Ring to radial

[AdieB]

Had a call out to a home where the RCD keeps tripping when lounge ,dinning and bed room sockets mcb is switched on. Fault traced to one of the legs from the consumer unit to 1st socket 0.2Meg ohm at best. cable size is 2.5mm T&E there are 10 double and 4 single sockets on the circuit. Reg 433.1 seems to indicate that providing the floor area is limited to 50 m2 (the area in question is 3/4 the floor area of a medium size house. it would be ok to drop out the damaged leg from the consumer unit and socket fuse down to 20Amp mcb and leave as is. Possible to rewire initial leg and reinstate ring but do I need too?

what do you think?

AdieB

PS dropped leg out of consumer unit marked cable with tape and description of fault. Disconnected from socket and put wago type terminals on he cores. Changed mcb to16A (close's that was on van.)

 

[Guest125]

As long as the user does not require more than 20 amps seems fine to me.

 

[Andy78]

Why are you not replacing the damaged cable ?

 

[7029 dave]

Yes replace the damaged cable, and keep the ring.

 

[Farmelectrics]

put it on a 20a breaker and give the customer a price for installing new cable do you no were or how cable is damaged

 

[telectrix]

just explain to the customer that he's limited as too the load on the radial. give him a price to replace the damaged cable, then let him decide, once he has the facts.

 

[AdieB]

Only things plugged in would be TV, Sky, answer machine ,and maybe clock radio. Customer needs work done straight away as visitors arriving . Due to other commitments can't get there until next week.
adieB

 

[Pete999]

Only things plugged in would be TV, Sky, answer machine ,and maybe clock radio. Customer needs work done straight away as visitors arriving . Due to other commitments can't get there until next week.
adieB

replace the duff leg, keep it as a RFC, 3 hours job done, simples

 

[AdieB]

I have always been a Ring circuit kind of Guy (Old school). I thought that the new school is for radial circuits, as most hosing now has central heating and the power consumption on the power side is less than 20 Amp.

AdieB

 

[Knobhead]

Possible to rewire initial leg and reinstate ring but do I need too?

what do you think?

What do I think?

Stop being idle and get on with replacing the faulty leg and reinstate the ring.

Had the fault been at a mid point I may have agreed with making it two radials. No way would I agree to making a single radial and down rating by 62%.

 

[Octopus]

I've got a customer who's house has 1 x radial for the upstairs and 1 x radial for the downstairs! (and yes if they use too many kitchen appliances it trips the MCB!)

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Yes it can be suprising how little it takes in the way of 'things plugged in' to trip a 16/20 Amperes Radial circuit.

 

[Guest125]

What do I think?

Stop being idle and get on with replacing the faulty leg and reinstate the ring.

Had the fault been at a mid point I may have agreed with making it two radials. No way would I agree to making a single radial and down rating by 62%.

A little unfair. There could be many reasons why the client does not want it re-wired. Decorations etc. if the loading is taken into account then surely everyone is a winner.

 

[Guest125]

Yes it can be suprising how little it takes in the way of 'things plugged in' to trip a 16/20 Amperes Radial circuit.

Only suprising if it does not take about 16/20 amps???!!!! :willy_nilly::willy_nilly:

 

[Knobhead]

I can’t understand why the OP asked the question. No one would seriously back up his cheapskate excuse for not doing the job properly.

 

[Guest125]

I can’t understand why the OP asked the question. No one would seriously back up his cheapskate excuse for not doing the job properly.

I would back him up. He is not asking for our opinion on whether or not to rewire the ring. We are not there. He is. Be nice or don't be at all. ;-)

 

[Octopus]

replace the duff leg, keep it as a RFC, 3 hours job done, simples

??? based on what???

 

[Guest125]

??? based on what???

Based on clipping T&E surface as the crow flies.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Put it on a 20A MCB, and give the customer a price for installing a new cable.

Do you know where or how the cable is damaged?

:book:

 

[VoltzElectrical]

If the installation socket outlet power requirements are below the new lower OCPD then leave it as a radial, thus avoiding disrupting the building fabric and further costs.

If higher current demands are required at a later date, then the ring can be reinstated or a new circuit installed.

Just my opinion.

The options should be provided to the client along with costs and implications.