In fact I noticed quite a few errors in ericmark's post, but I simply couldn't be bothered going through it bit by bit.
Well, I would say that it's fairly obvious (from context) that it was meant to be a (numerical) current - but whether 15A or 16A is less certain. 15A would be more easily misread as "ISA", but I very much doubt that they are 15A MCBs!Why is it very obvious? And it could well be 15A.
That adds to the belief that it won't need a re-wire.JohnW2 the house was built in 1950s and rewired in 80s
It wouldn't surprise me. It seems that a good few 'electricians' (not to mention a substantial proportion of the general public - some of whom believe the same of lighting circuits) don't realise that a sockets circuit doesn't have to be a ring final!Could it be two radials?
It's not usual to use a 20A radial for an entire floor. Typically each 20A radial serves two rooms. (Or if used in a kitchen it only serves half of the socket outlets, with a second 20A radial for the rest.)My ideal setup for my 3 bed semi would be
Upstairs socket radial (20A)
Downstairs socket radial (20A)
Kitchen ring (32A)
(plus of course radials for lighting etc).
You can have a 4mm², 32A radial for the kitchen.Kitchen ring (32A)
It's not usual to use a 20A radial for an entire floor. Typically each 20A radial serves two rooms.
You can have a 4mm², 32A radial for the kitchen.
The only time a ring is preferable is IF the sockets and cable route actually are in a ring formation.
True, I hadn't thought of that - but were they still being installed in the 80s?Type 1, 2, 3 & 4 MCBs were 15A. OP could still have them.
As I stated earlier, it is possible that they are 15A but more likely that they are 16A. (Which could still be read as "ISA" if the curve is missing from the bottom left of the "6" - whether a printer ink issue or pen ink issue.)True, I hadn't thought of that - but were they still being installed in the 80s?
Kind Regards, John
I'm certainly no opponent of radials, but I'm less 'happy' with multi-socket 20A ones - after all, one technically can overload it with just two 13A loads (or three 7A ones). It's not so much that I fear the OPD would operate (a B32 should take best part of an hour to trip at 32A, and sustained 'overloads' would be unlikely), but rather that I would prefer not to risk pushing MCBs beyond their rated current.My ideal setup for my 3 bed semi would be ... Upstairs socket radial (20A) ... Downstairs socket radial (20A)
There's nothing wrong with 20A radials, but as I suggested it's more sensible to only serve a couple of rooms with each (or half a kitchen).I'm certainly no opponent of radials, but I'm less 'happy' with multi-socket 20A ones - after all, one technically can overload it with just two 13A loads (or three 7A ones). It's not so much that I fear the OPD would operate (a B32 should take best part of an hour to trip at 32A, and sustained 'overloads' would be unlikely), but rather that I would prefer not to risk pushing MCBs beyond their rated current.
32A radials are fine, and, give or take CPC redundancy, are often arguably preferable to rings. ... but all this is obviously 'personal opinion'.
Kind Regards, John
As I said, it's just a matter of personal opinion.There's nothing wrong with 20A radials, but as I suggested it's more sensible to only serve a couple of rooms with each (or half a kitchen).
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