Number of points served

[RMS]

Hi all

Is a double socket 1 or 2 points of utilisation?

Your help is appreciated

Thanks

 

[EFLImpudence]

If you mean for the schedule of tests then I would say one.

 

[Risteard]

It is definitely one point of utilisation only.

But I fail to get excited about counting points.

 

[Starspark1]

One. Same as a five point chandelier is one point of utilisation not five.

 

[Man Paris]

Back in my days testing for the council we used to class it as 2 points...

 

[Taylortwocities]

That's the council for you.

It used to be quite simple.

Take a kitchen. In 1975 there was a 5ft florry on the ceiling = 1 point
In 2015 there are 10 downlights in the ceiling and three under-cupboard lights because the downlights make a big black shadow for you to remove your oysters from their shells = 13 points?

 

[Iggifer]

Undoubtedly one. I never understand how people class it as two. It's ONE accessory. It may have two outlets, but it's still one point.

 

[EFLImpudence]

It doesn't really matter, does it?

What useful information does anyone get from it?

 

[Risteard]

It doesn't really matter, does it?

What useful information does anyone get from it?

It's pretty pointless really... (Excuse the pun.)

 

[endecotp]

What useful information does anyone get from it?

Unlike almost everything else in an EICR, it's something that a typical hpuseholder can actually understand and check. So they can confirm that the person claiming to have done the report did at least visit their property and didn't entirely make up the numbers while sat in the pub.

 

[EFLImpudence]

That is a good point.

 

[PBC_1966]

Under the older rules which put a specific limit on the number of sockets on a 20 or 30A radial circuit, a twin socket used to be counted as two.

 

[securespark]

That is a good point.

More "Excuse the pun" required.

 

[securespark]

Under the older rules which put a specific limit on the number of sockets on a 20 or 30A radial circuit, a twin socket used to be counted as two.

That's right.

This section of the 14th. Ed gives rise (in my mind) to some of the most restrictive regs (when compared to today's), including the following:

A 20A 7/ .029 radial serving 1 room <300ft² (that is not a kitchen) could only supply a maximum of 6 BS1363 or 2814 outlets and stationary appliances (not exceeding 13A) and only provided no fixed water heating appliances were connected to any of those points.

A 20A radial serving other rooms could only supply a maximum of 2 outlets, a 30A one, 6.

 

[PBC_1966]

A 20A radial serving other rooms could only supply a maximum of 2 outlets, a 30A one, 6.

The original 14th edition says a 20A radial may serve up to six sockets in a single room not exceeding 300 sq. ft., only two sockets if a kitchen.

The 13th edition as amended to 1963 says a 20A radial may serve a maximum of three sockets in a single room not exceeding 200 sq. ft., again only two if a kitchen. (Doubles counted as two in all cases.)

I never understood the logic behind limiting a 30A radial to six sockets while a 30A ring could serve any number of sockets up to 1000 sq. ft.