home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Tommy Walsh's DIY Guide
/
Tommy Walsh's DIY Guide (2001)(Empire).iso
/
hi
/
awruntime
/
t26b.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1998-10-08
|
5KB
|
130 lines
Summary
You are considering adding extra 13A socket outlets or connecting
an addition fixed appliance:
1 Safety first
2 Seeking professional help or advice
3 A typical 13A socket outlet ring main
circuit, with spurs
4 Information on the types of socket outlets
available
5 Identifying the circuit protection
6 Isolating and check that the circuit is dead
7 Adding a spur from a junction box
8 Taking a spur from an existing socket
9 Connecting to an existing socket outlet
10 Information on different types of fused
connection units
11 Connecting an extra fixed appliance
12 Extending a ring circuit
13 IMPORTANT! Safety checks before turning on the
electricity
Step 1 - Safety first
Never work on any part of the electrical installation
without first switching off the supply at the consumer
unit and, where possible, removing the circuit fuse.
Always unplug any electrical appliance before doing
any work on it. Check all connections are secure and
all covers have been replaced before you turn the
electricity on again.
Step 2 - Seeking professional help or advice
If you donÆt feel competent to do a particular job,
always seek the advice of a professional electrician.
Make sure that any person you hire is fully qualified.
A person registered with the Electrical Contractors
Association/ NICEIC, will be approved for undertaking
this type of work and will be well versed in all the
wiring regulations for electrical installations in
buildings.
Step 3 - Typical 13A socket outlet ring main circuit
with spurs
There is nothing absolute regarding the number of ring
circuits to be installed in a particular home, there
may only be one single ring main circuit installed,
or there may be two or even three separate ring circuits.
Each socket outlet ring main circuit will consist of a
ring circuit, with additional non-fused spurs and fused
spur connections.
Step 4 - Types of socket outlets
There are various types of 13A socket outlet, there are
single or double sockets and both are available either
switched or unswitched. Sockets can either be surface
or flush mounted.
Step 5 - Identify the circuit protection
Carefully remove the front cover from the consumer unit.
The design and layout of available consumer units are
quite diverse, but in all cases the current rating of
each protective device should be clearly shown.
Usually, the identity of the various circuit ways
will be labeled, nevertheless, this information
should be confirmed by isolating each circuit in
turn.
Step 6 - Isolate and check that the circuit is dead
Warning, before starting any work to add extra socket
outlets the electrical supply, that relates to the
circuit to be worked on, needs to be isolated at the
consumer unit and subsequently proved to be dead.
As a precaution, tape over any isolating toggles
and post a warning notice to indicate that the
circuit must not be made live until it is safe.
Step 7 - Adding a spur from a junction box
Connections are made at a 30A joint box, fixed between
the ceiling joists and adjacent to the ring circuit
cable. Avoiding cutting the cable, remove a section
of the cable sheathing from where it passes over the
junction box. Then without cutting through the
conductors, expose enough bare wire for connection
to the terminals. Cut the earth wire, fit insulating
sleeves and connect to the third terminal.
Step 8 - Taking a spur from an existing socket
The spur cable will need to be the same size as that of
the existing circuit and will need to be buried in the
plaster. You may have to knock out an additional cable
entry to take the spur cable.
Step 9 - Connecting to the existing socket outlet
All the cable earth wires need to connect into the socket
earth terminal with an additional bonding conductor
connecting to the metal box.
Step 10 - Types of fused connection units
Only single type fuse connection units are available.
These units afford a means of connecting a fixed
appliance to the circuit wiring. Each will have a
cartridge fuse, similar to that in the 13A plug and
giving protection to the connected appliance.
Step 11 - Connecting an extra fixed appliance
A fused connection unit will have two sets of terminals.
Those marked æMainsÆ are for the spur or ring cables
that supply the power, whilst, the terminals marked
æLoadÆ are for the flex or cable connecting to the
appliance.
Step 12 - Extending a ring circuit
Extending a ring circuit would only be considered
when major alterations to the house have been carried
out.
Step 13 - Safety checks before turning on the
electricity
Before reconnecting the supply check the work is
complete and all covers are securely in place.
If you have a continuity tester, check there are
no short-circuits between live and neutral or
between live and earth. After the electricity is
turned back on, plug a suitable appliance into the
new socket outlet(s) to check it functions
correctly.