Am I on ring or radial sockets (test results included)

[ericmark]

The resistance needs to be in the main less than an ohm, we should use a special low ohm ohmmeter to measure it, but with an ohmmeter which is part of a multi-meter looking at near zero ohms, but the exact reading will not be acerate enough to matter, so just looking for continuity.

We with a 32 amp MCB should be looking at a line - earth reading of 1.38Ω, and line to neutral more like 1Ω, measured with a loop impedance meter, but the 1.38Ω is not so important if you have RCD protection, and the 1Ω reading is really down to volt drop, but even if over the 5% allowed, it is not likely to cause a problem.

The socket tester

is designed for a radial circuit, and the pass level is too high for a ring final, and we jump from £32.50 to over £80 to get a tester that will do a ring final. But you're not running close to the limit, so not really something to worry about.

 

[pete01]

Or when you test between the 2 lives, neutral and earths the tester should go "beep"

 

[Risteard]

I know what you're trying to say mate but it would be better to phrase it clearly

Except that there are four live cores.

 

[FrodoOne]

Any MCB (Miniature Circuit Braker) (or RCBO) rated at 32 A (or there abouts) is almost certainly protecting a Ring circuit.
which really should not be used installed or upgraded - in this "day and age".

See

 

[EFLImpudence]

Any MCB (Miniature Circuit Braker) (or RCBO) rated at 32 A (or there abouts) is almost certainly protecting a Ring circuit.

Or a radial especially for the cooker circuit.

Are you quoting what he said in the video? I don't want to watch it.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Except that there are four live cores.

we know that you live in a foreign country (or do you).

But please remember the first three letters of this forum: DIY

Pedantry will have a number of effects. Mainly confusing those whose grasp on electrical things isnt at professor level to the point where they give up and go away. Which rather defeats the point of the forum, don't you think?

 

[pete01]

which really should not be used installed or upgraded - in this "day and age".

I thought you still could install rings, when did this change? Unless I've misunderstood

 

[pete01]

@generationrome ...... how did you get on?

 

[FrodoOne]

I thought you still could install rings, when did this change? Unless I've misunderstood

See

and the "opinion" of JW.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

When you say "measure resistance line to line, neutral to neutral and earth to earth, to see if part of a ring" or when pete01 says "Disconnect it and test continuity between both live wires both neutral wires and both earth wires", how do I actually do that, what am I looking for on the meter? Sorry I know it probably seems self explanatory to you.

If you simply connect the two probes tips together (not connected to your house wiring), your meter will show a very low value of Ohms in the display- metal to metal continuity, part the probes and the reading will increase.

What you are hoping for, to confirm you are dealing with a ring, is to see that very low Ohms value, when measured between the two lives, two neutrals, and two earths.

The 'low value', could be anywhere between 0.5 and 2.0 Ohms.

 

[robinbanks]

Does the socket you want to come off have two cables in it?

Well hopefully that it's part of the ring

Most sockets on a radial circuit have two cables in as well. It doesn't tell you much, if you find two wires but if you find a single cable then it's either a spur or the last socket on a radial, and three wires maybe the start of a spur

how do I actually do that, what am I looking for on the meter?

Turn the dial on the meter to the option that has a "sound wave" logo (a dot with two brackets "coming out of it" )

o))

Touch the tips of the probes together and hear a beep. Any time you hear that beep, the two wires(things) you're touching with the probes, are connected together somewhere


--

If you go to your consumer unit, turn the main switch off (the big one) so all the power goes off in the house.

Test it; first double check that lights and appliances are inoperative. They should be. If things still operate with the main switch off, stop and call an electrician
Set your meter to 600V~ mode (not beep mode) and touch one of the probes on the big copper rail at the bottom of the trip switches and touch the other probe on the big metal bar that all the green/yellow wires connect to. Do not touch any exposed metal with your skin, including the metal of the probes. Only hold the plastic part of the probe and be careful.
If the meter says any reading above 0 even with the main switch turned off do not do anything further; call an electrician.
If it says 0v you're ok to proceed

Then remove the two brown wires from the trip switch marked up for the socket you're interested in (eg the socket is upstairs and you have a trip marked "upstairs ring" or similar), you can then touch one probe of the meter to each wire at the same time and hopefully hear a beep. You can do the same with the two blue and two green/yellow wires in the same cables as the brown wires you just tested

If one or more wire pairs don't give you a beep, return here for more advice and we'll tell you how to check for a break in the ring

Bear in mind that sometimes a poor connection from the probes to the wires (esp if the wires are old and oxidised) will prevent a beep. Clean the wires up and press more firmly if you suspect this to be the case

 

[pete01]

Most sockets on a radial circuit have two cables in as well. It doesn't tell you much, if you find two wires but if you find a single cable then it's either a spur or the last socket on a radial, and three wires maybe the start of a spur

That's why I said do a continuity test, read what I wrote again it makes perfect sense.

See post 11

 

[pete01]

See

and the "opinion" of JW.

I haven't watched it, so rings aren't allowed anymore?

 

[robinbanks]

That's why I said do a continuity test, read what I wrote again it makes perfect sense.

The point I'm making is that telling someone to take a socket off and see if there are two cables in it doesn't really help inform anything. If it has any number other than 2 it gives slightly more information, but if the question is "do I have a ring or a radial?" finding 2 cables is entirely unhelpful

 

[pete01]

The point I'm making is that telling someone to take a socket off and see if there are two cables in it doesn't really help inform anything. If it has any number other than 2 it gives slightly more information, but if the question is "do I have a ring or a radial?" finding 2 cables is entirely unhelpful

But thats not all I said, read the whole thread.

Are you implying I said if theres two cables it's definitely a ring spur away?

Not true at all.