Adding a circuit

[Ianm]

As part of refurbishing a house we have had a complete re-wiring by a qualified electrician. He didn't do much in the garage, except re-use an old consumer unit and connect the few appliances in the garage to a couple of circuits on the CU. The garage consumer unit is supplied from the main board on a 32 amp mcb (not rcd protected).

The question is what rating of mcb could be put in for a new ring main in the garage? Presumably it would need to be less than 32 amp as there will continue to be other circuits in use, albeit not drawing much power.

 

[redtape]

I'd get the Electrician back and ask him or her some questions !

 

[Ianm]

Are you suggesting he's done something wrong?

 

[Steve]

No.

Also theres nothing technically wrong with having a 32A MCB in the shed, though it just means if you draw more than 32 amps on that circuit, you could trip either MCB as theres no discrimination. I'd advise a 20 amp Radial circuit instead.

 

[Ianm]

Is there any reason why it couldn't be a 20amp ring?

 

[Lectrician]

No, it would just be absolutely pointless and a waste of time and cable!

Why are DIY'ers infactuated with rings? They ring the lights given half the chance!

 

[Taylortwocities]

If the garage is fed from the non-rcd side of the consumer unit then there MUST be an RCD fitted in the garage protecting the sockets.
Your electrician should have taken this into consideration as he has a responsibility for the WHOLE installation when changing a consumer unit.

 

[Ianm]

In answer to Lectrician there is quite a long distance to cover and I would need something like 6 double sockets, with spurs for other uses (just for convenience, not heavy loads) . It seems like it would use less cable and take less time to me. Also this would seem to give more flexibility of I got a "professional" to upgrade the supply to the garage at a future date if needed.

In answer to Taylorywocities - I am completely at my wits end with the so called "professional" who has completely re-wired my house and taken a lot of money off me. In future I will read a book, consult this forum and others and DIY.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Hopefully he is competent to do the work. He should be on this site: www.competentperson.co.uk. You should have, from him, an Electrical Installation Certificate and has notified the Local Authority that the work has been done. Notifiacation is a LEGAL requirement under Building Regulations Part P.

You may have problems when you come to sell your house if this has not been done. You should have received a Certificate of Completion from the body that he is registered with (eg NICEIC, NAPIT, etc).