Adding Outside sockets to existing

[123bill]

Hi all ,
I understand that you can’t spur of off a spur , ideally adding sockets would best be done by splitting the ring and completing it. Currently have an outside socket on the back of the house which won’t be used at all but we have a decking area further up the garden which I want to add 2 sockets too , my question is ; can I turn the outside socket into a junction box and then run off that to a socket and then to the next socket ... or is there a better way ? I don’t want to do a complete ring obviously as it would be in armoured and that means 2 running up the garden. Any help appreciated.

 

[Soi disant]

Currently have an outside socket on the back of the house which won’t be used at all but we have a decking area further up the garden which I want to add 2 sockets too , my question is ; can I turn the outside socket into a junction box and then run off that to a socket and then to the next socket ... or is there a better way ?

Is that existing socket on the ring, or is it on a spur from the ring?

If the latter, is it fused or unfused?

Is the circuit on an RCD?

 

[123bill]

Is that existing socket on the ring, or is it on a spur from the ring?

If the latter, is it fused or unfused?

Is the circuit on an RCD?

It’s on the ring yes , sorry forgot to mention.

 

[Soi disant]

RCD?

 

[123bill]

RCD?

Yes 100amp

 

[Soi disant]

Not 100mA? It's a 30mA type?

 

[David Anthony]

The Housing organisation have hounded me for five years because I was charging my powerchair and mobility scooter under the stairwell. Eventually they put a tin garden shed but no power so I carried on charging under the stairwell and storing them in the shed.

They offered no solution and eventually threatened me with eviction so I got a friend to drill a hole through my wall and fit an IP56 socket connected to a plug in my ground floor flat. Now I charge them outside and store my machines in the shed.

It could as easily been a spur off my kitchen ring but when they discover what I've done I can prove I haven't tampered with their installation as it is just an extension lead through wall. They do allow drilling walls, by implication for hanging pictures, but drilling is drilling!

 

[Soi disant]

David - what has that to do with Bill's question?

 

[David Anthony]

David - what has that to do with Bill's question?

Just showing my alternative and why. Or if you like, just saying.

 

[littlespark]

If the existing external socket is on the ring, you cannot spur from there to one socket point, then to another, as that would be a spur from a spur.

you could replace the original with a weatherproof switch fuse connection unit, then your two new points will be off the 13A fuse.

however, any new works do need to have rcd protection.

 

[telectrix]

fit a IP65 13A fused FCU next to trhe existing socket. then you can add as many sockets as you need on a spur, bearing in mind the max. load of 13A.

 

[Soi disant]

Just showing my alternative and why. Or if you like, just saying.

Your alternative to what?

 

[DPG]

Here we go again.

Why not?



Why replace it?

Because you cannot spur from a spur, unless there is an FCU in place. Which I don't believe there is in this case.

Littlespark is saying if you fit an FCU then you can fit two sockets as required.

Makes sense to me.

 

[Soi disant]

So let's try being more specific.

Because you cannot spur from a spur,

Which regulation(s) does doing so contravene?

 

[telectrix]

it's not a spur off a spur. it's multiple sockets on a spur.

 

[DPG]

it's not a spur off a spur. it's multiple sockets on a spur.

Apologies for my lax terminology. But you get my point eh Tel.

 

[littlespark]

The first sentence of the OP show the understanding of not having “a spur from a spur” so fishing out the relative reg number is a waste of time.

I suggested changing the original socket to a FCU as the OP also said he wasn’t bothered about keeping it in use, just the two new ones.

 

[DPG]

And does not contravene the regs.

So a question - would you be happy to have 5 double sockets connected as a spur from a socket on an RFC?

 

[telectrix]

And does not contravene the regs.

yes it does, as you have a single 2.5mm T/E cable protected by a 32A MCB. so In> Iz.

 

[Soi disant]

So a question - would you be happy to have 5 double sockets connected as a spur from a socket on an RFC?

Possibly.

 

[DPG]

Possibly.

And would you advise that the OP could do this in his situation?

 

[Soi disant]

They help the OP, by helping him, and everybody else, to actually THINK.

Think about how circuits work.

Think about what cable(s) you need for given loads.

Think about what you'd have to do to put 2 sockets on a radial cable.

THINK.

 

[DPG]

They help the OP, by helping him, and everybody else, to actually THINK.

Think about how circuits work.

Think about what cable(s) you need for given loads.

Think about what you'd have to do to put 2 sockets on a radial cable.

THINK.

And a suggestion was made to use an FCU to feed the OPs extra sockets. I think this is a fair idea. Don't you?

 

[littlespark]

I think the OP must be working as they’ve not responded to an RCD question. I suggest we stop discussing until we get an answer.

 

[Soi disant]

And a suggestion was made to use an FCU to feed the OPs extra sockets. I think this is a fair idea. Don't you?

It is a valid design, which also meets the desirable requirement for DP isolation.

But it does not change the fact that there are other designs which are also valid.