Blue Socket Advice

[KimB]

Hi everyone
I'm just wondering what is the reason for using these sockets:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/32-AMP-32...plies_ET&var=670167021154&hash=item5d464ac5f0

Is it because a normal 3 pin socket I think is maxed out to 13amp fuse ? where as the blue one states it can be run up to 32amp ?

Thanks
Kim

 

[madkayaker]

There to be wired as a separate 32a circuit with all the approprte circuit protection and can be used upto 32amps

 

[KimB]

Okay, thought so, be perfect for using on my 220 mig, thanks for the reply

 

[Robotstar5]

One of these fitted to the wall would be better

 

[KimB]

One of these fitted to the wall would be better

I thought one of These would be better

 

[Robotstar5]

Yes it would as it's interlocked so cannot be switched on without plug inserted, so don't send it back as faulty if the switch doesn't turn without a plug

I would have suggested it but didn't know your budget

 

[KimB]

Thanks, need to re wire my workshop for my 3hp compressor and bigger welder.
I'm not planning on doing it myself, luckily my dads and electrician.

 

[Robotstar5]

I'm not planning on doing it myself, luckily my dads and electrician.

So labour costs will be very low being a "family job" my sister only had to pay for materials (+ plenty of tea) when I re-wired her house!.

 

[KimB]

So labour costs will be very low being a "family job" my sister only had to pay for materials (+ plenty of tea) when I re-wired her house!.

Lol, that's the plan I think I will only need to pay for the sockets and d type breakers, hopefully .
Just thinking would it be a good thing to have two separate D32 circuits for the welder and the compressor then just have the normal plugs on maybe a C32 circuit or B32 ?

 

[madkayaker]

It would be best on c32 rcbo

 

[Robotstar5]

Just thinking would it be a good thing to have two separate D32 circuits for the welder and the compressor then just have the normal plugs on maybe a C32 circuit or B32 ?

Get your dad to check the data/rating plates on the welder and compressor, it may be more useful having 16A & 32A blue sockets, the type of MCB's (C or D curve) all depends on the installation so they comply with disconnection times in the wiring regs.

The 13A sockets will be fine on a B32 if wired as a ring in 2.5mm² cable.

 

[KimB]

It would be best on c32 rcbo

i take it you mean for the welder ? And what does rcbo mean ?

 

[KimB]

Get your dad to check the data/rating plates on the welder and compressor, it may be more useful having 16A & 32A blue sockets, the type of MCB's (C or D curve) all depends on the installation so they comply with disconnection times in the wiring regs.

The 13A sockets will be fine on a B32 if wired as a ring in 2.5mm² cable.

Okay thanks for the advice. I know the compressor needs a min of 32 amp supply so I will say to him about doing a separate supply for that them I'll work out what supply for the blue socket

 

[rich r]

RCBO is a combined miniature circuit breaker (MCB) and residual current device (RCD). So if the current drawn is too high it trips (ie normal circuit breaker/fuse operation), and if there's an earth fault it trips (RCD). If your house is wired to the latest wiring regs, you'll have RCBOs on each circuit. If it's earlier then you'll probably have MCBs on each circuit and a single RCD for the whole consumer unit. If it's got fuses with wire then you probably want to replace the lot anyway!

 

[KimB]

RCBO is a combined miniature circuit breaker (MCB) and residual current device (RCD). So if the current drawn is too high it trips (ie normal circuit breaker/fuse operation), and if there's an earth fault it trips (RCD). If your house is wired to the latest wiring regs, you'll have RCBOs on each circuit. If it's earlier then you'll probably have MCBs on each circuit and a single RCD for the whole consumer unit. If it's got fuses with wire then you probably want to replace the lot anyway!

Thanks for that good description. It should be all up to regs. My dad used it as part of his testing by the eic I think it is ?

 

[Robotstar5]

i take it you mean for the welder ? And what does rcbo mean ?

Basically an MCB with a built in RCD (residual current device) so your workshop consumer unit ("fusebox") could have seperate RCBO's for blue & 13A sockets and a 6A MCB for lighting, then if a socket trips it will not knock everything off.
Another option is to fit an RCD protecting all the socket MCB's but not the lighting MCB so a fault will not leave you in the dark.

edit: took too long typing

 

[KimB]

Basically an MCB with a built in RCD (residual current device) so your workshop consumer unit ("fusebox") could have seperate RCBO's for blue & 13A sockets and a 6A MCB for lighting, then if a socket trips it will not knock everything off.
Another option is to fit an RCD protecting all the socket MCB's but not the lighting MCB so a fault will not leave you in the dark.

edit: took too long typing

That's a good idea thanks for the information. Any other advice or ideas would be great. Thanks
Kim

 

[madkayaker]

It's a device that increases your chances of still retaining any wiggle capacity should you connect yourself to the mains (the above answers are more technical but I prefure mine)

 

[brightspark]

So labour costs will be very low being a "family job" my sister only had to pay for materials (+ plenty of tea) when I re-wired her house!.

you were lucky i just rewired daughters house and she only paid me 50 quid for 2 rolls of cable and that was it the rest was free and i didnt get cups of tea

 

[KimB]

you were lucky i just rewired daughters house and she only paid me 50 quid for 2 rolls of cable and that was it the rest was free and i didnt get cups of tea

Sounds like you were lucky, I was hoping to just flutter my eyelids and beg haha