Why does the UK use rings for sockets?

[Mark Wright]

Just a few things i'm throwing out - Rings seem like they would be safer on 20A MCB but I guess there's very few accidents for this to be questioned by the powers that be.

If rings disappeared hypothetically would we loose the fused plug?

I'd be interested in the layout of some European Radials rules and Regs - Spider circuits and what's allowed.

This Hong Kong Code of Practice suggests Rings

Codes of Practice (443)

Training requirements for New Cable Colour Code

www.emsd.gov.hk

I think a few other Asian countrys use them and wonder if they use Fused Plugs

 

[Pete999]

I take it you're allowed to use radials for sockets?

So why does anyone bother with rings, seems like extra hassle to me.

Some places in Pak use RFCs.

 

[pc1966]

Just a few things i'm throwing out - Rings seem like they would be safer on 20A MCB but I guess there's very few accidents for this to be questioned by the powers that be.

You occasionally see rings on 20A fuses (or upgraded to plug-in breakers). They work fine but obviously a higher risk of tripping if a lot of loads on them, and slightly poorer selectivity with end equipment fuses as the instantaneous trip is around 100A instead of 150A.

If rings disappeared hypothetically would we loose the fused plug?

Other way round. The use of the RFC (or lots of sockets on a high current radial) is possible with fused plugs.

Of course it need not be fuse plugs, you could have sockets each with a fuse/MCB to allow an RFC with unfused Euro type plugs, etc, but frankly nobody is going to change systems in the foreseeable future.

I think a few other Asian countrys use them and wonder if they use Fused Plugs

They do. Many former commonwealth countries continued with the old 5A/15A round pin plugs with many radials (e.g. India), or a few moved to the 13A plugs due to ties with the UK extending beyond the post-WW2 introduction of them (e.g. Hong Kong).

 

[Mike Johnson]

In France radials are eight sockets on 1.5mm on 16amp MCB, twelve sockets on 2.5mm on a 20amp MCB, recently been updated to a double socket counting as two, this used to be only one, so there was the possibility of having twenty four sockets on 2.5mm, maximum of eight MCB's/RCD, not forgetting beside the obvious ones, ventilation, well pumps, alarms, heat pumps, UFH, electric radiators, Jacuzzi, Swimming pool, door entrance system, intercoms, electric gates, window blinds, towel rails, washing machines, dish washers, tumble driers and any type of water heater have to be on their own circuit, not sure if they have included fridge's and freezers yet, but there was talk of this, all off the top of my head, so I may have forgotten a few salient points.

 

[Mark Wright]

I have got a copy of L'installation électrique so have to look at that again but I'd love to see some books from other European country's

I have heard of Going from the consumer unit to a big Junction Box then off in every direction but maybe that's just lighting.

 

[Pete999]

T tried to teach the Russian Sparks the RFC theory, something got lost in the translation so much for détente. Left them to to their own ways in the end, I got labelled a Magician by the end of the contract.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I have got a copy of L'installation électrique so have to look at that again but I'd love to see some books from other European country's

My copy is 2016, but nothing on car charging in it, so expecting a revision soon. And they still have the requirement for a telephone point in every room, seems WiFi does not count.

 

[bjouis]

In France radials are eight sockets on 1.5mm on 16amp MCB, twelve sockets on 2.5mm on a 20amp MCB, recently been updated to a double socket counting as two, this used to be only one, so there was the possibility of having twenty four sockets on 2.5mm, maximum of eight MCB's/RCD, not forgetting beside the obvious ones, ventilation, well pumps, alarms, heat pumps, UFH, electric radiators, Jacuzzi, Swimming pool, door entrance system, intercoms, electric gates, window blinds, towel rails, washing machines, dish washers, tumble driers and any type of water heater have to be on their own circuit, not sure if they have included fridge's and freezers yet, but there was talk of this, all off the top of my head, so I may have forgotten a few salient points.

Ah my copy is from 2009 (a mate lent it me) and then you could only use five sockets on 1.5mm and eight on 2.5mm. Should probably get an updated version.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Ah Ha and in that addition any one of the sockets could have been a four gang, so that eight could have been thirty two sockets!!!!! There has been a lot of revisions since 2009 and even then an amendment 5 has been issued to the 2017 regulations.

L'installation électrique - David Fedullo , Thierry Gallauziaux -... - Librairie Eyrolles

Cette bible de l'électricité domestique rassemble tout ce qu'il faut savoir pour réaliser une installation sûre, aux normes, et parfaitement adaptée aux besoins de chacun.Devenu le livre de référence, L'installation...

www.eyrolles.com

 

[pc1966]

In France radials are eight sockets on 1.5mm on 16amp MCB, twelve sockets on 2.5mm on a 20amp MCB,

So they are very much only short circuit protecting the final cables then?

What is the thinnest flex allowed? Even for 1mm a 20A breaker would not be seen as acceptable here.