Cable looping in sockets - is it necessary?

[stephenco]

I'm renovating old property which was rewired 15 years ago and have noticed cable looping back on itself between sockets in the same rooms.

For example, in the lounge 2 live 3 core cables enter the room and 1 of them is wired into a double surface mounted socket (socket 1). The other cable goes to another double surface mounted socket (socket 2) but then there is a loop back between sockets 1 and 2 even though they were both independent live feeds.

I'm tracking the walls to bury the sockets but would dearly like to know if I need to loop back?

 

[EFLImpudence]

That is what is known as a "Ring Final Circuit".
https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:socket_circuits:A1-Ring-final-Circuit

It enables smaller cables to be used because there are two running from the fuse/mcb to every socket.

This "ring" is fine IF the location of the sockets resembles a "ring", however, some people are so intent on maintaining this "ring" that they install both legs in the same place.

 

[Jackrae]

The referenced drawing link could be misleading since it tends to 'suggest' separate feeds (MCBs or whatever) as it shows each side of the ring on opposite sides of the consumer unit.

 

[Jackrae]

It's important to read the text shown on the link ! (which I hadn't done when I wrote the previous entry

 

[EFLImpudence]

Good point. It could have been drawn like the sockets, couldn't it?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

 

[JohnW2]

Neutrol?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Someone who talks rubbish for the first time on German website.

 

[securespark]

Neutrol?

Have you never heard of it?
It's the name for petrol used to power PHEV's.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Is that the stuff that when burned creates that urban air pollution problem known as smug?

 

[rsgaz]

That last diagram is a bit odd! Where can I buy a double socket with just one outboard rocker?!?!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I could sell you one where only one switch works, if you're desperate.

 

[stephenco]

It enables smaller cables to be used because there are two running from the fuse/mcb to every socket.

Thanks for this explanation.

I've managed to salvage 2 of the rooms and loop the cables as they were wired but unfortunately the plasterer has plastered over the my work with only the single cable and NO loop. The only saving grace is that it's in the dining room and I don't expect there'll be anything needing a heavy load from there.

 

[securespark]

Is that the stuff that when burned creates that urban air pollution problem known as smug?

That's the stuff!

 

[winston1]

Broken ring then. You need to rip the plaster off and fix it. Then get the plasterer back to re plaster it. Sometimes this sort of thing happens. The ring does not only feed the dining room, it might even feed the kitchen with its heavy loads.