Is this allowed!!

[Greenie9657]

As you might have seen previous threads on here, I'm doing a spot of DIY in my newly purchased House and ive come across something rather weird. I have a FCU in my utility room(which is joined onto my kitchen downstairs) with a double plug socket at the side of it. Now I just presumed that this was all run from the down stairs ring main. But when I pull the downstairs fuse out of the consumer unit, the switch and FCU remained live. I've later found out that they are wired into the upstairs ring main. Is that allowed? God knows why it's been done that way. Any ideas?

 

[SimonH2]

There's nothing to say you have to split RFCs by floor. Mostly likely it was easiest to drop down to them from the upstairs ring than get the downstairs ring to them - is this an extension that's been added ?

It highlights the importance of testing for dead before working on anything.

 

[Greenie9657]

There's nothing to say you have to split RFCs by floor. Mostly likely it was easiest to drop down to them from the upstairs ring than get the downstairs ring to them - is this an extension that's been added ?

It highlights the importance of testing for dead before working on anything.

Hi Simon

Thanks for your reply. Yeah it's an extension. I always check with a multi meter to make sure things are dead. Thank god I did this time. Is it laid down anywhere that socket wiring has to go straight down and switch wiring goes straight up or is that just how things get done?

 

[SimonH2]

Either can go up or down (or horizontally), but there are specific "safe zones" where cables have to run.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I always check with a multi meter to make sure things are dead.

Better:

Is it laid down anywhere that socket wiring has to go straight down and switch wiring goes straight up or is that just how things get done?

That is so one of the things that it was essential for you to learn before you even picked up a screwdriver.

http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:walls


Have you not got copies of these yet?









http://www.diynot.com/wiki/electrics:books

 

[conny]

One reason for it coming 'down' off the upper ring may be to provide a close source of power if the kitchen electrics develop a fault. Easier to have one extension lead coming through a door near the back of the property than one trailing all the way through from the front of the house.

 

[Lectrician]

Having the kitchen and utility sockets on different circuits is a good idea due to the higher loads in these areas.

Relying on the circuit labelling should be a guide only, you should be testing for dead EVERY time you start work on anything.

In many homes, particularly if you have solid ground floors, the socket circuits will be split left/right or front/back rather than up/down. Extensions and alterations can end up being connected to whatever is closest.