Extend Ring Main or add FCU?

[JohnW2]

Thanks John. Out of interest, other than distance/location from the fuse board, is there any other way of determining where in the ring a socket is?

Only really if you have measuring equipment capable of measuring very low resistances.

However, unless there are some very devious and/or silly cable routes, the physical distance involved are likely to be a good guide. For example, to take an obvious and extreme example, in the case of an 'upstairs sockets circuit', with the CU/fuse board 'downstairs', none of the wiring upstairs will be 'near one end of the ring'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

Trying to get two 2.5mm and a 4mm in the back of a DS might be difficult...

For what it's worth, not in my experience. Four 2.5mm² conductors is not usually difficult, and at least some makes (e.g. MK Logic Plus) are specified as being able to accommodate 3 x 4mm².

Kind Regards, John

 

[narkeybee]

Lets hope the OP doesn't buy a cheap LAP DS then,lucky to get 3x 2.5mm in them.

 

[Weeball]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I genuinely do appreciate it.

Rocky - I hadn’t thought of splitting the existing DS into 2 singles to extend the ring main, so thank you for that.

I’m going to check the existing DS is part of the ring main and if it is, I’m going to follow EFL’s advice and spur off using 4mm T&E. Now to order all the stuff!! And no, I won’t be using cheap LAP DSs

Thanks again all

 

[sxturbo]

I disagree.

Depending non brand of socket, I know my click mode sockets (so not cheap LAP or Axiom stuff) have smaller connections in the back than the old early 90's crabtree ones that I removed,

I think the reason for this is that they used to use twisted wire twin and earth and now it's solid core.

I have certainly had issues getting 2x twisted core and a solid core (all 2.5mm) into the back of the click mode sockets. I did get them in but it was a struggle.

Obviously other brands may be different however.

Just to note, I'm not saying that extending the ring is better than your suggestion, I am just agreeing with the point made about fitting cables in the back of sockets.