Discuss Cable size for spur socket in the Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations area at ElectriciansForums.net

Welcome to ElectriciansForums.net - The American Electrical Advice Forum
Head straight to the main forums to chat by click here:   American Electrical Advice Forum

Beeg

-
DIY
Reaction score
16
Hi all,

I have a spur socket on the upstairs landing from a ring socket in an adjacent bedroom.

It is connected in 2.5mm T&E ; is this okay or should it be 4mm due to it being a double outlet hence it could supply 26A?
It currently has only a decorative LED tree thing plugged in.

The cable length is less than a metre if that makes any difference.

Cheers
Beeg
 
If the ring is in 2.5mm, then the spur should also be in 2.5mm.
In practise you'll never have 2 x 13A loads on a double socket. Even the BS1363 spec puts the test current for double 13A sockets at maximum 20amp.

Also, put your mind at rest and have a look at the current-carrying spec for 2.5mm T&E!
 
If the ring is in 2.5mm, then the spur should also be in 2.5mm.
In practise you'll never have 2 x 13A loads on a double socket. Even the BS1363 spec puts the test current for double 13A sockets at maximum 20amp.

Also, put your mind at rest and have a look at the current-carrying spec for 2.5mm T&E!
Minimum rating is 24amp... fair enough. Would you mind explaining why there would never be 2 x 13A loads on a double socket?
A 3kw heater at 230V would be 13.04 amps so surely having two plugged in would be 2 x 13A loads?

Please forgive my ignorance.
 
Hi - hope you’re not planning to use this for your cooker :) .
As above the outlet is not designed to support two 13A loads simultaneously. Nor are the circuit conductors dimensioned for that load, as there may be 10 (or more) double outlets on that circuit. The outlets are positioned for convenient use, but not dimensioned for continuous use at maximum load. If it’s known that specific heavy loads will be used (like cookers) then it’s common to put in a circuit for them.
 
It’s known as diversity in the trade.

You could argue that a 3kW heater could be plugged into every socket outlet on the ring, but in reality we don’t do it.

Also the reason we aren’t allowed a spur from a spur... where we could have more than one double socket being supplied by that 2.5 cable.
Unless it’s fused down to 13A to protect the cable
 

Reply to Cable size for spur socket in the Electrical Wiring, Theories and Regulations area at ElectriciansForums.net

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by Untold Media. Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock