Re: OT: UK Electrical question (re: Ivan'H'older)

From: Jeff (jeff_at_local.host)
Date: 07/15/04 

Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 07:54:02 +0100

> > 1) Why do you run a "ring" circuit in new construction. I don't
> > understand the run from the last "socket" (outlet) back to the
> > "consumer unit" (panel/breaker) It seems redundant to me.
>
> > 2) The diagram of the typical socket, shows a "live"(hot),
> > "neutral"(neutral), and "earth"(ground) to the socket. I thought that
> > you "chaps" (sorry) run 220v. Therefore, there would be no neutral,
> > but two "lives" and no neutral.
>
> Hi Dwight...
>
> I'm the old guy who started the whole thing... :)
> (Canadian - but I believe that you and I are
> virtually identical)
>
> And I, too, was confused... but it slowly sinks in.
>
> What I figure is that the "redundant" wiring is
> simply a way of sharing the load... so that they
> can use perhaps 14 ga rather than 12 or perhaps
> 10.

True, but it also prevents excessive voltage drop if
2 or more high current devices are connected to the
same circuit.
Without the return the 'last' device would get more
drop.
 
> I guess they use more high current demand
> devices, like for instance their shower and
> their washing machine water heater, so they
> run 220 everywhere.
>
> And I now suspect that their 220 is just like
> ours is - 2 110's out of phase, so that the
> neutral is still required.
>

Our system is true 230V, we have now way of getting
120V. The local transformer provides 3 phases at
230V each phase plus a neutral. Industrial users
take all 3 phases, normal homes just get 1 phase.
Houses in a street will be fed from different phases
to try to share the load evenly.

Regards
Jeff

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