Extend ring or dedicated feed?

Joined
8 Jan 2011
Messages
1,358
Reaction score
89
Location
Liverpool
Country
United Kingdom
Hi

I am about to undertake a big project in my bedroom which will involve adding 3 double sockets to the room currently this is only 1 single socket which is just gay

Anyway, I am building double wardrobes in the alcoves and behind door number 4 counting from the left will be 4 X full PC towers obviously side on, 1 Tivo, 1 AV Receiver, 42" LCD TV, 5.1 Surround speakers and a Netgear switch.

If I extend the ring to include 3 new double sockets 1 of which will be on the wall behind these PC's, I would have to hang a 6-way from each socket to give me 12 plug holes, would that be OK

Obviously my knowledge is a bit thin so please help

Thanks

Lee
 
Sponsored Links
To extend or modify one has to comply with current regulations even though the old stuff does not need to be upgraded.

As a result what is needed will depend on what is already there. In theroy IT gear draws very little power so using 12 way adaptors is unlikely to be a problem. However the filters on the IT power supplies can have earth leakage which can build to a point where it trips the earth leakage trip.

So everything hinges around what is already in place.
 
Mainly the protection already in place. The new system needs all sockets to be RCD protected. So if there is already a RCD on the ring then you don't need to add one. But if not you will need to add RCD protection. You could use a RCD FCU where the orignal socket is and feed it all from that.

As to if an active or passive type is required will depend on the earth loop impedance.

There are other methods you could use Ali-tube cable and RCD sockets. Or have the consumer unit changed.

But without knowing what is already in place can't start to work out what is required.

Also of course the loading. Simple add it all up. Clearly if over 13A then a RCD FCU is not going to work.
 
Sponsored Links
Hi

I am about to undertake a big project in my bedroom which will involve adding 3 double sockets to the room currently this is only 1 single socket which is just gay

Anyway, I am building double wardrobes in the alcoves and behind door number 4 counting from the left will be 4 X full PC towers obviously side on, 1 Tivo, 1 AV Receiver, 42" LCD TV, 5.1 Surround speakers and a Netgear switch.

If I extend the ring to include 3 new double sockets 1 of which will be on the wall behind these PC's, I would have to hang a 6-way from each socket to give me 12 plug holes, would that be OK

Obviously my knowledge is a bit thin so please help

Thanks

Lee


So you're building double wardrobes and thought you'ld let your socket out of the closet at the same time?? :)

No wonder he's single with a room mate like you. :LOL:

How do you know that this 'gay', single socket is on a ring, by the way?
 
Hi
Anyway, I am building double wardrobes in the alcoves and behind door number 4 counting from the left will be 4 X full PC towers obviously side on, 1 Tivo, 1 AV Receiver, 42" LCD TV, 5.1 Surround speakers and a Netgear switch.

besides the socket issue, how are you cooling these, there will be ALOT of heat generated by 4 towers.
As eric says, earth leakage on IT kit may be a problem, I have a laser printer, netswitch, 2 servers miniPC & UPS running in my loft, it leaks enough to hurt, don't ask how I know. It also leaks enough to cause nuisance trips to the RCD as I found out whislt temporarily running it from the main ring (of which I only have one)
This is now run from its own 20A radial through an RCBO, with no problem
 
Hi
Anyway, I am building double wardrobes in the alcoves and behind door number 4 counting from the left will be 4 X full PC towers obviously side on, 1 Tivo, 1 AV Receiver, 42" LCD TV, 5.1 Surround speakers and a Netgear switch.

besides the socket issue, how are you cooling these, there will be ALOT of heat generated by 4 towers.

Will there? They could each dissipate anything from 12W to 1kW. You don't know.
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top