Pre. ring main wiring

[Graham-W]

In the days before ring main wiring in houses did each 15a socket have wires going all the way back to the fusebox? Same with the lights. Were they all wired back to the fusebox?

[paddywak]

I did my started my apprentice ship in 1965 and we were using ring mains then, to be honest I can't remember when they weren't used.

[rojash]

According to Wikipedia, the ring main came into being in the UK between 1942 and 1947 as a means of saving copper.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_circuit

It's inherently less safe that radial circuits.

[buildersmate]

Prior to ring mains, a radial system was used with each cable taken back to the fuseboard. Ditto lighting.
But that didn't necessarily mean one cable per socket.

[shooty]

In days of old, socket outlets where not available. appliances such as irons where plugged into light sockets with a bayonet adaptor. ( these were very low wattage irons that struggled to take a crease out of thin cotton). when the socket outlet came to be, It was wired in vulcanised indian rubber (VIR). This was generally wired in 3mm squared stranded copper. It served the premises in a radial form from a 15A semi enclosed rewireable fuse. Once in close proximity, it would split via a junction box under the floorboards to each socket (similar to a spiders body with legs comming off). So it is not uncommon to see 1 cable at each socket. This practice continued for a long time with the VIR being replaced with lead and paper wrapped cable upto the 70's give or take. I have recently worked on a property that was wired in lead/paper cable. And there are lots of property's still using the radial/junction box system because they have not been upgraded over the years.

[shooty]

Ps. The most common fuse board available was the Wylex 404 which only had 4 fuse ways, so each light or socket would not have had its own way unless the property only had 2 lights and 2 sockets for EG.

[shooty]

picture of a wylex 404 fuse board

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://ptaylorelectricalltd.com/web_images/wylex_brown4_fuses.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ptaylorelectricalltd.com/index.php?p%3D1_2_Products&h=400&w=500&sz=99&tbnid=AOv8hXSPsNo5OM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=115&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dwylex%2Bfuse%2Bboard%2Bpicture%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=wylex+fuse+board+picture&usg=__72acEGKduTr-UC2WajAkYQPg3ck=&docid=F0LXMCYbtFFTOM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CxW_UL-8Js6whAfYs4GICA&sqi=2&ved=0CEYQ9QEwBA&dur=29

[shooty]

This is a picture of an Edison screw type lighting adapter with a two pin socket outlet built in.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Light_socket_plug_adapter.jpg/220px-Light_socket_plug_adapter.jpg&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edison_screw&h=331&w=220&sz=10&tbnid=BZNKMLjSNgjAeM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=60&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbayonet%2Badaptor%2Bfor%2Blight%2Bsocket%2Bpicture%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=bayonet+adaptor+for+light+socket+picture&usg=__PcgKRLbYOuZOmNHm8koITY-4dVI=&docid=Igbb2bQ2V0cbrM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cRW_ULyGMsen4gSnpoHIAw&ved=0CGQQ9QEwEQ&dur=157

[Graham-W]

That's what I needed Shooty. Radial circuit supplying 15a round pin sockets.
Thanks.

[shooty]

Glad it made sense. : )

[The Builder]

Shooty and Graham... I remember coming across VIR wiring and lead & paper.
Also gas mantles in houses with no electricity supply even in the 70s :o(

Don't forget that it's perfectly Ok to have radial circuits today. Your cooker circuit is one.

[Graham-W]

The strangest one I've found was a house I was refurbishing in the 70s. It had never had electricity to it, but had two electric heating elements built into the gas fire surround.

[RATTER15]

I remember having our iron plugged in to the light socket as a child, it was a pain when mother was ironing as the light bulb was swinging all around the room lol

[shooty]

Your showing your age there Ratters : )

RE: 'Don't forget that it's perfectly Ok to have radial circuits today'

Bs7671 which is the wiring regulations Bible for Sparks, was talking about outlawing Ring mains a few years back. Not because they are unsafe, but because Laymen where adapting good circuits without the correct knowledge of what to do (Thus making it unsafe)
Eg, interconnections and split ringmains on 32a protection devices.
Radial circuits are very straight forward and can be branched due to the fact that a 2.5mm cable can carry more amperage (27A without further calculations for volt drop, grouping and thermal insulation) than the 20A protection device. But if a ring main has been incorrectly adapted and split, then the two legs (now two radial circuits) can only carry 27A max but are on a 32A protection device.
Personally, I think they should rule out DIYers from working on thier own systems as the Government has outlawed unregistered people working on Gas systems.
Then the Ring main wil be in existance for a long time to come as it is cost effective when it comes to cable and installation.

[The Builder]

Good points Shoots. Something I was taught on a recent course was to consider 4mm for certain conditions. You get that situation where a heavy load, say a utility room, is at the end of one leg near the CU. That last bit of the leg would be safer with 4mm when considering the fault path to the CU.

[The Builder]

Fascinating story Meths. One for the "Black Museum" ;o)