what's the limit of...

[Ejaz]

Hi guys,

after just finishing the kitchen the mrs and i have decided to move the fridge/freezer to the other side of the room. this means that the washing machine, and 2 sockets and fridge/freezer on a 15amp radial. my builder seems to think this is all cushtee, but i think it would be worth uprating the radial (wired in 2.5 T&E) to 20 amp? Or is 32A possible if i replace the rewireable fuses with MCBs. And yes this will be p'eed.

 

[davy_owen_88]

Depending on the cable run you might be able to protect the 2.5mm² radial with a 20A MCB (max.)

Give us some more info regarding the distance from CU to kitchen, the conditions the cable runs in (in insulation, conduit, clipped direct etc.) and we should be able to confirm whether it is safe to increase the CPD.

 

[Ejaz]

many thanks for the prompt reply davey_owen!

CU is about 2m from the kitchen. The radial is run up into the loft (it's a bungalow) and down into the kitchen chased into a wall inside pvc conduit to the first socket, then under the floor and up into first socket (chased+conduit) then under floor again then up into counter-top sockets (chased+conduit) and terminates in one of the counter-top sockets. I would estimate the total cable run to be around 10m at the most.

cheers!

 

[Lectrician]

How easy would it be to run a cable from the last socket back to the CU? Being a bungalow.....cant be tooooo hard? Could have 32amps then

 

[Ejaz]

yeh it could be done but i would prefer to avoid it unless absolutely necessary since i'd have to move the corner cabinet which is a real bugger!

 

[davy_owen_88]

Is the cable in the loft under any insulation? If not then you are ok to upgrade to a 20A MCB.

 

[Ejaz]

some of it may be, if so i'll take it off.

Is one of these ok? http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/WYC20.html

I'll probably upgrade the CU at the end of the year to a new one