Two separate electric sockets wired into one fuseway.

[eternaloptimist1]

There are two 13A socket outlets, each one is wired with its own 2.5 sq mm cable into one 15 Amp fuseway. (is this referred to as a radial circuit?).

My question is " does this conform to regulations.?" Clearly if both outlets were used simultaneously each drawing the max 13A, the circuit breaker will trip. I don't mind this as I do not intend to use both the appliances simultaneously. On the odd occasion when this happens in error, I know it is all safe as the circuit breaker will shut down both of them.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Yes, it's allowed - not ideal as you have noticed.

You could have a 25A breaker.

 

[eternaloptimist1]

You could have a 25A breaker.

Thank you for the clarification. I will leave it as is. Its no problem as I dont need to use the two items together. Thanks again.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Perfectly correct and normal. It is usually unlikely that two high-current appliances would be in use simultaneously for long periods unless one of them's a tumble dryer.

 

[OwainDIYer]

Yes, it's allowed - not ideal as you have noticed.

You could have a 25A breaker.

Wouldn't be a standard circuit configuration then though would it?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Perfectly correct and normal. It is usually unlikely that two high-current appliances would be in use simultaneously for long periods unless one of them's a tumble dryer.

I wouldn't say it is 'perfectly correct' as presumable the design current could be 26A therefore the OPD might be classed as underrated.

Yes, it's allowed - not ideal as you have noticed.
You could have a 25A breaker.

Wouldn't be a standard circuit configuration then though would it?

Not sure I understand. What is a standard circuit configuration?

Using all sorts of regulations, it could have a 50A OPD.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

[RINGS BELL]
You don't know that the cables are < 3m long.
[/AND RUNS AWAY ]

 

[JohnW2]

I wouldn't say it is 'perfectly correct' as presumable the design current could be 26A therefore the OPD might be classed as underrated.

As often discussed, "design current" is really a crystal ball job when it comes to a socket circuit. However, a 20A / 2.5mm² radial with, say, 10-20 13A 'outlets' would not be unusual, nor non-compliant.

Not sure I understand. What is a standard circuit configuration?

Indeed. I don't really understand, either. I guess he probably means that it is not a circuit arrangement described in Appendix 15 or the OSG - but "so what"?!

Kind Regards, John

 

[OwainDIYer]

I guess he probably means that it is not a circuit arrangement described in Appendix 15 or the OSG -

I did.

 

[winston1]

Clearly if both outlets were used simultaneously each drawing the max 13A, the circuit breaker will trip.

Indeed, and if 10 outlets on a ring final were used simultaneously each drawing the max 13A, the 32A circuit breaker will trip.

But no one does this.

 

[JohnW2]

I guess he probably means that it is not a circuit arrangement described in Appendix 15 or the OSG -

I did.

Fair enough, but what about the final three words of what I wrote that you didn't quote ....' but "so what"?! '?

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

Perfectly correct and normal. It is usually unlikely that two high-current appliances would be in use simultaneously for long periods unless one of them's a tumble dryer.

I wouldn't say it is 'perfectly correct' as presumable the design current could be 26A therefore the OPD might be classed as underrated.

Yes, it's allowed - not ideal as you have noticed.
You could have a 25A breaker.

Wouldn't be a standard circuit configuration then though would it?

Not sure I understand. What is a standard circuit configuration?

Using all sorts of regulations, it could have a 50A OPD.

I guess he is talking about the "standard" circuit arrangements mentioned in the OSG of 30/ 32A ring final using 2.5mm² or the 30/ 32A radial using 4.00mm² or the 20A radial using 2.5mm².

 

[securespark]

In my last job I had an interesting "discussion" (read disagreement!) with an NIC spark who said that our work was not compliant because there were two conductors leaving a 15A fuseway destined for two separate outlets.

He swore the regs would only allow one conductor to leave the fuseway to be compliant.

When I mentioned the OSG, his response was "Well, that's a guide and not the regs. We only go by the regs...."

 

[JohnW2]

I guess he is talking about the "standard" circuit arrangements mentioned in the OSG of 30/ 32A ring final using 2.5mm² or the 30/ 32A radial using 4.00mm² or the 20A radial using 2.5mm².

That's what I said (without mentioning the actual numbers)!

Kind Regards, John

 

[JohnW2]

In my last job I had an interesting "discussion" (read disagreement!) with an NIC spark who said that our work was not compliant because there were two conductors leaving a 15A fuseway destined for two separate outlets. ... He swore the regs would only allow one conductor to leave the fuseway to be compliant. When I mentioned the OSG, his response was "Well, that's a guide and not the regs. We only go by the regs...."

Forget the OSG - you should have asked him which of the regs ("which he goes by") forbids it! There is nothing in the regs which says that a branch of a radial (or a spur of a ring final) can't originate at the circuit's OPD, just as they can originate at any other point in the circuit. The regs are just a set of regulations, not an "exhaustive cookbook" - so, provided it does not contravene any of those regs, something is not non-compliant because it is not specifically mentioned in the regs book!.

Kind Regards, John