in use that may put pressure on ring final circuits.

 

[alarm man]

harmonisation with european standards

if we were prepared to change the whole countries wiring colours to keep brussels happy then phasing out rings will be a piece of cake in comparison.
lets see what happens when the 18th regs comes around.

if it aint broke dont fix it,tho some people need to justify they jobs and scams i agree.

 

[KevinS]

Ex army
u only need to fit 1 per ring

Will
you may be totally right, but it's kept me out of mischief!

 

[sparks1973]

why get rid of rings?....both ring and radials have their place.....its choice isn`t it...

 

[KevinS]

Don't think rings will disappear in the very near future, but I think less and less will be installed, that's why I am thinking I am wasting my time and money pushing my idea any further forward