Radial circuit help

[Andy78]

Causes and solutions should not be guessed at. If you don't feel your training and experience are sufficient to enable you to fault find and rectify this job you probably should not be doing it.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Odd set up, but surely no worse than a double socket spurred from the MCB of a ring final? Incidentally does anyone know why the regs say an unfused spur on a ring final can feed 1 double socket, but not 2 singles?

 

[Mark42]

... Incidentally does anyone know why the regs say an unfused spur on a ring final can feed 1 double socket, but not 2 singles?

I reckon because the two singles may be a long way apart, which might encourage the plugging-in of two high-current appliances on the same 2.5mm spur. No one sensible plugs two heavy appliances into one double socket. Except maybe whoever designed the OP's scenario, which is ridiculous.

 

[davesparks]

Is there space in the board, and easy enough job to run a second radial and have each appliance on its own circuit?

I'd run two new radials so that the cable which has been overloaded can be replaced.

 

[Pete999]

Odd set up, but surely no worse than a double socket spurred from the MCB of a ring final? Incidentally does anyone know why the regs say an unfused spur on a ring final can feed 1 double socket, but not 2 singles?

Because a twin socket constitutes a spur as does a single see appendix 15 BS 7671

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Because a twin socket constitutes a spur as does a single see appendix 15 BS 7671

I get that bit Pete, what I meant by that was why the distinction between 2 sockets as singles, or 2 sockets as a double? I think Mark Ribbands comment probably hit the nail on the head

 

[SJD]

A 2-gang socket tends to be rated at 20A max total current (and not 26A).

 

[davesparks]

Odd set up, but surely no worse than a double socket spurred from the MCB of a ring final? Incidentally does anyone know why the regs say an unfused spur on a ring final can feed 1 double socket, but not 2 singles?

Years ago the regulations did allow two single sockets on a spur, but that was changed to being one point regardless of whether its a twin or single. I have no idea why the change was made, but would hazard a guess that it related to the increase in available appliances and use of electricity or else maybe it was found that this was leading to overloading.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

It seems strange to me that a double socket is only rated to 20A (not commonly known) when you theoretically could have 26A plugged into them. Clearly it works this way, otherwise there would be fires left right and centre, but it does feel like there is an element of chance involved.

 

[Pretty Mouth]

Apologies to the OP, didn't mean to hijack your thread