Ring main circuits appear to be radial at consumer unit.

[AndyPRK]

I think the installer has just used what breakers the cu came with. They didn’t tend to come with b20

Would also explain the spare mcbs

 

[AndyPRK]

The wylex b25 have different bus bar connections and I’m not happy with the alignment. (And no balcony )

I’ve used a Crabtree b25 myself and know it fits well, as you would expect.

 

[UrbanGreen]

Wylex make 25amp breakers - could be your best bet.

Crap plastering, btw.

I’ve just ripped all the tiles off.

 

[SUNRAY]

How do we know it is 2.5mm²?

UrbanGreen: Are the Line and Neutral wires stranded or just a single core?

What a confusing question from a supposed expert

 

[Jurassicspark]

@UrbanGreen Waiting patiently for a picture of the cable(s) leaving the breakers for the sockets.

 

[EFLImpudence]

What a confusing question from a supposed expert

UrbanGreen did not seem to have a problem with it.

What do you find confusing?

 

[ericmark]

With power off, removing the two brown wires, there should be continuity between them. The same applies to the blue wires. And the two earth wires, if no continuity, likely it is a radial. It could also be a donor socket for a spur, but unlikely.

The BS 7671 came out in 1992, from that point electricians were encouraged to take an exam to show they could read the book, 2001 was the next major change, followed by 2008 and 2018. By 2001 I would have thought no re-wire was completed without producing paperwork, and by 2004 the Part P law forced the production of paperwork for re-wires.

The rules (other than rental property) say an EICR (was called a PIR) should be done every 10 years or change of occupant, which ever is shortest. We are, of course, assuming a real inspection and test, and not a drive by. I note my house buyer's report included an EICR, however not really up to standard, he noted a disused fuse box in the ceiling space, it was not disused.

My house generates a display of the power used, and other than when having a shower, or recharging batteries the power used rarely exceeds 4 kW, so if all my B32 RCBO's were changed to B20 RCBO's it is unlikely they would ever trip. That would seem to be the easy way forward.

 

[UrbanGreen]

@UrbanGreen Waiting patiently for a picture of the cable(s) leaving the breakers for the sockets.

Not doing a photo of that now. I’ve removed all of the wiring in the kitchen and will get a fresh ring installed. It seems to have been a radial with some sort of ring tied into it. There’s definitely only a single cable going into all of the socket circuits. Three socket circuits and multi core cable going into them so I’m guessing they are 4mm2 radial circuits as opposed to my assumption that I had three ring circuits. What period do radial circuits come from? How is a householder supposed to know what he has got?

 

[UrbanGreen]

View attachment 369810 With power off, removing the two brown wires, there should be continuity between them. The same applies to the blue wires. And the two earth wires, if no continuity, likely it is a radial. It could also be a donor socket for a spur, but unlikely.

The BS 7671 came out in 1992, from that point electricians were encouraged to take an exam to show they could read the book, 2001 was the next major change, followed by 2008 and 2018. By 2001 I would have thought no re-wire was completed without producing paperwork, and by 2004 the Part P law forced the production of paperwork for re-wires.

The rules (other than rental property) say an EICR (was called a PIR) should be done every 10 years or change of occupant, which ever is shortest. We are, of course, assuming a real inspection and test, and not a drive by. I note my house buyer's report included an EICR, however not really up to standard, he noted a disused fuse box in the ceiling space, it was not disused.

My house generates a display of the power used, View attachment 369820 and other than when having a shower, or recharging batteries the power used rarely exceeds 4 kW, so if all my B32 RCBO's were changed to B20 RCBO's it is unlikely they would ever trip. That would seem to be the easy way forward.

Very useful information.

 

[AndyPRK]

Nothing wrong with a 4mm radial. Ideal for a kitchen.

2.5mm cable for ring could be cheaper

 

[JohnW2]

What a confusing question from a supposed expert

 

[JohnW2]

Nothing wrong with a 4mm radial. Ideal for a kitchen. 2.5mm cable for ring could be cheaper

It obviously depends upon the topography/layout, but 4mm² T+E is a fair bit less than double the price of 2.5mm².

 

[UrbanGreen]

Nothing wrong with a 4mm radial. Ideal for a kitchen.

2.5mm cable for ring could be cheaper

Really 4mm radial? What would the average electrician install? I know the rational behind our UK ring circuits but I believed that was the required standard. So I can leave my other circuits which I believe are radial? That makes things a bit simpler. As my feed to the kitchen is a 4mm I could just have it wired as a radial. In 4mm obviously.

 

[terryplumb]

Some sparks are stuck in their habitual ways,quite a lot in my experience actually, and still fit ring final circuits. The younger ones not so much and fit radials .

 

[AndyPRK]

They will install what is sensible hopefully.

We are keen to see a pic of the CU and neutral wires to see if it’s safe.