cable size for ring main sockets

[peteg40]

hi there, i\\\'m adding a few more sockets to the ring and the fuse is 30a in the fuse box. All the cable in diy shops is 25/28 amps and 2.5mm. Will this be ok or do i need 30a or over to match the fuse?
thanks

[davy_owen_88]

peteg40 wrote:

hi there, i\\\'m adding a few more sockets to the ring and the fuse is 30a in the fuse box. All the cable in diy shops is 25/28 amps and 2.5mm. Will this be ok or do i need 30a or over to match the fuse? thanks

2.5mm^2 is the standard for ring circuits. If you have a radial then 2.5mm^2 is good for 20A or 4mm^2 for 32A.

You don't need to match the fuse because a ring circuit feeds power from both sides, so (in an ideal perfectly balanced world) you'd only ever draw 15A through each leg.

Davy

[RF Lighting]

peteg40 wrote:

hi there, i\\\'m adding a few more sockets to the ring and the fuse is 30a in the fuse box. All the cable in diy shops is 25/28 amps and 2.5mm. Will this be ok or do i need 30a or over to match the fuse? thanks

Are you extending the ring circuit, or are you planning on spurring the new sockets from the existing ring?

Please provide us with as much informaton on your proposals as you can, so we can give you the most apropriate advice.

__________________
I downlights

[peteg40]

i'm extending the ring - not spurring it off...

[davy_owen_88]

peteg40 wrote:

i'm extending the ring - not spurring it off...

In which case 2.5mm^2 is fine. Remember to sleeve the earth with yellow and green sleeving and keep the cables in the safe zones (if you are chasing them into the walls).

[Chivers7]

peteg40 wrote:

i'm extending the ring - not spurring it off...

your cable will be fine then Peter as said both cables will be live so effectively can carry more than the single rating.