Domestic Ring Main Circuit

They are not so common in the uk but are used extensively abroad as the ring main or final ring circuit does have it s drawbacks.

Domestic ring main circuit. In electricity supply design a ring final circuit or ring circuit often incorrectly called a ring main a term used historically or informally a ring is an electrical wiring technique developed and primarily used in the united kingdom and to a lesser extent in ireland this design enables the use of smaller diameter wire than would be used in a radial circuit of equivalent total current. In modern domestic properties in the uk the main electric lighting circuits are separate from the power ring main circuit. They are arranged in the form of a continuous loop of two core and earth cable that runs through the walls from the consumer unit all round the footprint of the house and returns to the same terminal in the consumer unit. The ordinary wall sockets around the house are normally connected to a ring circuit also referred to as a ring main.

The other type of circuit used to power your home is a radial circuit. Wiring a socket correctly in a final ring circuit or ring main. What is a ring main. A ring final circuit or ring circuit informally also ring main or just ring is a wiring technique developed and used in the uk that uses two conductors for each of live neutral and earth to supply each connected socket or other load.

Cable rating for cables used in a ring main must be no less than two thirds of the rating of the ring main s protective device. Domestic electricity explores electrical circuits and the safety devices around the home like fuses and circuit breakers the ring main circuit and the functions of the live neutral and earth wires. The ring circuit is made up of two radial circuits connected to the same series of accessories within the circuit. Ringmains good the advantages of the 32a ring final circuit iee miet 2007.

This design reduces the consequences of faults and enables the use of smaller diameter wire than would be used in a radial circuit of equivalent ampacity. Within the electrical industry the ring main circuit sometimes ring main or ring final circuit is an electrical wiring technique that is most commonly used in the uk. Ring circuits or ring mains are the most commonly used method of installing sockets in a home usually with one circuit per floor of the property. Each house should ideally have at least two lighting circuits.

The ring circuits of a domestic property supply the socket outlets and fixed appliances in the premises. Each protected by a 5 amp fuse or 6 amp trip in the consumer unit. 32 amp domestic ring main. In practice meeting this requirement is rarely an issue.