Cramped space

[ballyclover]

Hi there


I am removing a socket from a ring main and replacing this with a 13 amp fused switch box. from this I will spur of a single socket and another spur from the fused switch will connect in series 2 double sockets.

The layout is all done, however I am concerned about the amount of cables in the fused switch, which makes it almost impossible to place the lid on. I am using the deepest back box I can 48mm. Is there a secret to fitting the cables in a tidier way.

The fused box has the ring and ring return cables going to supply,and 2 more cables coming from the load, 4 cables in total.

Cheers

 

[Adam_151]

A fused spur in a 25mm box with the ring and one outgoing is pretty standard, at a push you could probably get another outgoing in there, but you'd not plan it that way, would be a little on the tight side. So for what you are doing I'd say a 35mm box would be ideal.

If you are struggling in a 47mm box then perhaps you aren't dressing the cables in properly, however its one of those things that is difficult to advsie over the medium of a forum.

Some pictures of what you have might be a starting point though

 

[sparkwright]

As above.

What this forum needs are pictures of how to dress wires neatly, what length to cut the wires, when to double end over etc etc.

There's no sticky, as far as I know, which describes how to prepare cable end and terminate to professional standards.

I think this is important, as there's more to electrical installations than connecting the right wires together.

I also think DIYers simply don't know how much to tighten up terminals, but again, I think how the cable end has been prepared has some influence on this.

 

[Adam_151]

It would be a good idea, SW

In particular shower isolators seem to beat a lot of DIYers

But.. creating advise on to double over or not.... on this forum... You'll never get folk in agreement on that one

 

[mikeyd]

Hi there
I am removing a socket from a ring main and replacing this with a 13 amp fused switch box. from this I will spur of a single socket and another spur from the fused switch will connect in series 2 double sockets.

You must have a reason for doing this so my reply might be pointless.
Why don't you extend the ring?
Spur's from ring mains are (in my opinion) always avoidable.

 

[winston1]

Hi there


I am removing a socket from a ring main and replacing this with a 13 amp fused switch box. from this I will spur of a single socket and another spur from the fused switch will connect in series 2 double sockets

Cheers

You should really connect those two sockets in parallel not series, or call an electrician.

 

[JohnW2]

I am removing a socket from a ring main and replacing this with a 13 amp fused switch box. from this I will spur of a single socket and another spur from the fused switch will connect in series 2 double sockets

You should really connect those two sockets in parallel not series, or call an electrician.

The OP is unclear about what is being done. If the two double sockets are being fed from the load side of the FCU (i.e. a 'fused spur'), then it is obviously acceptable (and very probably more convenient) to feed them 'in series'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

I am removing a socket from a ring main and replacing this with a 13 amp fused switch box. from this I will spur of a single socket and another spur from the fused switch will connect in series 2 double sockets

You should really connect those two sockets in parallel not series, or call an electrician.

The OP is unclear about what is being done. If the two double sockets are being fed from the load side of the FCU (i.e. a 'fused spur'), then it is obviously acceptable (and very probably more convenient) to feed them 'in series'.

Kind Regards, John

Two sockets in series would mean the available 240v would be split between the two (equally if equal loads , i.e. 120v each). Very basic electrical theory here. The sockets must be connected in parallel. Connecting one after another in parallel on the same cable is not the same as in series.

 

[deadshort]

The OP clearly means 'one after the other' .


Regards,

DS

 

[JohnW2]

Two sockets in series would mean the available 240v would be split between the two (equally if equal loads , i.e. 120v each). Very basic electrical theory here. The sockets must be connected in parallel. Connecting one after another in parallel on the same cable is not the same as in series.

Don't be silly. Correct though you may be in terms of dictionaries, I would hope that you have enough common sense to understand that this is almost certainly not what the OP meant by 'in series'!

Kind Regards, John

 

[winston1]

Two sockets in series would mean the available 240v would be split between the two (equally if equal loads , i.e. 120v each). Very basic electrical theory here. The sockets must be connected in parallel. Connecting one after another in parallel on the same cable is not the same as in series.

Don't be silly. Correct though you may be in terms of dictionaries, I would hope that you have enough common sense to understand that this is almost certainly not what the OP meant by 'in series'!

Kind Regards, John

Indeed, but use of the correct terminology is important, especially with something as potentially lethal as electricity.

 

[JohnW2]

Indeed, but use of the correct terminology is important, especially with something as potentially lethal as electricity.

Indeed - but, IMO, you should have educated the OP about terminology, rather than writing a response based on the assumption that his (almost certainly incorrect) terminology actually represented what he meant.

The purpose of a forum like this one is to inform, assist and educate - not to confuse!

Kind Regards, John