Looks like two spurs off a spur,

[Gone fishing]

I wonder if anyone can help. I recently replaced my washing machine (In kitchen) and having seen what's behind it, am having serious doubts about the way the electrics are sorted.

The set up is this. There's a spur from a double wall socket on the ring main(Toaster and bread machine occasionally) - this runs inside the wall/plaster and comes out behind the washing machine as a single socket. (more on the single socket in a moment) This single socket then has a spur coming out of it, running on the surface of the wall to another double socket under the sink. This double socket serves the dishwasher and Washing machine.

Back to the single socket. This has a plug plugged into it, the cable from which runs through the wall onto another double socket in the conservatory which serves a computer and table lamp. This is effectively an extension lead, but neater.

I'm pretty certain this is all very iffy. I only glanced at it when we moved in and because the previous owner was an electrician (!) decided to ignore it. I will be calling in a professional, but I just wanted to know where I stand with the set up I have and if there's anything I can do, or how quickly I need to call said professional. There are two diagrams, in case I haven't made myself clear. One of them is a thought to replace the double socket spur and single socket with a triple socket??

Untitled

• Gone fishing
• 1 Dec 2011
• 1

Untitled

• Gone fishing
• 1 Dec 2011
• 1

 

[OwainDIYer]

the arrangement with the triple socket would be permitted, but the triple socket will have an integral 13A fuse and would not be suitable for running a DW and WM together.

Really the DW and WM should both have single sockets actually on the ring. There isn't a simple/easy/elegant way round it.

 

[Electrifying]

How certain are you that it's a 'ring' - or are you just assuming it is?

What size is the cable running to the additional sockets?

 

[Gone fishing]

Yes, I may have jumped the gun on that one, it might not be a ring circuit. I can do a test tomorrow, but can you briefly outline the scenario for both cases?

 

[Gone fishing]

I unplugged everything on the 'circuit', isolated and tested with an ohmeter and it was reading 1. The cable is 2.5 mm on a 30amp fuse. Does that mean I was right about it being a ring circuit (?) So if it is what are the changes i will need to make?

Don't get me wrong, I wll get someone in, I just like to know how my house is put together
Thanks.

 

[ColJack]

tested where?
tested what?

is that 1 ohm ring continuity at the board or infinity ( as in 1 to the far left of the meter with blank digits after it ) between pins on the socket?

if it's the later then that means nothing, there should be no connection between pins on a socket with everything unplugged whether it's a ring or a radial.

switch off the power and look in the fuse box.. if there are 2 reds ( based on the 30A it's unlikely to be newer brown / blue cabling ) then there's a good probability that it's a ring, but it's still by no means certain..
the only way to be sure is to test between those 2 red wires to see if you get a low ohm reading..

 

[Gone fishing]

Thanks, learning the whole time! Yes, the 1 is on the far left and sorry, my mistake not giving enough info, it was across the two red wires.

 

[Gone fishing]

oh and yes, two reds at the box

 

[ColJack]

1 on the far left indicates an open circuit..
this would indicate that it's not a ring if you tested between the 2 reds at the board..
either that or the ring is broken somewhere...
not good since 30A is not suitable for a radial..

try the 2 blacks that go with the 2 reds..
if it doesn't read as low ohms ( shouldn't really be any higher than a few ohms at most ) then it's not a ring.. get a sparky in..

 

[Gone fishing]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am getting someone in this week, though it's been like that for the five years we've been here, I just like knowing what's what.

Cheers