Ring Main Advice

[hoppy]

Hi, been reading a lot about ring mains lately and think i have been installing them incorrectly.

The firm i work for, we always take one leg to one end of the circuit, i.e the nearest point and the other leg to the furthest point and loop between, so we always end up with a short leg and very long leg.

As we commercial do installs the long leg is extremely long most of the time.

So obviously there is a loading issue.


What do you guys think is the best way to install a ring main, is the leap frog method best where you take one leg to the first point and one leg to the second point, then from the first point to the third point and so on.


but the problem i see with this is if you want to add a socket to the ring the you have re wire it slightly as the links miss a socket, i.e leep forg.


So what does everyone do when wiring ring mains?

Thanks guys all advice appreciated!!

Craig

 

[ezzzekiel]

To be honest not a clue what youre talking about a ring loops from start around all points then back to start

 

[stuart569]

I think i know what you mean. You shouldn't need to use the "leapfrog method".Just look at it as a big eh "ring" lol.start with the closest and finish at the second closest before going back to the mains obv

 

[Richard Burns]

Staggered rings are recommended for equal sharing of current round the ring but I do not think there is a regulation preventing the straightforward approach.

 

[stuart569]

Like this not this

 

[PC Electrics]

Hi, been reading a lot about ring mains lately and think i have been installing them incorrectly.

The firm i work for, we always take one leg to one end of the circuit, i.e the nearest point and the other leg to the furthest point and loop between, so we always end up with a short leg and very long leg.
Oh, dear. Poor design I would say

As we commercial do installs the long leg is extremely long most of the time.

So obviously there is a loading issue.

You have a high risk of the load spread being too great on the short leg (depending on the use the ing is put to)

What do you guys think is the best way to install a ring main, is the leap frog method best where you take one leg to the first point and one leg to the second point, then from the first point to the third point and so on.
Yes, this way you have a much more even spread of sockets around the ring and neither leg is significantly longer than the other. Much better.


but the problem i see with this is if you want to add a socket to the ring the you have re wire it slightly as the links miss a socket, i.e leep forg.
heard of spurs?


So what does everyone do when wiring ring mains?

Thanks guys all advice appreciated!!

Craig

I understand what you are on about.See my blue.

 

[hoppy]

ezzekiel & stuart569, worthless posts, obviously i know what a ring is, may be i did not explain my query very well.

e.g installing sockets on a dado trunking, fist leg to first socket, 2nd leg to last socket, which is at the end of the dado, so is a long leg as goes from board past all the sockets in the dado to the last one.

does this make sense!

Thanks PC Electrics, appreciate your advice, yes i know you could add a spur was just creating a scenario, thanks again for your advice.

Craig

 

[stuart569]

Pointless bloody thread if u ask me. Took me ages to do them pics aswell

 

[Engineer54]

Hi, been reading a lot about ring mains lately and think i have been installing them incorrectly.

The firm i work for, we always take one leg to one end of the circuit, i.e the nearest point and the other leg to the furthest point and loop between, so we always end up with a short leg and very long leg.

As we commercial do installs the long leg is extremely long most of the time.

So obviously there is a loading issue.


What do you guys think is the best way to install a ring main, is the leap frog method best where you take one leg to the first point and one leg to the second point, then from the first point to the third point and so on.


but the problem i see with this is if you want to add a socket to the ring the you have re wire it slightly as the links miss a socket, i.e leep forg.


So what does everyone do when wiring ring mains?

Thanks guys all advice appreciated!!

Craig

Staggered Rings are always a better RFC than your standard ring arrangements. If your talking about RFCs in a Dado installation, it's not going to be too difficult to incorporate any additional sockets into the ring , ...now is it!!

 

[Knobhead]

Pointless bloody thread if u ask me. Took me ages to do them pics aswell

Why. A kid could have done them

 

[stuart569]

Yes that was a joke.

 

[Guest112]

i always wire staggered rings not only better for loading but better in future if you need to add a socket i always wire them that way and always will

 

[Guest112]

and much easier if your wiring through conduits

 

[Rockingit]

I think it all depends on a number of factors - not least of which is the layout of the building and also expected loads.

 

[leckyant]

hoppy
If I was you I would be looking for another firm to work for.
ring main? ring final circuit.

 

[johnboy6083]

staggered rings are better for corridor installs, and also where the cable has to change type, ie singles in trunking, and then SWA and back to trunking.

the thing wth normal ring final circuits, is that you will always have one point that is more loaded than the rest of them, due to the use of the building. So in my mind there isnt any preference to either unless you know where the loads are more likely to be. Most rings are underloaded anyway.