[JBrzoz00]

Can someone give me a rundown on how homes are wired in the UK? It seems to me that all recessed lights and fixtures are cut into the drywall on the finish. Most all of the high end electrical fixtures from UK manufacturers do not have a "rough in housing".

Pictures would be great.

 

[HARRY304E]

Can someone give me a rundown on how homes are wired in the UK? It seems to me that all recessed lights and fixtures are cut into the drywall on the finish. Most all of the high end electrical fixtures from UK manufacturers do not have a "rough in housing".

Pictures would be great.

That's a good way to drive up the cost of the job.

 

[JBrzoz00]

Yeah, I basically found the fixtures the lighting designer from the uk specd and found stuff that was made here. But even looking online it looks like all recessed is cut in after drywall, and the fixture boxes are all surface mounted.

 

[MTW]

Can someone give me a rundown on how homes are wired in the UK? It seems to me that all recessed lights and fixtures are cut into the drywall on the finish. Most all of the high end electrical fixtures from UK manufacturers do not have a "rough in housing".

Pictures would be great.

For starters, it's nothing like North American wiring. :laughing: They use 240 volts, ring circuits and fusible plugs, European color coding, their romex-style cable is much closer to UF cable, their load centers use IEC components and DIN rail (much like an industrial control panel), they don't use wire nuts, they use "trunking" (similar to our wire mold) and they talk with an English accent.

 

[zac]

Well if it's anything like their driving, I would watch out for reverse polarity!But seriously I thought the voltage was quite a bit higher.

 

[great68]

Are you still looking ?

 

[FlyingSparks]

I was always fascinated by the ring circuits. 2.5mm wire (13awg-ish) on a 32a OCPD, that's a lot different haha

 

[retiredsparktech]

I was always fascinated by the ring circuits. 2.5mm wire (13awg-ish) on a 32a OCPD, that's a lot different haha

Ring circuits are supposed to start and finish at the same point. So, in reality the conductors are in parallel, throughout the entire run. That would double the ampacity of the circuit, unless the circuit is compromised by miss-wiring.

 

[great68]

Ring circuits are supposed to start and finish at the same point. So, in reality the conductors are in parallel, throughout the entire run. That would double the ampacity of the circuit, unless the circuit is compromised by miss-wiring.

Yep. I have worked with these my whole life so are used to this configuration and the numerous faults due to a broken ring (quite common)
A concern nowadays is over here, in kitchens people are wanting a switch panel for all the appliances (for isolation for our regs) that has labeled switches in one place . This means the ring could be very unbalanced as say one leg has a 5m run to the board and the other 30m round the kitchen outlets also. Our 'normal' cable for this is 2.5mm which generally can carry 20A max.

 

[Enanosky44]

Yeah, I basically found the fixtures the lighting designer from the uk specd and found stuff that was made here. But even looking online it looks like all recessed is drrtcut in after drywall, and the fixture boxes are all surface mounted.

Sent from my iPhone using electriciantalk.com

 

[FlyingSparks]

Sent from my iPhone using electriciantalk.com

I see.

 

[martinsparkylee]

I am an electrician in the uk, what is it you want to know exactly

 

[Wirenuting]

I am an electrician in the uk, what is it you want to know exactly

Welcome to ET,
Careful about zombie threads.

 

[martinsparkylee]

Zombie threads? Sorry new to this

 

[Wirenuting]

Zombie threads? Sorry new to this

That's ok, we all walk before we run.

 

[Black Dog]

Zombie threads? Sorry new to this

The thread is 7 months old and was no longer active. I'll bet the OP has not been here since then too, so he probably will not answer your post.

Welcome to the forum:thumbsup:

 

[martinsparkylee]

Ah I see thanks I get what your saying

 

[webelec]

I call it 'necro posting'

 

[chicken steve]

I am an electrician in the uk, what is it you want to know exactly

I'm an electrician in America which is a rather isolated existence compared to the Euro electrical scene Martin.

Perhaps you blokes would be kind enough to take this opportunity to opine on your methods? For instance ring circuits>>

Why run a circuit this way would be my first Q.....?

~CS~

 

[Voltron]

I'm an electrician in America which is a rather isolated existence compared to the Euro electrical scene Martin.

Perhaps you blokes would be kind enough to take this opportunity to opine on your methods? For instance ring circuits>>

Why run a circuit this way would be my first Q.....?

~CS~

Bloody good question old sport!