Unable to separate wires on ring circuit

[telectrix]

How did you determine which was the incoming and outgoing leg of the ring

does itmatter? both are incoming as each is fed from CU.

 

[Tony Reidy]

The original socket didn't actually have any earthing point on it, I would assume that the conduit is already earthed.
Anyway, this setup is only temporary, the idea is that half of the wires will end up in this socket and the other half will continue to run through it down to the existing socket (which is actually a new backbox too). My problem is that I don't know how to split the lives, neutrals and earths.

Never assume

 

[Andy Gardner]

I managed to identify the wires (my original question) like this:
Having noticed that the conduit seemed to be heading back to the fusebox, I figured that this was potentially the end of the ring, so, I turned the power off, disconnecting one of the live wires from my socket circuit at the MCB and one at the socket below the backbox pictured, isolating the separated wire in choc bloc each time, put a socket tester in the socket, then turned the power back on and checked the tester to see when the live wire was missing. I did the same with neutral and earth. Took about 1.5 hours but I got there!

Like this.
I believe this socket is at the end of the ring.

 

[Andy Gardner]

I managed to identify the wires (my original question) like this:
Having noticed that the conduit seemed to be heading back to the fusebox, I figured that this was potentially the end of the ring, so, I turned the power off, disconnecting one of the live wires from my socket circuit at the MCB and one at the socket below the backbox pictured, isolating the separated wire in choc bloc each time, put a socket tester in the socket, then turned the power back on and checked the tester to see when the live wire was missing. I did the same with neutral and earth. Took about 1.5 hours but I got there!

Like this.
I believe this socket is at the end of the ring.

does it matter? both are incoming as each is fed from CU.

Yes, that was my conclusion, it shouldn't actually have any effect as it'd still be a ring, just that maybe it would have a figure of 8 in it, but I don't think that's actually a problem.

 

[Charlie_]

Draw the circuit out on a piece of paper

 

[Bobster]

Yes, that was my conclusion, it shouldn't actually have any effect as it'd still be a ring, just that maybe it would have a figure of 8 in it, but I don't think that's actually a problem.

Well what testing did you do?

It's pretty easy to work out. A figure of 8 is not a standard circuit. It will almost definitely throw off anyone who tests later on an they will probably flag it on an EICR as needing further investigation.