Outdoor Socket from Fused Washing Maching Spur?

[HenryGregory]

You could add inside sockets from the fused spur as well although you would be limited as to what you could power from it.

Could you not replace the FCU with a single 3 pin socket, then at the washing machine end here:

Could you drill through and install an outdoor double but with a RCD? Like this.

I guess the washing machine socket would no longer have a fuse as the FCU would be gone and replaced with a 3 pin plug.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I guess the washing machine socket would no longer have a fuse as the FCU would be gone and replaced with a 3 pin plug.

Yes, sort of.

As it is now, the fuse is unnecessary but if you add a socket outside connected to the WM socket then the fuse will be needed.



Not sure how all the suggestions are intended to help; you could do all sorts of things.

 

[HenryGregory]

Yes, sort of.

As it is now, the fuse is unnecessary but if you add a socket outside connected to the WM socket then the fuse will be needed.



Not sure how all the suggestions are intended to help; you could do all sorts of things.

Thanks, just good to know what is possible really. Would be really good to have a 3 pin socket above worktop where the FCU currently is as occasionally you might want to use a food mixer or similar and there are absoloutely no sockets in that area. I wonder if this was done as it is near the kitchen sink maybe, but not the basin end, just the drying end. Will get a pic of the FCU next time I am in the kitchen and I remember!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

In the kitchen, I can see there is a fused spur with the label "Washing Machine" on the plastic. It goes to this socket:

If it's a fused spur, then the socket below, will not be on the ring, so out the back of the socket, is not a good choice. If the fused spur is on the ring.

Any outdoor socket, would be best if it were supplied from it's own fused spur, and a double pole one too - so in case of RCD/RCBO tripping, the outdoor section can more easily be isolated.

 

[HenryGregory]

Thanks everyone for the posts. I took a look behind the switch and found there are two sets of wires coming off of it, so one for washing machine single plug and another set going not sure where. Not too sure where the other set go to as there are no other sockets under the countertop.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Thanks everyone for the posts. I took a look behind the switch and found there are two sets of wires coming off of it, so one for washing machine single plug and another set going not sure where. Not too sure where the other set go to as there are no other sockets under the countertop.

Two browns, two blues, in each terminal, suggest that is on the ring - but you need to check and make certain..

 

[HenryGregory]

Two browns, two blues, in each terminal, suggest that is on the ring - but you need to check and make certain..

If it's on a ring, it can only serve a single socket I think.
Could I change this fused spur to a single socket so at least I can plug something in on the countertop where this fused spur is?

 

[SUNRAY]

If it's on a ring, it can only serve a single socket I think.
Could I change this fused spur to a single socket so at least I can plug something in on the countertop where this fused spur is?

It looks to me like the blue and brown on the top go out of the bottom of the box, so I'll make a GUESS that is going to the washing machine socket. The 2 blues and browns in the bottom I'll make the GUESS are the ring.

IF THAT IS CORRECT there is no restriction on how many sockets or devices may be connected to the spur. There is also nothing to stop you replacing the Switched Fused Connection Unit with a socket however if you do you will only be permitted to one single or one double socket (not 2 singles) on the spur.

However there is no restriction on adding another spur on the ring (into where the 2 blues and browns are)
Before any of this is done you have to establish which cables are which, a starting point is to look at the markings on the FCU for 'LOAD' and 'SUPPLY or IN'.