How to Identify a Spur from a Ring Final Socket Circuit | Electrical Testing

Testing a ring main socket circuit, or to use the correct term ring final circuit, is a bit more involved than a regular electrical circuit. In this electricians Q&A, we run through the test procedure to identify spurs and incorrectly wired sockets.

This electricians Q&A was raised in our previous video which explored ring final circuit testing using the new Metrel automated ring final circuit tester.

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#efixx #electricians #electrical

[danielvelinski]

This is really useful info and helps with my learning

[judebrown]

Well, I've learnt something... I'm 63, can sell coals to Newcastle, drive a Routemaster London bus, play the piano to a reasonable standard, given a bit of classical music to sight-read but I could definitely never have been an electrician. Too many sums! 😂 Really clearly and beautifully explained and I really enjoyed it but number blindness kicked in and I ended up baffled, still love to watch your vids though! 😁👍

[williamlowther]

always makes me smile when people say ring final circuit and never radial final circuit, its just ring or radial in plain speak, great vid

[seandempsey]

Nicely explained, clear easy to understand. Fantastic video Joe as always 👍👍👍👍❤️

[matthewmelbourne]

Great visualisation of the calculation!

[Mike_]

Simply brilliant this is real life Electrics and such a common scenario

[davidb]

Hi,
I find that unless working on new or fairly new ring final circuits the results when tested at the socket outlets can vary considerably which makes confirming multiple spurs or interconnections difficult. Where doubt exists this usually means removing the face plate and actually testing at the conductors, making a simple test time consuming along with the other problems associated with removing old sockets ( stripped back box lugs, decoration damage) when carrying out EICRs ring final circuits are often the most likely to be unsatisfactory.

[animarkzero]

As copper prices are at a peak, I think you should stick to your rings a while longer.
Just a tip from "ringless" Austria as we struggle to even get the cables for any price😉

[elektrikahectorfernandezol]

Muy bien compañero 👏 👍 aquí en España tenemos circuitos Radiales, pero tu explicación sobre el circuito de Anillo(Ring) ha sido muy gráfico para los compañeros del Reino Unido. 2 resistencias en paralelo. 🍺👍

[hasankhan-eyoz]

Nice 👍 please make video on dielectric strength of insulators

[ionutonea]

very helpful. many thanks ! GOD bless you 1

[ddfann]

Why don’t you use the X-1 calculation? It’s more accurate than dividing by 4.

[alunroberts]

Seeing it like that pulled open let's me see a circle of wire so at any point to point at opposing sides. Yes should be the same. I do still like ring circuits but yes a danger if open some were. In the work shop I have 4mm to my radial sockets. An some that are red sockets no earthing on them this is for some test gear. The equipment is on rubber mats my thinking is also I should really have isolation transformer. Or round pin plugs so no one can use them. Or lock off key. But as I only work in there on that side no one should touch anything but we all know every one messes about with stuff.

[michaelcox]

Ring Final Circuits are only bad when the DIY’ers get their hands on them. If installed correctly, left alone and not bodged, they are perfect.
Plus if there’s a fault you can still leave the customer with working radials.

A problem with those readings not being consistent are cheap socket outlets, terminals catching insulation (DIY’ers), and limp wrists.

[andrewcadby]

Rings are still king when it comes to general purpose socket circuits, and with good reason.

A 32A ring will permit greater diversity when compared to a 20A radial, while allowing much more flexibility in terms of installation methods than a 4mm 32A radial (which can only be installed method C). Rings also allow a WAY longer circuit length in terms of voltage drop than either radial, nearly 2.5 times as long!

Rings are less prone to arcing in the event of a loose live conductor (there will only be a few volts difference between the 2 separated legs), and will still have a CPC to most, if not all points, in the event of a loose CPC.

It's true that rings involve slightly more testing, but it's not THAT difficult is it. It's only really something that lesser sparks seem to struggle with.

Radials have their place for sure, but with so many advantages to rings, they won't be axed any time soon.

[computeraddic]

Thats easy!Look at the drawing, when the wires goes up thats the spur!!😆

[evanmason]

Can you compare us and British wiring I’m an American electrician apprentice and I don’t understand whats happening

[mopkrayz]

in many countries, ring final is still the standard. what's the modern equivalent to ring final in the uk?

[Dog-whisperer]

The video description asks the simple question how to identify a spur from a ring final socket circuit. Yet you went way beyond that question. The answer to that question is simple remove the socket or sockets and see how many conductors there are if there three wow it’s a spur . 😊

[therealdojj]

My house has been a nightmare for rings
There were only two plugs in the original upstairs and downstairs rings
Until the previous owner spured several additional sockets of the upstairs ring
And then he spured in the middle of those spurs to add more sockets downstairs
Where he used 1.5 wire to link to the additional junction box
Before going back to 2.5 🤦
And at one point he used a 6mm cable to go to a single socket
Did I mention the spur to the lights?
So unless you turned off the breakers for both sets of lights AND sockets, there was always a live feed to everything
I'm not even going to start on the disaster that was the kitchen wiring 🤦
He should have had his head tested 🤣