After ripping out all the hot water tanks in a bedroom, I was lef with a surface mouted socket which supplied the immersion heater. This is fused seperatly on the CU to 15A. Would it be OK to remount the socket in the wall (lower down) and us it as a light use power socket eg a light or hairdryer? I know the ring main runs on 30A, but would 15A be suitable for onl light usage ?
Subject to the requirements about running cables horizontally or vertically from visible accessories, and any joints being suitable and accessible as required, I would have thought so.
A 13A socket is sufficiently supplied by a 15A circuit.
The only other issue is that a socket might require RCD protection whereas the immersion heater did not, eg
The socket might be used to supply a portable appliance outdoors; or
You have TT (earth rod) earthing
and
the immersion heater was supplied by the non-RCD protected side of a split load consumer unit; or
the immersion heater was supplied by the 100mA time-delay main RCD protected side of a split load with dual 100mA/30mA RCDs on a TT installation; or
you have no RCD protection
(In cases 1 and 2 you may be able to move the circuit to the 30mA side of the CU if you have sufficient spare ways).
Although this might not have been required at the time of the original installation, you are now required (Part P) to install the new socket in compliance with the current IEE Regulations
A 15A radial socket circuit can have a double socket in fact if you wish you can supply sockets serving a floor area of up to 20m^2 that has normal expected loading (not obviously if the 20m^2 is the kitchen).
Are you saying that there's a limit on the number of sockets according to the area of the room but that it doesn't apply in the case of the kitchen?
For instance, in our kitchen, 8 -10 square metres at a guess (there's not much floor area), I have five double sockets plus the cooker one which includes a single 15A socket. They're all dedicated to individual appliances so that I'm not unplugging all the time and they're _never_ all being used at one time. Mostly it's just the fridge, freezer and cooker which are used partly-continuously.
There are standard arrangement of circuits. They can all have unlimited sockets but due regard must be made for the expected loading. The place where the expected loading is likely to be outside these limits is the kitchen.
The message from "Mary Fisher" contains these words:
Nope. They're just the items with the biggest drain. I rarely use both welders together, but if I've got someone helping me I can have the steelsaw and the welder running together which is pushing it a bit.
Mine uses gas mostly for welding but has very many electrical machines. Another coming today. He's decided No 3 son isn't going to return the borrowed planer/thicknesser which really belongs to No 2 daughter anyway so he'll buy another.
Some people do Soduko (sp?). I just have a family to test my mind.
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