Date   : Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:45:54 +0100
From   : rs423@... (Mick Champion)
Subject: Leccy @ Acorn World '09

>  
> Phil Blundell wrote:
>   
>>> Discussion on uk.d-i-y couple of days ago which agrees with my
>>>       
> OSG(16):
>   
>> "A ring or radial circuit, with spurs if any, feeds ... an unlimited
>> number of socket-outlets".
>>     
> [snip]
>   
>> I'm also fairly certain that the regs themselves, both in the 16th and
>> 17th editions, don't contain any specific restriction on number of
>>     
>  
> Yes, I can't track the thread down on uk.d-i-y, so I don't known
> where they got it from. Checking the regs and the guide closely
> does, as you say, state unlimited number of outlets per final
> circuit,
You have the regs? <Drool!> 




>  with a maximum of one outlet per spur on a ring
I thought it was two. But hey, you have the regs.



>
> Most UK urban supplies are wires as per the diagram at
> http://mdfs.net/Docs/Electrical/mains.htm
>   
Or even
http://mdfs.net/Docs/Electrical/Supply/mains.htm


Yes, that's it. Earth bonded at the substation / transformer, not at the 
consumer unit. Thanks. I don't know how it works in rural areas.


>  
> Mick Champion wrote:
>   
>> sockets saying that was "Bad installation practice". Why did you think
>> this is the case?
>>     
>  
> As taught at college ;) Also, see the Wiki article on BS1363 which
> is quite accurate.
>   
I see. You have formal training. That would help ;-) . I have read the 
article at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BS_1363
and found it very informative. That is a very well written article. I'm 
amazed so many countries are using our plug. Even including Germany!?! 
(For high current 12v DC circuits apparently). I am surprised to see a 
13 A fuse can take a 30 amp load for over 5 minutes. I thought it would 
be quicker than that. Not that I'd expect it to blow at all with a 15 
amp load for the wire has to get to a temperature for it to melt after all.



>  
>   
>> arrangements with interest. Once again I do wonder why we have fuses in
>> our plugs. While nobody could argue it's another form of protection if
>>     
>  
> Because it's an absolute bugger when the whole circuit is
> disconnected and you have to trek all the way to the fuseboard and
> do, effectivley, a repair beause of a faulty appliance, instead of
> repairing the appliance itself.
I quite obviously disengaged my brain cell when I wrote that! So many 
things I didn't think of.



>  The opposite reason is why stage
> lighting usually uses unfused BS463s with centralised fusing and
> switching - it's an absolute bugger having to get the fourty-food
> ladder out to change a lighting fuse on a spotlight.
>   
I assume you still got to get the ladder out to change the bulb ;-)
>  
>   
>>> Need to upload some after photos now that it's all nice and neat.
>>>       
>> Please do.  I guess that you purchased the cable and ran them from the
>> basement to the communal entrance to the flats yourself, then then had
>> to pay the supplier to move and connect the supply wires to the meters
>> and isolation switches? How much did the supplier charge for what 2
>> hours work? Too much probably!
>>     
>  
> ...which meant pestering the supplier for a proper
> installation date, 
You would think that as a paying customer that they be more 
accommodating. We all know this is rarely the case with the utilities, 
but it should be.

> as it was unacceptable to strip out the old
> switchgear and remove the wiring, leaving the tenants with no
> electricity, on the off chance that the supplier would be turning
> up.
>   
Indeed not.


>  
> I had to dig the hole through the cellar wall and provide a clear
> accessway for the incoming cable. To do so I had to remove the
> parasite cables that were supplying the flats from the shop next
> door - leaving the flats with no electricity.
>   
Leaving you a very tight window by the sounds of things.



>  
> The supplier's navvies dug a hole in the pavement outside the front
> door, neatly chopping through my yorkstone doorstep that the
> surveyor had agreed could be lifted out.
Oh my!






>  
> The supplier's sparkies then turned up and fixed three new meters
> and three new isolators to my (now) nice and empty distribution
> board.
Heh? 3 meters on the same board? That means the shop now has it's meter 
in the lobby area of the flats does it?  I thought the supply head still 
came in from the basement? Ignore this question. When the "after photos" 
are up, it will explain all.



>  
> It was about 1400 pounds for about six hours work.
>   
Ouch! Still weighing it all up, to have access to your own fuses / 
breakers is a must and so worth it. The occupiers of the top floor flat 
will no doubt be happy at the removal of the coin meter too. When I had 
one here, ?1 would not last long. Was a right pain having to remember to 
stock up on the coins. Far worst when it took 50p's as the darned thing 
was forever getting so full, that I have a job to get another coin in. 
Bashing the money box only worked for so long. Did you hang on to the 
coin meter?



>  
>
> Next morning the navvies returned to fill in the hole, nicking the
> chopped off bit of stone doorstep in the process.
>   
Odd? Perhaps they thought saw it as clearing up the mess....or removing 
part of the evidence!



Mick.