Any sparkeys

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:22

kingy666 said:
Before you choose what cable to wire all the sockets together you might want to tell us how you will be supplying power to the 10 metalclad sockets?

Are you going to have a plug (so you will plug it into a wall socket) with some cable running to the first socket, if this is the case then you will need 1.5mm 3 core flex (which has a maximum current carrying capacity of around 18.5 amps (15 amps when enclosed in conduit) but will be protected by a 13 amp fuse in the plug). If you do use flexible cable then you will also need a compression gland on the first metalclad socket, this, when tightened around the flex will stop the cable being pulled out

Link
http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-male-comp-gland-white-20mm-pack-of-2/45943

If you use this 1.5mm flex then it may be a good idea to wire the rest of the sockets with the same cable as mixing flex with twin and earth cable (the flat grey stuff) does not give a good connection.

You've hit the nail on the head.

Decent wall plug, 13a fuse and about 2m of cable. Had thought about a gland to be safer.

What is the best way to link each socket then?

Sorry for all the questions.

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:23

C.R.A.Z.Y said:
I would still over engineer it and use 2.5mm flex for the sake of a few extra quid.
Over engineering / belt & braces approach should always be carried out when dealing with electrics imho, especially when it's only going to cost a little bit extra.
You then don't need to worry about cable factors, volt drop ..etc ..etc

/16th Ed.

Kinda the idea. The desk is. The sockets are for the looks.
So 2.5mm is the stuff to have then?

C.R.A.Z.Y · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:27

pyropetepete said:
What is the best way to link each socket then?

In parallel obviously, it's the only way to do it :confused:

Personally I would use 2.5mm, 13A is getting a little to close to 1.5mm cables current carrying capacity under certain circumstances. I doubt you would need a load of it either.

pyropetepete · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:32

C.R.A.Z.Y said:
In parallel obviously, it's the only way to do it

Personally I would use 2.5mm, 13A is getting a little to close to 1.5mm cables current carrying capacity under certain circumstances. I doubt you would need a load of it either.

Sorry being a little thick. Can I get a cheeky paint drawing?

Also any cable recommend that screw fix sell?

C.R.A.Z.Y · 21 Jan 2013 at 21:45

Both your sockets and light circuits in your house will be wired in parallel, this simply means you connect all the phase (live) cables/connections to each other and the same for the Neutral and CPC/Earth.

So you simply connect: Plug Phase/Live -------> Socket A Phase/Live -------> Socket B Phase/Live ...etc ..etc
As it's a radial and not a ring your last socket is where the cable terminates, ALL other sockets apart from the plug and final socket will have 2 cables in each connector as they will obviously be daisy-chaining in parallel onto the next socket.

You do exactly the same with the Neutral and CPC/Earth, however as your not using double-insulated thermo-setting (plastic) back box's you will need to connect and extra CPC/Earth cable to the terminal in the metal cases. (This means you should have 3 cables in the Earth/CPC terminals on all the sockets except the last one!

C.R.A.Z.Y · 21 Jan 2013 at 22:01

Here is a picture I edited to make it a little clearer :-)

coopersim · 21 Jan 2013 at 22:33

Don't forget to include some strain protection for the flex if you're wiring it as an extension, you don't want to pull on the connections.

Biohazard · 22 Jan 2013 at 00:38

pyropetepete said:
my spear room which is my office and the missies dressing room!

A spear room.

**** me I want one of those. It sounds magnificent and slightly hedonistic at the same time..

pyropetepete · 22 Jan 2013 at 07:33

Grr screwfix website being rubbish, i will call them and order the bits. Cable they only do it by the real so ebay for length of it i think.

Thanks for the help so far, and sorry for being dumb. I normaly have a mate to do this but he's away on his hols.

This is just a slightly costly diy fancy looking industiral feel multi gang power extension thats all.

pyropetepete · 22 Jan 2013 at 18:33

Called Screwfix, got an order placed for local depo. Reallynice lass on thephone

http://www.screwfix.com/p/20mm-galvanised-coupler-pk10/29385 X1
http://www.screwfix.com/p/male-brass-bush-short-20mm-pack-of-10/29963 X2
http://www.screwfix.com/p/tower-male-comp-gland-black-20mm-pack-of-2/80851 X1

Sockets have been dispatched as well.

Moeks · 23 Jan 2013 at 00:34

coopersim said:
Don't forget to include some strain protection for the flex if you're wiring it as an extension, you don't want to pull on the connections.

That's what the compression gland is for.

If you have a 1.5mm cable enclosed in conduit on a wall or in trunking, so not enclosed within a thermally insulating wall, you are looking at a current carrying capacity of 17.5 amps with an ambiant temperature no higher than 30c, if it gets upto say 35c ...and I very much doubt it would get hotter than that in this country, even in a warm room, you derate to .94 iirc, so you're looking at about 16.8 amps then. Bearing in mind these cables are actually somewhat conservatively rated anyway, you're plenty far enough above 13a to not have to worry about 1.5mm not being enough, not unless you are burrying the cable inside another insulating layer or it's getting even hotter than 35c at least.

I'd probably use 2.5mm cable anyway ...but you really don't need to.

Bromhead · 23 Jan 2013 at 05:01

pyropetepete said:
But this is in house, in my spear room which is my office and the missies dressing room!

My new goal in life is to have a spear room. It sounds amazing and a place I could definitely show off to neighbours.

I want pics of the spear room or it didn't happen!

pyropetepete · 26 Jan 2013 at 20:04

Below are some links of the power plug setup now the parts have arrived. Waiting for a spanner to make it a lot easier to do up. Will mount on a board to get done neatly. Might powder coat them. The front not sure. 9 shown as the 10th sadly was flat when post man delivered! As advised have ordered a CK Conduit Bush Wrench/Tool Bush King Spanner T4755.

B28730EB-621C-490D-A303-A9A59E7AF1BF-682-0000010F4EC9FDB2.jpg

15D6E8FA-B943-486B-80F1-F31875E2E5B8-682-0000010F571AA5B8.jpg

EA5E4C1C-4E50-4F32-BEA6-B7392215A8B2-682-0000010F6F64B814.jpg

kingy666 · 26 Jan 2013 at 22:47

Looks like it's coming together nicely. Just remember to connect an earth wire to all those back boxes (hope you have plenty of cable!)

Traffic_Warden · 27 Jan 2013 at 00:04

Where are your serrated washers?

This is not good enough, take it all apart and start again.

pyropetepete · 27 Jan 2013 at 08:05

Traffic_Warden said:
Where are your serrated washers?

This is not good enough, take it all apart and start again.

No one said anything about then. If I was to do it by the book where do they go?

pyropetepete · 27 Jan 2013 at 08:06

kingy666 said:
Looks like it's coming together nicely. Just remember to connect an earth wire to all those back boxes (hope you have plenty of cable!)

Each box will be earther. Daisy chained

rishy · 27 Jan 2013 at 08:23

Using that many plugs should it not be a ring circuit

pyropetepete · 27 Jan 2013 at 08:30

rishy said:
Using that many plugs should it not be a ring circuit

It won't be. It'll be just like a multi extension from Argos. In the 1st page someone said what it was. (Sorry on iPhone can't quote the post)

Mucky_Pup · 27 Jan 2013 at 09:17

Can't help but think this is going to look really tacky in a home office, when it would be more accustomed to a garage/shed.