Another socket in the loft topic

[ban-all-sheds]

i found two 2.5mm wires running into a junction box then onto a socket from there daisy chained to a further 2 double sockets. First of all is that safe? Looking at the back of the sockets there is 6wires in the first socket 6in the next on the chain and six in the last, it then goes back to the junction box.

Am i right in thinking this has been done as a ring main?

No.

The previous electricians work is shoddy as i found wires running alongside heating pipes which has burnt the pvc a little due to the heat and being compressed by the floorboards.
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But i imagine if that was the state of one room then god knows what awaits me in the others.

Seems to me the previous owner knew what they were doing so i have no worries about the safety.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

could you also post a copy of your test results? Always interesting to see them!
You are aware that any buried newly installed cable, that is less than 50mm from surface without mechanical protection and any new sockets requires 30mA protection?

read further up

As well as PBoD, I also read further up:

I've also now pulled the old heater cable and run another two cables upto the loft and back down to the CU connected tested and working.

 

[enigmatic]

b anall

care to help a little more than just one worded answers?

Is it a ring main final then im looking at?

 

[aesmith]

Is it a ring main final then im looking at?

When you say "looking at" do you mean should you be creating a ring final for your new sockets? Earlier you said you had it all connected and tested, how have you got it connected at the moment, with what size of cable and size/type of circuit breaker?

By the way in some of your previous descriptions you've used the term "wire" without it being clear if you mean a cable containing several conductors, such as twin and earth cable. Probably obvious to you, but not to someone reading the description.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Is it a ring main final then im looking at?

You need to tell us, as you have stated that it was been installed and tested and working, so I assume on the schedules you will have detailed end to end resistances of r1, r2 and Rn and then done the R1+R2 test.
You have designed the circuit, are you not aware of what you have installed?
I am still looking forward to seeing the schedules of tests results!
I am now concerned that you have not actually proved that this is safe to be put into service!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

b anall

care to help a little more than just one worded answers?

Is it a ring main final then im looking at?

How many terminals in that junction box?

 

[enigmatic]

I do not have test equipment. I say tested as all connections are tight and working.

What i have done is run two cables 2.5mm from the cu where the heater cable was upto the loft and terminated to two double 13a sockets.

Also i pulled back the wiring in the bedroom that was burnt and replaced with two new cables of 2.5mm

There are two cables in the junction box. from there they run to the first and third sockets then back to the junction box.

 

[aesmith]

What i have done is run two cables 2.5mm from the cu where the heater cable was upto the loft and terminated to two double 13a sockets.

One cable to each socket, or are the two sockets also connected to make it a ring? If it's one to each, from the same MCB but with no connection between them then I'm not sure what you'd call it.

There are two cables in the junction box. from there they run to the first and third sockets then back to the junction box.

Is it just me or does that still not quite make sense? The cables go JB -> socket -> socket -> JB? Where does the supply come from, is there an additional cable to one of the sockets? It all sounds a little odd from what you've described.

I do not have test equipment

It's worth getting yourself a multimeter if you can. Even though it won't do proper low impedance or insulation tests you can still check continuity of your connections, etc etc before you reconnect or switch on the supply.

 

[rjm2k]

If it's one to each, from the same MCB but with no connection between them then I'm not sure what you'd call it.

That would be called 2 radials! should be at most a 20Amp MCB

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I do not have test equipment. I say tested as all connections are tight and working.

That is not testing.

There are two cables in the junction box. from there they run to the first and third sockets then back to the junction box.

How many terminals in that junction box?

 

[rjm2k]

Any chance of a photo of the inside of that JB?

Or maybe a drawing showing it all?

i found two 2.5mm wires running into a junction box then onto a socket from there daisy chained to a further 2 double sockets.

How do you know what is going "in" and what is going "out" of the JB?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I do not have test equipment. I say tested as all connections are tight and working.

so not tested at all then!
I suggest that you isolate this circuit now and have it properly commissioned.

What i have done is run two cables 2.5mm from the cu where the heater cable was upto the loft and terminated to two double 13a sockets.

Also i pulled back the wiring in the bedroom that was burnt and replaced with two new cables of 2.5mm

I assume they are routed within the permitted zones or the additional protection against mechanical damage was introduced.

 

[enigmatic]

I will just get an electrician in as its likely i'll get battered here left right and centre.

Im in the process of finding out what cables go where as the old boiler header tank is due to be taken out so any cables that are no longer needed will be taken out.

Wanted to do some of the work first saving money but it seems pointless given some of the replies.

oh well i was warned about posting here

 

[aesmith]

I will just get an electrician in as its likely i'll get battered here left right and centre.

If you've got it connected up, and you think it's right then if it were me I'd be pushing ahead, but I would test with a multimeter before connecting to the CU. There's nothing magic about that testing, you just want to make sure that the cables that should be connected all show a low impedance end to end, and that there's high impedance or o/c between conductors. It's really just verifying that your connections are in fact correct before powering up.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The problem is that you provided confusing/incorrect/worrying information - 2 "wires" to a junction box, then 6, you've ignored all the requests to photograph, or draw the connections there, or even to say how many terminals it has. You said you'd tested it when you hadn't. You said you thought that the previous owner knew what they were doing and so you had no worries about safety, and then you told us about badly installed cables with heat and mechanical damage. You described looking at something which might be a figure of 8, and ask if it's a ring, then you describe doing something which sounds more like 2 radials.

You really do not come across as having a clue what you are doing.