Water Softener Spur

[stevebamford]

Hi Guys

Just trying to plan our kitchen / utility room electrics

We currently have a double socket spur off the ring for the washing machine

Is it OK to put an additional fused spur off this double socket to power the water softener ? (Not checked but guess this is very low power ??)

Many thanks in advance ?

Steve

 

[sparkticus]

The short answer is no.

You can't spur from a spur on a ring final circuit even if you do limit the loading with a fuse. This is to prevent abnormal loading. A ring final is typically run in 2.5mm protected by a 32 amp MCB. Abnormal loading can overheat the 2.5mm on sections of the ring final.

Admittedly as you say the water softener is likely to be a very small load and it could be wired as fixed equipment.

You would need to find another way, maybe convert the double socket to a single with a fused spur next to it then run 1.5mm to the water softener, wire the water softener into an flex outlet FCU

 

[EFLImpudence]

maybe convert the double socket to a single with a fused spur next to it then run 1.5mm to the water softener,

Just to clarify for OP -

The Fuse would have to be in line before the (WM) socket.

 

[sparkticus]

maybe convert the double socket to a single with a fused spur next to it then run 1.5mm to the water softener,

Just to clarify for OP -

The Fuse would have to be in line before the (WM) socket.

Yes, very good point.


1)Remove original W/M double socket face.
2)Add fused spur (on right or left side) to incoming supply (probably
2.5mm T&E)
3)Place W/M single socket on load side (fused side)
4)Run 1.5mm T&E from single socket to fixed flex outlet (FCU) for water softener.

If the existing W/M double socket is surface mounted than this is an easy job. If its recessed you will probably need to change to metal backing box for one which supports two units ( the single socket and the fused spur)

 

[stevebamford]

Thanks for the advice Guys - bit of a bugger though