Additional sockets

[Pope John 11]

I need to add additional sockets to my sitting room.

What are the necessary steps before adding a spur to the main circuit.

 

[sparkeee]

you need to read the electrical regs first.

 

[Pope John 11]

you need to read the electrical regs first.

Cheers for that. Can you tell me where I could get a copy of the regs.

I thought it was as simple as turning off the power at the mains.
Turn off the circuit that you are trying to connect to.
Test to see if it is a main circuit line.
Connect spur to existing socket.

Perhaps I am totally wrong on this one.

 

[sparkeee]

you can get the regs book from any technical college or from a big book shop such as easons,its expensive.There are rules concerning radial or ring circuits.

 

[BillK]

Get a copy of the Collins DIY Manual and look on page 321; this will give all the info you need on how to do the job.

As far as the regs are concerned, would it not be possible to get the info from the web?

 

[glic83]

also there are new regulations taking effect from september 2009

 

[Pope John 11]

Get a copy of the Collins DIY Manual and look on page 321; this will give all the info you need on how to do the job.

As far as the regs are concerned, would it not be possible to get the info from the web?

Thats exactly what I have....just checking up on the procedure with the experts out there or the DIY enthuists that have done it before.

Steps to me are:
Turn off the power at the main unit.
Turn off all appliances on the main circuit.
Source a socket on the ring main.
Carry out the necesary electrical tests.

 

[PADDYBOY99]

Thats it really.
I suppose hiding all your work after is what splits the trademan from the DIY guy.
One thing I will say is it is important to make sure all your electrical connections are good and tight. loose connections are a big factor in electrical fires. Happy DIY.

 

[Pope John 11]

I am correct in the following:

1. Turn off the power at the consumer unit.
2. Turn off the MCB for the circuit you are trying to connect to.
3. Turn off all appliances on the circuit.
4. Source a socket that is suitable to connect the spur.
5. Carry out the continuity tests.
6. Connect up the spur.
7. Turn on the power & the MCB & check.

Its a bit confusing in the DIY maual with regard turning off the power at the main switch.

 

[Leo]

I am correct in the following:

1. Turn off the power at the consumer unit.
2. Turn off the MCB for the circuit you are trying to connect to.
3. Turn off all appliances on the circuit.
4. Source a socket that is suitable to connect the spur.
5. Carry out the continuity tests.
6. Connect up the spur.
7. Turn on the power & the MCB & check.

Its a bit confusing in the DIY maual with regard turning off the power at the main switch.

If the main switch is off, switching the MCB makes no difference, neither does switching off appliances.
Leo

 

[Pope John 11]

If the main switch is off, switching the MCB makes no difference, neither does switching off appliances.
Leo

I understand that.

I just cannot find a suitable socket that is on a ring main. I need 2 double sockets for my sitting room.

I have opened up the sockets in the sitting room but there appears to be only one live,earth & neutral in each.

Any suggestions how to get a connection.

 

[mathepac]

... Any suggestions how to get a connection.

Here's a picture of a ring-main that goes from consumer-unit to the outlets and back - [broken link removed]

If, starting at the top left of the diagram and moving clock-wise, I give the outlets designations A to G, outlets D and G are 'add-ins', one based on a drop from an existing outlet and the other based on inserting a junction-box into the circuit, which do you want to do?

 

[chrisboy]

Not all circuits in a house are ring mains.

If the socket with only 1 live neutral and earth is the end socket on a radial circuit, i.e. a ciruit that doesn't have the return loop back to the board, then you can just extend on the radial circuit..

 

[Pope John 11]

Not all circuits in a house are ring mains.

If the socket with only 1 live neutral and earth is the end socket on a radial circuit, i.e. a ciruit that doesn't have the return loop back to the board, then you can just extend on the radial circuit..

If thats the case, how do I know which socket I can safely connect to.

 

[Pope John 11]

Here's a picture of a ring-main that goes from consumer-unit to the outlets and back - [broken link removed]

If, starting at the top left of the diagram and moving clock-wise, I give the outlets designations A to G, outlets D and G are 'add-ins', one based on a drop from an existing outlet and the other based on inserting a junction-box into the circuit, which do you want to do?

Sorry mathepac, never saw your post.

I was hoping to connect via connecting to an existing socket, ie not using a junction box......say connect new socket 'D' to existing socket 'E' , hope i've read your diagram correct

Based on chrisboys comments above, how do I know if it is a ring or radial circuit

 

[chrisboy]

if you look at mathepacs drawing there is a cable in and out of every socket and finally it returns back to the board again, forming a ring basically.

A radial circuit doesnt have the final cable back to the board, which means there's an end of line socket, which only has one cable in it. If there is only one end of line socket in the sitting room, you can then run a cable from that socket to your new socket which would make your new socket the end of line socket!

The problem though, is you said there's more than one end of line socket in the sitting room. Are you sure about this?

 

[Pope John 11]

if you look at mathepacs drawing there is a cable in and out of every socket and finally it returns back to the board again, forming a ring basically.

A radial circuit doesnt have the final cable back to the board, which means there's an end of line socket, which only has one cable in it. If there is only one end of line socket in the sitting room, you can then run a cable from that socket to your new socket which would make your new socket the end of line socket!

The problem though, is you said there's more than one end of line socket in the sitting room. Are you sure about this?

There are two double sockets in the sitting room. Both double sockets have only one live,neutral & earth in them. So what does this mean

 

[chrisboy]

There are two double sockets in the sitting room. Both double sockets have only one live,neutral & earth in them. So what does this mean

Can you switch off the sitting room mcb in the board and tell me if both sockets are off? This will tell me wether somebody has spurred off the circuit or sometimes due to laziness of the original electrician he could've dropped a cable down from a bedroom socket.. Make sure its the mcb and not the rcd.

I'm trying to find out if there's more than one circuit in the sitting room.

 

[Pope John 11]

Can you switch off the sitting room mcb in the board and tell me if both sockets are off? This will tell me wether somebody has spurred off the circuit or sometimes due to laziness of the original electrician he could've dropped a cable down from a bedroom socket.. Make sure its the mcb and not the rcd.

I'm trying to find out if there's more than one circuit in the sitting room.

Chrisboy, I will try this in the morning. I understand when you say turn off the MCB at the board.

Not too sure where the RCD is. I understand it means residual current device, but not too sure if it is the main power on & off switch at the board.

You could be right in that one of the double sockets is in a location whereby the only way it could be connected back to the board is via the 1st floor, but that is me guessing for the moment

 

[chrisboy]

The mcb's are the standard switches in the board..