Can you put 2 cables on load side of a single fcu?

[Alex evans]

Hi guys. Got a fcu off of the ring main to then supply power to a gas boiler. Simple enough.

Im looking for a way to get an outdoor socket fitted in this area, and am wondering if i can put a cable from load side (so, along with the boiler flex) to the new outdoor socket.

I cant see a problem with it myself. Its protected by the fcu and the gas boiler hardly uses much leccy.

Tia

 

[terryplumb]

Is the fused connection unit a spur ,on a ring final circuit ? Is it part of a ring final circuit. Or is it a radial circuit dedicated to the boiler ?

 

[Alex evans]

Is the fused connection unit a spur ,on a ring final circuit ? Is it part of a ring final circuit. Or is it a radial circuit dedicated to the boiler ?

A spur, off of the ring main.

Edit: ie see drawing

 

[Alex evans]

.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Likely the boiler - i.e. heating system - will have a 3A fuse; not much good for a socket.

People will think this should not be altered.

 

[Alex evans]

Likely the boiler - i.e. heating system - will have a 3A fuse; not much good for a socket.

People will think this should not be altered.

Right! That makes sense, yeah. Would i be able then, to fit an fcu in the cable that goes from the existing socket to the existing fcu.

Edit:. Or. Probably easyer, to just cut into the ring main cables, fit a new fcu.

 

[JohnW2]

Im looking for a way to get an outdoor socket fitted in this area, and am wondering if i can put a cable from load side (so, along with the boiler flex) to the new outdoor socket. .... I cant see a problem with it myself. Its protected by the fcu and the gas boiler hardly uses much leccy.

You can connect whatever you want, and as many things as you want, to the load side of an FCU, even if it is a spur from a ring final circuit.

However, as has been said, if it's currently supplying a boiler, it probably has a 3A fuse - so, unless the new socket would only be used for very small loads you would have to increase the rating of the fuse (probably to 13A) - and, as has been said, some people would probably believe/say that was 'wrong' (in relation to the boiler).

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Right! That makes sense, yeah. Would i be able then, to fit an fcu in the cable that goes from the existing socket to the existing fcu.

No, because you would then have more than one thing being supplied by one spur from the ring, which would not be acceptable if the spur was in 2.5mm² cable.

Edit:. Or. Probably easyer, to just cut into the ring main cables, fit a new fcu.

That would be the ideal.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Right! That makes sense, yeah. Would i be able then, to fit an fcu in the cable that goes from the existing socket to the existing fcu.

You could - but I think that would lead to more arguments discussions.

Edit:. Or. Probably easyer, to just cut into the ring main cables, fit a new fcu.

Yes, if you can.

 

[EFLImpudence]

No, because you would then have more than one thing being supplied by one spur from the ring, which would not be acceptable if the spur was in 2.5mm² cable.

Even with a total of 16A of fuses - which could be 26A in other circumstances?

 

[SUNRAY]

Or you could upgrade the existing fuse to 13A to feed a socket and a second FCU with a 3A fuse for the boiler.

Or you could replace the FCU with a double socket and power the boiler with a plug containing a 3A fuse and plug the outdoor socket into the second socket.

 

[JohnW2]

Even with a total of 16A of fuses - which could be 26A in other circumstances?

Yes, I have to agree that such would be (electrically) OK - but., as you have said, it would certainly be at risk of resulting in "arguments discussions", particularly on the part of those who, obsessed with an ';informative' Appendix of the regs, believe/say that it is not acceptable for an unfused spur to feed two single sockets!

KInd Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Or you could upgrade the existing fuse to 13A to feed a socket and a second FCU with a 3A fuse for the boiler.

Good point. That would even satisfy those who like to argue!

Or you could replace the FCU with a double socket and power the boiler with a plug containing a 3A fuse.

Indeed - or that, even!

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, I didn't think of it that way round.

 

[SUNRAY]

Or you could upgrade the existing fuse to 13A to feed a socket and a second FCU with a 3A fuse for the boiler.

Or you could replace the FCU with a double socket and power the boiler with a plug containing a 3A fuse and plug the outdoor socket into the second socket.

Personally I don't see a difference between a double socket and 2 FCU's except the majority of double sockets are rated at 20A total and some only 13A.

But regs is regs is right