exyending ring main

[wobblymike]

i am about to build a partition wall in my daughters house to split one big bedroom into 2 for my grandchildren. Iam going to install 2 double sockets on each side of the new wall. There is one double socket in the bedroom at present and my intent is to split the ring under this socket by cutting one of the cables and inserting the new cable run via 2 30a junction boxes. When i polled up the floorboard yesterday I was surprised to see only 1 set of connections to the socket via a single cable. I confirmed this by opening the face plate and confirming there was only 1 set of connections. This indicates that the socket is a spur which is very surprising as it is the only socket in the room. Obviously I cannot run the new cable run from a spur. Am i missing something here?,

 

[telectrix]

you could fit a FCU before the existing socket then spur off your new sockets from there. make all connections in back of accessories, then they are accessible.

 

[Octopus]

i am about to build a partition wall in my daughters house to split one big bedroom into 2 for my grandchildren. Iam going to install 2 double sockets on each side of the new wall. There is one double socket in the bedroom at present and my intent is to split the ring under this socket by cutting one of the cables and inserting the new cable run via 2 30a junction boxes. When i polled up the floorboard yesterday I was surprised to see only 1 set of connections to the socket via a single cable. I confirmed this by opening the face plate and confirming there was only 1 set of connections. This indicates that the socket is a spur which is very surprising as it is the only socket in the room. Obviously I cannot run the new cable run from a spur. Am i missing something here?,

Experience and qualifications?

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Testing, Certification & Notification to LABC ???your breaking the law if you don't do the latter

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

How old is the house? Have you checked to make sure the circuit is in fact a ring and not a radial?

 

[wobblymike]

telectrix thankyou for that thought can you offer any thoghts as to why the only socket in the room appears to be a spur

 

[kingeri]

Mate, this is really simple stuff that any decent spark will be able to sort for you easily. Please get someone in to do this for you, especially as you say it's for your grandchildren!!!!! Without seeing the layout, no-one on a forum can direct you as what to do. For example, if I was doing this job, I'd do testing at the distribution board to confirm that the ring was actually a ring, before doing anything else.

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

telectrix thankyou for that thought can you offer any thoghts as to why the only socket in the room appears to be a spur

Could be any reason from the circuit being a radial, or more likely it's just spurred off the ring. This is why you need to verify what the circuit is to give you/us a better idea of what can be done

 

[Rockingit]

There is nothing wrong with the occasional spur and they are commonly found. However, and you need to absorb this - no matter how competent you are (and I get an impression that you are, please don't get me wrong) at DIY and 'know how things work' the installation of extra wiring/sockets etc is now governed by Part P of the building regs and you are legally required to notify to your local area building control what you are doing and that the end result meets current regs, is tested and certified etc.

On a practical note, if it IS a spur then you need to identify where it's fed from. If it's a double socket on a ring elsewhere then the easiest thing to do is to make that spurred socket into a 13a fused spur (doesn't even need to be a switched one, you just need the fuse) and then feed the other two new sockets from it. However, if it's actually a radial (point to point) circuit and you happen to have found the last point then so long as the rest of the circuit is OK and meets the applicable regulations then you can just extend it.

BUT - how are you to know about the applicable regs and be able to test that circuit to BS7671:2008 and know that it will not be in danger of harming said grandchild afterwards?

 

[telectrix]

as above posts, but have to disagree with the LABC involvement. this is not a notifiable job, but should be carried out in accordance with current regulations, tested and a minor works certificate completed. for what it will cost to get a qualified sparks in, that's the best option.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Testing, Certification & Notification to LABC ???your breaking the law if you don't do the latter

It's an addition or alteration to an existing circuit, and it's not in a special location.

 

[kingeri]

I find it incredible.......I bet he wouldn't mess around with the gas but he's happy to faff with the electrics.

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Circuit alteration is notifiable under napit guys

 

[Octopus]

Circuit alteration is notifiable under napit guys

Really. Thats daft.

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Try and dig it out, I hope I'm right lol

 

[Rockingit]

Tel, Spin - yes, fair comment! Get so used to the same routine it's easy to forget. But, an interesting technical point, when does 'extending a circuit' (non notifiable) start to cross over with fundamentally changing the characteristics of a circuit so far as Zs and different CPD's is concerned?

AND - no one has yet to mention the letters R, C & D.

 

[wobblymike]

ok time out thank you all for your thoughts i do appreciate it i will consider further.

 

[kingeri]

ok time out thank you all for your thoughts i do appreciate it i will consider further.

How to do the job or getting a spark in?

 

[LlandrilloSpark]

Pretty grey area on the online notification, I was told to but extra sockets (not in special location) as "Other".....when you notify "Other" in comes as Notifiable to LA, I'm going to question it this week.

 

[telectrix]

wobbly, if you post your location, i'm sure one of us is close to you.