Drachma for your thoughts

[BeeLZeebub]

My brother-in-law's brother is a Greek electrician (Sparkatus?). Having once lent him a helping hand on a job (in Greece), my Dad learnt a couple of interesting facts:

1) "most" Greek households are apparently fed by a three-phase supply. Whether or not "most" is accurate, it's clearly very common

2) a standard setup is for a radial circuit, presumably in 4mm, to feed a "strong" socket in each room of a house from which a 2.5mm ring then feeds the other sockets.

Having lived in Greece myself, I'm aware that things are often done, erm, a little differently so I'd be very interested in people's opinions as to the merits / flaws of these setups. I ask purely as a an enthusuastic DIYer keen to learn ....

 

[Chri5]

All EEC countries believe in the radial circuit, there's no such thing as a ring in Europe.

It's very common to find a circuit per room, some on 30 amp 4mm cores and others on 20 amp 2.5mm cores.

 

[BeeLZeebub]

Thanks for the reply (I know this isnt a sexy topic). I'm aware that the ring is largely a British affair, but I was interested in views on the merits of rings being bolted on to radials ... say, when it comes to testing / safety viz a sraight ring ...`.

And on three phase, why didnt the UK didnt go down this road ..... ?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

My brother-in-law's brother is a Greek electrician (Sparkatus?).

Amberer.

 

[crystal ball]

All EEC countries believe in the radial circuit, there's no such thing as a ring in Europe.

It's very common to find a circuit per room, some on 30 amp 4mm cores and others on 20 amp 2.5mm cores.

Are rings not used in Malta & Cyprus?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I was interested in views on the merits of rings being bolted on to radials

Not a lot of point.

There can be a place for them with very short radial stubs at the CU (search here for "lollipop").

... say, when it comes to testing / safety viz a sraight ring ...`.

They're just as dangerous as a normal ring, and harder to test and describe.

And on three phase, why didnt the UK didnt go down this road ..... ?

We did, but usually we find that 1 phase is enough to give to people.

3-phase is more dangerous, and given the prevalence of numpties who can't even successfully replace light switches, I dread to think of the catastrophes they'd unleash if you gave them 400V to mess with.