Ring Main Socket Wiring Diagram

The first image is how the back of your double socket should look and the second is the wiring for a spur.

Ring main socket wiring diagram.

Ring main circuit starts from the consumer unit connects to a number of electrical devices typically sockets and then returns to the consumer unit. This increases the current carrying capacity without increasing the wiring size. Live neutral tails from the electricity meter to the cu. As you can see it eliminates the need to wire a socket all the way back to the a consumer unit but the nearest ring main socket is used instead.

Ring circuits from 32a mcbs in the cu supplying mains sockets. They are not so common in the uk but are used extensively abroad as the ring main or final ring circuit does have it s drawbacks. Ring circuits are commonly used in british wiring with socket outlets taking fused plugs to bs 1363 because the breaker rating is much higher than that of any. The main purpose of a spur is adding an extra socket on to an existing ring main circuit.

The cable size is important it has to be either 2 5sq mm or 4 0sq mm twin core and earth these are rated in free air at 24amps or 32amps respectively. 2 such rings is typical for a 2 up 2 down larger houses have more. Ring mains as they are called are a series of cables linked together starting and terminating at the same point in a distribution board. In a typical new town house wiring system we have.

If the wiring has been changed by a previous diy er it may be possible to identify any added cables and then deduce the original circuit. The ring starts at the consumer unit also known as fuse box distribution board or breaker box visits each socket in turn and then returns to the consumer unit. Typical house wiring diagram illustrates each type of circuit. Wiring a socket correctly in a final ring circuit or ring main.

The other type of circuit used to power your home is a radial circuit. A split load cu. You can see how to wire a spur to an existing socket from the images below. The ring main is typically 32a in rating which allows it to power an area of 100 square metres.

A general rule for a ring main is that if you only have two cables in the back of an existing socket then it is ok to spur. The ring is fed from a fuse or circuit breaker in the consumer unit.