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Garage ring main installation

Posted by James Finch, on
I am in the process of buying a 2.2kW table saw that will go in my garage. It looks like the sockets in the garage (2 double sockets) are just a spur off the main ground floor ring {I will check this when I am next home but they appear to be a semi radial circuit off the ring} and wanted to check that this would be safe to use for the table saw? I think most of the kitchen appliances on the ground floor are on their own fuses from the CU so don't know whether this would be a problem in terms of maximum demand? If it is a problem, should I get a new ring circuit installed in the garage or some other CU installation? If I need a new ring installed, any idea how much it would be/long it would take as it should be a relatively simple job as the garage is just a shell (so no chasing in wire or fancy sockets needed etc!). Thanks James
Alfie Jenks

Alfie Jenks

If you have a ring coming off a ring this would be the same as having a spur wired in 5mm cable which can easily handle more than 2.2 kw. 230 volts times by the rating of the mcb (32) is the amount of power that cam be drawn from the circuit before the mcb operates (trips) however we have to make sure the cable that's being supplied by this mcb is not under rated. A single 2.5 mm twin and earth cable can handle over 16 amps all day long. Put two together and you get 32amp. If your spur is a small ring added to an existing ring it's likely the cable will be able to handle it. However its not advisable as the ring may be broken somewhere reducing the rating of the cable and increasing the risk of cable over load and fire. For peace of mind I would ask an expert to install a 4mm radial circuit on a 20 amp type c rcbo. This will give you 4.6 kw of power, a cable that can easily handle to load and a protective device that can handle the high start up current of the saw with rcd protection which is a requirement. The parts should cost around £80 ish. The labour is half a day. You shouldn't pay any more than £200 for the whole job.

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