Oven cable to Socket Cable

[CrazyFool]

Hi Guys

I had someone doing work in my house, I asked him to use the oven circuit (no longer needed) to run some extra sockets.

I'm just wondering if this would create problems with heat etc as the thicker oven cable can probably carry more amps which the thinner socket cable won't be able to.

Many thanks

CF

 

[AndyPRK]

No it doesn’t work like that.

Guessing. If he has done it in the normal way, he should have changed the fuse mcb to be less than 30A

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

If he is an electrician belonging to an official scheme, I should trust him to know what is safe and permitted.

 

[CrazyFool]

Thanks for the quick replys fellas.

No it doesn’t work like that.

Guessing. If he has done it in the normal way, he should have changed the fuse mcb to be less than 30A

He said he was going to take the old MCB out (I've not checked yet) and told me to stick a new MCB in once I've had the chance to buy one.

Will this do?:
https://www.toolstation.com/axiom-mcb/p77567

Cheers again

 

[AndyPRK]

Interesting. Electrician. Does half the work.

Post a pic of your cu so we can see the type u need

 

[AndyPRK]

Was new cable used to run between sockets. 2.5mm used?

How many new sockets fitted?

 

[CrazyFool]

Yes. he put a junction box where the oven cable ended. and a new 2.5mm cable was taken to extend a further 3 sockets (not spurs).
Will get some pics of the CU later tonight.

Cheers fella

 

[JohnW2]

If he is an electrician belonging to an official scheme, I should trust him to know what is safe and permitted.

A very reasonable thing to say - but, as we subsequently discovered ...

He said he was going to take the old MCB out (I've not checked yet) and told me to stick a new MCB in once I've had the chance to buy one.

... maybe the 'electrician' does not "belong to an official scheme"?

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes. he put a junction box where the oven cable ended. and a new 2.5mm cable was taken to extend a further 3 sockets (not spurs).

If there is only one 2.5mm² cable, then the maximum MCB suitable would be 25A.

If there are two 2.5mm² cables making a pointless ring, then 32A. Although this would be silly and one 4mm² cable (and 32A MCB) should have been used.

 

[DetlefSchmitz]

A very reasonable thing to say - but, as we subsequently discovered ...
... maybe the 'electrician' does not "belong to an official scheme"?

Indeed. That's why I said 'if'.

There's a couple of people covering the cable rating, and the MCB manufacturer issues now, so I'll leave it to them.

 

[CrazyFool]

Thanks for all the useful advice guys.

This is what he has done:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nsPq7Jr8onVpDRqwQOcTBDINHVKZRUxJ

Apologies, its only 2 sockets, not 3.

 

[EFLImpudence]

As I said - pointless ring.

Just copy and paste pictures or drag to reply box.

 

[JohnW2]

As I said - pointless ring.

Agreed, but there's nothing electrically "wrong with it" - so I suppose that if one has 2.5mm², but not 4mm², cable to hand (and wants to use a 32A MCB), then it's fair enough.

Kind Regards, John

 

[EFLImpudence]

True, but if the cable is chased into the wall, then unnecessary work.

Only two of the triangle sides are necessary and if the electrician is insufficiently stocked then two 2.5mm² would only be necessary to the first leg.

 

[JohnW2]

True, but if the cable is chased into the wall, then unnecessary work. Only two of the triangle sides are necessary and if the electrician is insufficiently stocked then two 2.5mm² would only be necessary to the first leg.

All agreed. Although I have presented a rationalisation of why it might be done, I suspect that the reality usually is that it is done through 'thoughtlessness', on the basis that "we've always installed sockets in rings".

I do confess that, in my cellar, I do have a 32A 'lollipop' circuit consisting of a 2.5mm² ring (with some spurs) fed from what was once a cooker
circuit but, apart from the fact that I installed it around 30 years ago (when I quite probably "didn't know any better"), I'm not really sure that I could justify 'why' it has been done like that (other than to avoid the need for 4mm² cable).

Kind Regards, John