Summary: Electric circuits: Learn how to wire a ring main circuit, wire a radial circuit and wire a lighting circuit.
A cable runs from the consumer unit to each socket in turn before returning to the consumer unit. Electricity can flow in both directions around the circuit, which is protected by a 30 or 32amp fuse or MCB. It can accommodate a large number of sockets or FCUs as long as the maximum load does not exceed around 7,000 watts.
If you wish to run a new circuit off a ring main circuit, the total floor area around which the circuit runs must not exceed 100sq m (1,075sq ft).
Lighting is wired in radial circuits. There are two methods of wiring: Loop-in wiring is the most common with a cable connecting each ceiling rose in turn. The cable is connected to one of the 3 rose terminals. The other 2 terminals are for the switch cable and the light fitting or lamp flex.
Junction-box wiring is used to extend a circuit. Cable runs from the consumer unit to a junction box. From the junction box, a separate cable runs to the rose and another one to the switch. You could use separate junction boxes or a single junction box with numerous terminals.
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The colour-coding system for electric cable changed in 2006, make sure you read Electric cable and flex to view the new information.