Ring mains

Sneezy · 2004-02-21T16:58:09+00:00

If I understand correctly, a ring main is a ring of wire on which sockets (and spurs) are strung? Wire comes from the fuse board via all the sockets and returns to the fuse board? My question is, "why are they used?".I asked a while ago about installing a cooker point when the fuse board is old. An electrician has now fitted a cooker point and replaced the fuse board with a nice new one. He wasn't happy about the wiring - something about the circuits being radial. I've had a look at the wiring - it's all visible and traceable (well most of it) down in the cellar. The circuits are (from memory):Double-socket x2 in kitchen area - each on a separate wireCooker point - including single socketSingle (unswitched) socket in living area - on a separate wire but a wire comes from the socket to a juction box that feeds a second single socket in the living area, plus a single socket in the cellar (screwed to a shelf under the gas meter - I initially thought someone had balanced it there)Single switched socket in the living areaLight in the cellarLighting - only one wire but I can't be sure it's lighting because it vanishes into the wall cavity. If so, it powers all the lights both up and down stairsDouble-socket in bedroom - can only guess at this but there's only one wire left :)Each wire/circuit appears to have its own fuse - the old fuse board must have doubled (trebled) up on wires to fuses. There are no return wires.To my mind it's all positive - much safer (less load per circuit), easier to identify problem devices that are blowing a fuse, and no chance of a blown fuse taking out, for example, the supply for one floor (like you get in modern houses). So why was the electrician unhappy? Thoughts?

Ring mains

Feb 21, 2004 63 Replies

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dennis 14 years ago

So you can't answer sensibly. Its funny how people (like you) that don't understand subjects always try to pretend its the other party that doesn't understand.

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Huge 14 years ago

Wallpapering? Haven't bothered with that nonsense for years.

Actually, they're mostly Olson power strips;

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have 12-way ones screwed to the back of each of the three desks and 2

20-way ones screwed the front of the Ikea "rack".

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Andy Burns 14 years ago

Yes, I quite like those, they're nice and sturdy, but they're not the most compact of designs.

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Huge 14 years ago

The prices were right ...

(The 12 ways were a clearance sale from Olson and the 20s a "make an offer" on eBay.)

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