Advice - First Fix Ring main or Radial?

plugwash · 2026-01-20T11:08:37+0000

JohnW2 said:
If one wants to maximise 'versatility' ('future proofing'?), there's no reason why one can't do 'both' (and I often do these days) - i.e. 'loop at rose' AND ALSO run a neutral from rose to switches.
A major advantage of loop at switch over loop at rose comes when someone wants to replace the rose with a fancy fitting. Many fittings are much easier to wire with only a single cable, and metal class 2 fittings may make it essentially impossible to maintain their class 2 status in the face of multiple cables.

blup · 2026-01-20T15:01:27+0000

Ring every time, much more flexible.

Harry Bloomfield · 2026-01-20T15:32:20+0000

blup said:
Ring every time, much more flexible.

I agree, for main areas, but radials do have use in special, small areas, if the reason makes it worthwhile.

JohnW2 · 2026-01-20T16:51:58+0000

blup said:
Ring every time, much more flexible.

I'm personally very much 'on the fence' as regards this one (and install both rings and radials, as seem more appropriate in particular situations).

As a matter of interest, in what sense(s) you feel that rings are "much more flexible"?

blup · 2026-01-20T16:53:06+0000

JohnW2 said:
I'm personally very much 'on the fence' as regards this one (and install both rings and radials, as seem more appropriate in particular situations).

As a matter of interest, in what sense(s) you feel that rings are "much more flexible"?

Adding to the ring, easier to terminate

JohnW2 · 2026-01-20T17:33:05+0000

blup said:
Adding to the ring, easier to terminate

Could you perhaps elaborate? I'm not sure why you feel that 'adding to' or 'terminating' is any easier with a ring than a radial.

pete01 · 2026-01-20T18:24:07+0000

blup said:
Ring every time, much more flexible.

Bit more hassle to test though

blup · 2026-01-20T19:08:48+0000

JohnW2 said:
Could you perhaps elaborate? I'm not sure why you feel that 'adding to' or 'terminating' is any easier with a ring than a radial.

2.5mm radial carries less than 2.5 ring. Thinner conductors too

pete01 · 2026-01-20T19:15:36+0000

blup said:
2.5mm radial carries less than 2.5 ring. Thinner conductors too

Thinner conductors, both being 2.5mm?

blup · 2026-01-20T19:16:03+0000

pete01 said:
Thinner conductors, both being 2.5mm?

No 4mm

blup · 2026-01-20T19:18:06+0000

blup said:
Ring every time, much more flexible.

pete01 · 2026-01-20T19:18:27+0000

blup said:
No 4mm

Oh sorry I must have missed that

JohnW2 · 2026-01-20T19:40:07+0000

blup said:
2.5mm radial carries less than 2.5 ring.

True, but ....

blup said:
Thinner conductors too

I personally find 4mm² T+E nicer/easier to work with than 2.5mm².

JohnW2 · 2026-01-20T19:42:07+0000

blup said:
No 4mm

This is getting a bit confusing, since you wrote:

blup said:
2.5mm radial carries less than 2.5 ring. ....

How did 4mm² get into this?

AndyPRK · 2026-01-20T20:01:55+0000

Well, its obvious. If you want to plug the same load into the sockets. (for example a kitchen). Then a radial will either need to be 4 or 6mm

And as an the op is more of a DIYer, its a bit silly to have to buy one real of 4mm when you can use 2.5mm on a ring.
I'm sure you investigated 4mm prices in the past, and they weren't good value either, as not a common use

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Advice - First Fix Ring main or Radial?

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