wire to fan extractor in the kitchen

[Zehroni]

I need to wire a new fan extractor in the kitchen. Is it ok to connect 2.5mm wire to one of the existing power socket in the kitchen? or does it have to be 4mm wire. it will only feed single socket of 5amp current.

 

[winston1]

No you cannot connect to an existing power socket unless you are using a plug or FCU.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Provided the existing socket is part of a 32A ring final, or is on a 20A radial circuit, then extending it to one socket is perfectly fine, using 2.5mm² cable. (Winston has never read the regulations, thinks they are wrong anyway, and likes to make up his own rules.)

 

[EFLImpudence]

Is it ok to connect 2.5mm wire to one of the existing power socket in the kitchen?

As long as that socket is on the ring or radial circuit and not already a spur, then yes.

or does it have to be 4mm wire. it will only feed single socket of 5amp current.

If you mean that you are fitting just one socket near the fan, then no, it does not have to be 4mm².

It would be better if you used a normal 13A socket to avoid possibly having to fuse down for the 5A one.

 

[Zehroni]

many thanks for the speedy reply guys. the socket is part of 32A radial circuit.

 

[Zehroni]

sorry meant to say on a ring circuit not radial

 

[EFLImpudence]

Ok. Same difference.

 

[winston1]

Provided the existing socket is part of a 32A ring final, or is on a 20A radial circuit, then extending it to one socket is perfectly fine, using 2.5mm² cable. (Winston has never read the regulations, thinks they are wrong anyway, and likes to make up his own rules.)

Have you read the regulations? Show me the reg that allows a 5 amp socket to be added to a ring which is what the OP said he wanted to do.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

Well, actually he said he wanted to fit a single socket and draw 5A from it. Perhaps the OP can say if he meant a 5A type socket.

 

[Zehroni]

Well, actually he said he wanted to fit a single socket and draw 5A from it. Perhaps the OP can say if he meant a 5A type socke

sorry for the confusion DetlefSchmitz is correct, that is what I meant; connect 2.5mm wire to an existing ring socket from one end and to a single socket to the other end. consequently; my fan extractor plug (5A) will be connected to the newly established single socket

 

[EFLImpudence]

Have you read the regulations? Show me the reg that allows a 5 amp socket to be added to a ring which is what the OP said he wanted to do.

Well, there are all sorts of regulations - as long as the fault current requirements are met.

Is it really any different than a 13A socket on a 32A ring or 32A radial?

What IS a 5A socket? Is it really thought that the pins and terminals can only take 5A?

 

[winston1]

A BS546 5a socket can certainly handle more than 5 amps. It was allowed to fit 3 of them to a 15a fuse and I’ve seen one carry 15a with no problems. Don’t think I’d like to put 39a through a 13a socket (fuse bypassed), but then as is often quoted “they don’t make ‘em like they used to”.

 

[EFLImpudence]

A BS546 5a socket can certainly handle more than 5 amps.

Ok, so why are they called that?

It was allowed to fit 3 of them to a 15a fuse

By whom? Why should there be a limit of three?

and I’ve seen one carry 15a with no problems.

There you go.

Don’t think I’d like to put 39a through a 13a socket (fuse bypassed), but then as is often quoted “they don’t make ‘em like they used to”.

No, not the equivalent - but you are allowed more than three on a 32A circuit (or 16A for that matter).


None of that explains why you can't have a '5A' socket on a spur from a 32A ring.

 

[winston1]

I suggest you read the regs including some old editions.