Is it acceptable to connect a radial to a spur via a 13A plug?

[JohnW2]

I pointed out that EV connectors are not shuttered and a resident expert defended them as interlocked

That is true, but I suspect that the next amendment to, or edition of, BS7671 may well 'catch up' by explicitly adding these things to the existing list of 'exclusions'.

Mind you, I have to wonder why people don't seem to get excited about IEC connectors which, when used in some ways, have the 'fixed' part as the female one ('socket') serving as an 'output'.

I'm firmly of the opinion that anything 'fitted', regardless of the way it obtains power is or should be classed as part of the installation ....

You're attempting to apply common sense, but I'd suggest that it is not at all easy to do so in a manner which is at the same time 'comprehensive enough',consistent and also free of potential 'loopholes'.

... and fitting any sort of 'main socket' would be pointless, unless it's used for a specific reason such as generator inlet etc.

Again, you are attempting to apply common sense, and it's far from straightforward ....

I think that most of us would probably agree that none of the things we normally plug into 'mains sockets' (kitchen appliances, TVs, IT equipment, vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, tools etc. etc.), including their supply cables and plugs, count as parts of the electrical installation.

However, conversely we run into the issue highlighted by this thread. If a string of wall-mounted sockets are supplied, as a 'fused spur' from some circuit, then I think that many, maybe most, of us would, per what you imply (and what App Doc P says), always be inclined to say that those sockets were 'part of the installation', even if that 'spur' was supplied by a BS1363 plug/socket.

However, I don't see that anyone could/would describe an N-way 'extension lead' which plugged into a 13A socket as being, per se, 'part of the installation', and I suspect that many (most?) would say that that remains the case even if the socket outlets at the end of the extension lead are 'attached' to a wall/whatever.. As has happened in this thread, someone is therefore bound to point out that the two situations are electrically identical, rendering it difficult to produce a consistent 'rule' regarding what is. or is not, 'part of the installation' in these situations.

 

[robinbanks]

A four way, 2m extension lead bar (like you’d buy on Amazon for a tenner) is screwed to a wall (in such a way that the screw would have to be removed to take it away) and plugged into a regular socket

A plug with some t&e running to a double socket screwed to a plastic back box, with more t&e running to another double socket and back box, and plugged into a regular socket, but the whole thing is just loose on a bench, not fixed to anything, and could be unplugged and taken away with no visible evidence it had ever been there

Which of these, if any, would we say is “part of the installation”?

Interested to know opinions on whether it’s “what the thing is” vs “how it is incorporated” - whether one, both or neither of these things has an effect

 

[ebee]

In our Wiring Regs, in our everyday lives too, a lot of questions are not always yes everytime or no everytime ut more of a sometimes it depends sort of answer, 50 shades of greyRule/regulationscan notcover everything every time in every single instance.
And of course you ask a few different people the same question and you a few different answers.

Try to use some common sense (or uncommon sensense) and even with the best honest intent by all parties you will still get those differing points of view.

Personally I would side with the idea of the set up`s intended use whether that be permanent or just temporary therefore the fact that there is a plug involved somewhere does not reclassify as something is not fixed wiring, we might think of OK then what about an appliance then? and even then we might wander in the the other classification some times.

It is a no win scenario at best.