Adding sockets to a radial circuit in different directions

[finlamit]

Hi.

I have a radial circuit supplying electricity to the garage (part of the house). It's on a 20amp breaker, uses 2.5mm cable. It currently only supplies a single socket. Before anyone asks, its 100% a radial circuit. 6 months ago I had an electrician install a new consumer unit, and the testing/certificate that followed states this.

There is a single socket on the circuit. Annoyingly, the socket is at the back of the garage and right in the middle of the wall.

What I would like to do is keep this socket. Then... come out of the socket on the left, and put a socket on the left wall, and out of the right and put a socket on the right wall. I cant continue the cable round in a single direction as the garage door and other things are is in the way. Coming off in both directions from this socket it the only option.

Would this be ok? An alternative I had was to come out of the the top of the socket into a junction box (30A), then the two cables come out of this... best described as a T junction.

In case anyone wondered, there will not be any high load appliances used. One will supply the chargers for my tool batteries, the other will be Christmas lights!

Thanks in advance.

F

 

[DPG]

@LastManOnline I'm equally interested how it's impossible in the ROI.
If I went over there, and added a socket and did a good job that didn't make it obvious it had been added, how would anyone find out, and what would the consequences be.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[LastManOnline]

@LastManOnline I'm equally interested how it's impossible in the ROI.
If I went over there, and added a socket and did a good job that didn't make it obvious it had been added, how would anyone find out, and what would the consequences be.

Yes. Of course you could wire a socket or light etc. In fact you are entitled to do that. But it would not be possible for you to " wire and certify" as only registered electricians can obtain, complete and return wiring certificates.

 

[DPG]

Yes. Of course you could wire a socket or light etc. In fact you are entitled to do that. But it would not be possible for you to " wire and certify" as only registered electricians can obtain, complete and return wiring certificates.

So there will be plenty of people just doing work under the radar then. Same as here.

 

[westward10]

This thread has drifted way off topic. The OP asked whether he can legally carry out these works, the answer is yes. Assuming this is their own private dwelling it needs no notification or Certification, they can do as they wish but I assume they have long been scared off.

 

[BiddeldyBwah]

A very informative thread for me this. Can I conclude that in the UK an unskilled person can theoretically buy a multimeter, a set of electricians tools etc and then rewire and certify a house?

In the UK anybody can carry out any electrical work.

 

[BiddeldyBwah]

This thread has drifted way off topic. The OP asked whether he can legally carry out these works, the answer is yes. Assuming this is their own private dwelling it needs no notification or Certification, they can do as they wish but I assume they have long been scared off.

Is it right that if it's your own dwelling you don't need to notify or certify at all? Is this for any work or just non-notifiable?

Never knew this if it's true.

 

[brianmoooore]

Notifiable work still has to be notified, but there's nothing much that BC can do about it if you don't.

 

[LastManOnline]

In the UK anybody can carry out any electrical work.

That's what I deduce from the thread so far, PROVIDING they are competent, apply the regs and notify notifiable work

 

[BiddeldyBwah]

That's what I deduce from the thread so far, PROVIDING they are competent, apply the regs and notify notifiable work

The reality of the situation is that anyone can carry out the work and as long as nobody gets seriously hurt there are never any consequences.

 

[nicebutdim]

That's what I deduce from the thread so far, PROVIDING they are competent, apply the regs and notify notifiable work

As an aside, have there been any convictions of homeowners who carried out electrical work in IE? Specifically I'm thinking of situations where no one was injured and the conviction was solely due to their not being registered to carry out the work in question.

 

[LastManOnline]

As an aside, have there been any convictions of homeowners who carried out electrical work in IE? Specifically I'm thinking of situations where no one was injured and the conviction was solely due to their not being registered to carry out the work in question.

Yes. Every year now there are a few. Interestingly it's the "not being registered" bit that causes the real problems. It does mean (unfortunately in my view) that a trained electrician cannot carry out electrical works in his own home which are deemed to be "restricted". Basically thats any works involving the CU

 

[James]

Oh yes, I always get a registered electrician in when I need some electrical work done in my own home.

 

[brianmoooore]

Yes. Every year now there are a few. Interestingly it's the "not being registered" bit that causes the real problems.

For not being registered or not being registered, yet claiming that they are?

 

[LastManOnline]

For not being registered... yet claiming that they are?

That's it

 

[LastManOnline]

So there will be plenty of people just doing work under the radar then. Same as here.

Work "under the radar" happens everywhere, all the time. But it's less likely to happen over here. You won, t find diyers on electrical forums in ROI asking how to connect up an extra socket etc. They would, nt be entertained. Even though they are entitled to do that work in their own home. But let's just say its not really encouraged. Or more accurately its probably frowned upon.

