Adding a spur to an existing circuit on a BS3036 CU

[electro-lass]

Hi there,
I'm a newly trained electrician with limited experience and could really use some expert advice. I've searched through the forum about this but have only managed to confuse myself further. I have been asked to add a double socket to a living room ring circuit. My plan is to spur off an existing socket in the living room running the cable under the floor boards. The CU is a Wylex BS3036 board. To comply with regulations, does the double socket that I install have to be RCD protected?

 

[alanl]

Yes,all socket outlets for general use need RCD protection, and the cable will do as well unless it is surface mounted or more than 50mm below the surface.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

What qualifications do you have just out of pure interest?

 

[tanna]

Probably got a jib gold card as well

 

[telectrix]

Hi there,
I'm a newly trained electrician with limited experience and could really use some expert advice. I've searched through the forum about this but have only managed to confuse myself further. I have been asked to add a double socket to a living room ring circuit. My plan is to spur off an existing socket in the living room running the cable under the floor boards. The CU is a Wylex BS3036 board. To comply with regulations, does the double socket that I install have to be RCD protected?

best way, IMO, is to comme off the 3036 RFC fuse ( and the N ) to a stand alone RCD in enclosure adjacent to the CU. then the whole of the RFC is RCD protected. make sure you test the circuit for faults first, though.

 

[m top]

You could also use rcd fused spur on ring main to supply your socket if space is an issue around cu for separate Inclosure for inline rcd as suggested in previous post.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

You could also use rcd fused spur on ring main to supply your socket if space is an issue around cu for separate Inclosure for inline rcd as suggested in previous post.

So in the entire house one socket in a lounge is RCD protected? TBH I dont believe the regulations are intended to create this sort of nonsense. Personally I would go with Tel's suggestion.Otherwise you may as well not bother and just install your socket without RCD protection.

 

[Octopus]

What is the intended use for the "new" socket?

 

[electro-lass]

What qualifications do you have just out of pure interest?

BPEC Part P Defined Scope, Full Scope,
C&G 17[SUP]th[/SUP] Edition 2382-12 BS7671:2008(2011) Requirements for Electrical Installations
C&G 2392 Level 2 Fundamental Inspection, Testing and Initial Verification
C&G 2377 Level 3 Electrical Equipment Maintenance and Testing
And just in the process of obtaining the C&G 2394 Initial and Fundamental Inspection & Testing

Was trained on modern CU so working with BS3036 fuse board is totally new to me. Do you reckon these qualify me to be doing the job or is there another reason you ask, out of pure interest?

 

[electro-lass]

best way, IMO, is to comme off the 3036 RFC fuse ( and the N ) to a stand alone RCD in enclosure adjacent to the CU. then the whole of the RFC is RCD protected. make sure you test the circuit for faults first, though.

This sounds like a better approach than just adding a RCD protected socket but not sure there is enough room in the under stairs cupboard to add a stand alone RCD. Carried out RFC continuity, IR and Zs. Out of interest, what tests would you recommend carrying out?

 

[electro-lass]

What is the intended use for the "new" socket?

Main use would be for a floor lamp

 

[electro-lass]

So in the entire house one socket in a lounge is RCD protected? TBH I dont believe the regulations are intended to create this sort of nonsense. Personally I would go with Tel's suggestion.Otherwise you may as well not bother and just install your socket without RCD protection.

This is the exact debate that confused me in the first place. To me it doesn't make sense just to add one RCD protected socket to a RFC, but then I'm just a newbie to all this! So, if I were to just install the socket without RCD protection, when filling out a Minor Electrical Works Certificate - would I put this under a departure from BS7671? Want to do the job right to the best of my abilities.

 

[telectrix]

it would not be a departure, more of a non-compliance. strictly speaking, a departure is something that does not comply with BS7671, but is no less safe than if it did. obviously, fitting a socket without RCD protection is not as safe as if it was RCD protected. if i were doing the job, it'd be done as in my previous post. CYA every time.

 

[electro-lass]

it would not be a departure, more of a non-compliance. strictly speaking, a departure is something that does not comply with BS7671, but is no less safe than if it did. obviously, fitting a socket without RCD protection is not as safe as if it was RCD protected. if i were doing the job, it'd be done as in my previous post. CYA every time.

So if there was not enough room under the stairs for a stand alone RCD, how would you proceed? Ok, so it's a non-compliance, if I did go ahead with an unprotected socket, where would I note it on the Minor Electrical Works Certificate?

 

[telectrix]

in the comments section.