Adding new power sockets

[bllw]

Hi

I would like to add a number of new power sockets at home. Currently I have a single socket in each bedroom, but would like to replace that with a double then add a spur off that and then a spur off the spur. Is this OK?
Another problem is I'm not sure if my upstairs is a ringmain or one long spur.

Cheers

 

[Big_Spark]

You cannot spur off a spur.

There is no problem adapting single sockets to doubles, I would suggest that you add new sections of cable and incorporate any additional sockets onto the ring.

If you wish to establish whether the upstairs circuit is a ring, turn off the circuit at the consumer unit, then disconnect the neutrals and the lives in the consumer unit. Get a Multimeter, put it on bell..so it makes a tone when you complete a circuit. Put one prong on one neutral and the other on the other neutral, if you get a tone, you have a circuit. To confirm the validity of this, repeat this with the live and Earth conductors for that circuit..ensure they are the cables for the circuit in question.

If you get a tone on all three pairs of cable, you will have a ring, if you do not, then you have two spurs from the same breaker or fuse.

There are other ways to confirm, but this is the safest for you, just be careful.

I would urge you to turn the consumer unit off at the main switch whilst working in it.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

If you get a tone on all three pairs of cable, you will have a ring, if you do not, then you have two spurs from the same breaker or fuse.

1) Two radials from the same breaker not a Good Idea

2) And if you get a tone on some of the pairs, but not all, you have a problem.

You also need to do some tests on the sockets upstairs to confirm that they aren't on a long spur. (Unlikely, but you did think for some reason they might be). Checking at the CU will show if you have a ring or not, but that doesn't guarantee that your sockets in the bedrooms aren't spurred off the ring.

Reconnect at the CU, but before turning the power back on, remove a bedroom socket, and disconnect one of the cables. Make it safe with a bit of choc-block. Turn the power back on and check that both cables in the bedroom are live - if they are you have a ring, if only 1 is live then you don't.