 

[nicebutdim]

Work "under the radar" happens everywhere, all the time. But it's less likely to happen over here. You won, t find diyers on electrical forums in ROI asking how to connect up an extra socket etc. They would, nt be entertained. Even though they are entitled to do that work in their own home. But let's just say its not really encouraged. Or more accurately its probably frowned upon.

A few recent threads on this forum have concerned me, where it has been clear that the OP is well out of their depth.

Difficult to draw a line between giving basic information and leading people who clearly aren't competent to undertake the work in question.

 

[nicebutdim]

That's it

My question was not about people misrepresenting themselves, but prosecution of homeowners who have undertaken works that should have been carried out by a registered electrician. Prosecutions involving work where no one came to harm as that would be comparable to the questions being answered about the UK.

I get that differences exist in legislation, but want to understand if differences exist where enforcement is concerned.

 

[Sparksfly2]

We are talking about adding a socket to a radial here

 

[nicebutdim]

OP hasn't returned since the day of posting and we moved to another question from post #18.

 

[brianmoooore]

A few recent threads on this forum have concerned me, where it has been clear that the OP is well out of their depth.

Difficult to draw a line between giving basic information and leading people who clearly aren't competent to undertake the work in question.

Fully agree, but there's nothing to suggest that the OP is incompetent in this thread.
On the other hand, the thread about transferring a socket from kitchen RFC to boiler spur ........

 

[nicebutdim]

Fully agree, but there's nothing to suggest that the OP is incompetent in this thread.
On the other hand, the thread about transferring a socket from kitchen RFC to boiler spur ........

That concisely sums up my own thoughts.

 

[LastManOnline]

My question was not about people misrepresenting themselves, but prosecution of homeowners who have undertaken works that should have been carried out by a registered electrician.

Aah! Never spotted the "homeowner" part. Must look in to that.

The prosecutions that I am aware of are...
1)representing yourself as registered when you are not
2) individuals carrying out work not in harmony with regs and deemed to be dangerous. (electricians and diyers)

In none of the above cases have I heard of injuries resulting to anyone. All cases though resulted in either fines or jail time for those carrying out the work.

 

[brianmoooore]

If a home owner does a full rewire , without notifying building control, and then commissions a full EICR (not an EIC) from an electrician who is a scheme member, then there will be no repercussions.

 

[LastManOnline]

If a home owner does a full rewire , without notifying building control, and then commissions a full EICR (not an EIC) from an electrician who is a scheme member, then there will be no repercussions.

Yes. Of course there will always be ways to circumvent regulations.However the "wriggleroom" currently is the tightest I have ever experienced. A registered spark who certifies an unregistered sparks work nowadays knows he faces certain disqualification from the registration body should he be caught.
A registered spark who certifies a diyers work is looking at serious penalties.
In the current environment, I cannot imagine a scenario where a homeowner would wire his own house and realistically expect it to be certified by a professional

 

[digger123]

Yes. Of course there will always be ways to circumvent regulations.However the "wriggleroom" currently is the tightest I have ever experienced. A registered spark who certifies an unregistered sparks work nowadays knows he faces certain disqualification from the registration body should he be caught.
A registered spark who certifies a diyers work is looking at serious penalties.
In the current environment, I cannot imagine a scenario where a homeowner would wire his own house and realistically expect it to be certified by a professional

Maybe not expect it to be certified at all, I know of at least 4 house sales in NI in this last few months of which 3 were completed with no regard to the state of the electrics, 1 at over £200000 and 2 x in the region of £350000 all 3 houses were over 30 years old. In ROI or mainland UK can/does a house be sold with no recent EICR, or is an EICR only provided when ask for by the buyer?

 

[pc1966]

I am not sure, but as far as I know a satisfactory EICR is only needed for rented property. You can buy/sell without one, but often the buyers are now asking for it to be provided.

However, given the poor standards of many that appear on this forum from "drive by" inspections done by the agents cheapest choice, I'm not sure just how much they help. At least if the EICR turns out to be poor to the point of fraudulent you ought to have come-back at either the electrician and/or seller's expense, which is better than bought "as seen" I guess.

 

[LastManOnline]

In ROI or mainland UK can/does a house be sold with no recent EICR, or is an EICR only provided when ask for by the buyer?

In my experience it is currently not a requirement on the seller to provide an EICR

 

[BiddeldyBwah]

Maybe not expect it to be certified at all, I know of at least 4 house sales in NI in this last few months of which 3 were completed with no regard to the state of the electrics, 1 at over £200000 and 2 x in the region of £350000 all 3 houses were over 30 years old. In ROI or mainland UK can/does a house be sold with no recent EICR, or is an EICR only provided when ask for by the buyer?

You don't need one unless the buyer insists. What happens in reality though is this holds up the sale if the seller decides to make an issue of it and it's not worth the hassle for most people, and so it gets left.