Spuring off a double socket

[Deanp35]

Hi,

We are looking into adding a double socket in our conservatory and our nearest point for an existing plug wall socket is our lounge. I wish to check whether its possible to spur off a double socket such as the one shown in the attached picture. It looks like a ring but I could be wrong.

Thanks.

Dean

 

[westward10]

Testing is the only way to find out if that is part of a ring final. What size circuit breaker is it on?

 

[Deanp35]

Hi, its on a B32 breaker. If it is on a ring, can a new socket be spurred off from it? And if its on a radial, can it be spurred from it? There is only just one thick grey colour cable coming into that double socket which has its wires connected to that socket. I'm assuming that is just a 2.5mm twin and earth cable.

 

[westward10]

It has two cables going to it.

 

[Deanp35]

Its on a ring circuit according to the previous owner who used to rent the property. Everything is on ring.

 

[littlespark]

If it is a radial, then the the circuit breaker is oversized.
I suspect a ring final

Perhaps the previous owner is mistaken?

It looks like only a 25mm deep box at that socket. Will be quite a job to get a 3rd cable in there and screw the plate back.


Is there any other option? The nearest doesn’t always mean the easiest

 

[mainline]

Its on a radial circuit according to the previous owner who used to rent the property. Everything is on radial.

If it's a radial circuit, then it shouldn't be on a 32 amp breaker.

You could add another socket, whether it's a ring or radial, by downgrading the breaker to 20amp.

 

[westward10]

As I said earlier it needs testing. The circuit would also need type A 30ma RCD protection.

 

[Deanp35]

Apologises my mistake I meant ring. Everything is on ring circuit.

 

[Deanp35]

As I said earlier it needs testing. The circuit would also need type A 30ma RCD protection.

It is on a type A 30ma RCD. Every breaker is a RCBO in the MCU. As I said before the property was rented before and the previous owner had an EICR done and the MCU was upgraded to a new one. I don't think thats the issue.

 

[westward10]

It needs testing to verify that socket is part of the ring final, it probably is as it looks original but nothing can be taken for granted.

 

[Deanp35]

Am I correct in thinking that on a ring final you can only have one unfused spur and any further additional sockets to spur off the new socket we would need a fused spur unit?

 

[westward10]

Yes one point no fuse spur more than one a fuse spur first.

 

[Deanp35]

Thanks. Looks like a fused spur unit will be required in our case. From the existing socket as its a ring final, is it just a single 2.5mm twin and earth cable that would go into the fused spur unit or two 2.5mm twin and earth cables?

 

[mainline]

Thanks. Looks like a fused spur unit will be required in our case. From the existing socket as its a ring final, is it just a single 2.5mm twin and earth cable that would go into the fused spur unit or two 2.5mm twin and earth cables?

If it's a ring final, you can take a spur off that to a double socket using 2.5 mm.

 

[mainline]

Thanks. Looks like a fused spur unit will be required in our case. From the existing socket as its a ring final, is it just a single 2.5mm twin and earth cable that would go into the fused spur unit or two 2.5mm twin and earth cables?

A single 2.5.

 

[7029 dave]

IMO be best to get an Electrician in to have a look and do whats required.