Connecting an fcu to an existing socket

Burrito Maniac

Hi lads,

Tryin to do this. I've no knowledge of it really. Can i just take an e, n and l wire from the existing socket and feed it in to the appropriate terminals in the fcu? If so it sounds fairly handy. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

2011

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

Hi lads,

Tryin to do this. I've no knowledge of it really. Can i just take an e, n and l wire from the existing socket and feed it in to the appropriate terminals in the fcu? If so it sounds fairly handy. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Excuse my ignorance, but what is an FCU? I tried Google, but it was not much.

To answer this we would also need to know:
Also what size is the load?
How many points are already on the socket circuit?
What size cable is the socket circuit?
What size and type of protective devices is the socket circuit fed from?

LostInLM

2011 wrote: »

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

Hi lads,

Tryin to do this. I've no knowledge of it really. Can i just take an e, n and l wire from the existing socket and feed it in to the appropriate terminals in the fcu? If so it sounds fairly handy. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Excuse my ignorance, but what is an FCU? I tried Google, but it was not much.

To answer this we would also need to know:
Also what size is the load?
How many points are already on the socket circuit?
What size cable is the socket circuit?
What size and type of protective devices is the socket circuit fed from?

FCU= fused connection unit. A spur switched fuse connection?

Bruthal

A fuse controlled unit (fused spur) Id say.

Unless he is installing a fan coil unit:D

2011

LostInLM wrote: »

FCU= fused connection unit. A spur switched fuse connection?

Perhaps.

Or a Fan Coil Unit as Google suggested.

Either way confirmation is required and the other questions still stand.

sparcocars

2011 wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance, but what is an FCU? I tried Google, but it was not much.

A FCU is a Fused Connection Unit. Otherwise known as a fused spur unit.

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

Hi lads,

Tryin to do this. I've no knowledge of it really. Can i just take an e, n and l wire from the existing socket and feed it in to the appropriate terminals in the fcu? If so it sounds fairly handy. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

In theory the live, neutral and earth can come from the back of another socket to the FCU but as 2011 mentioned the current draw of the load, cable size (more than likely 2.5 square on your socket circuit but yo never know what some people might have put in). Also you should take a look at the back of the socket you were intending on taking the spur off as the might not be any room left in that socket if others have already tapped off it. Turn off all electricity to the socket circuit and confirm loss of voltage with a multimeter before removing the socket face. If in any doubt call an electrician to take a look.

meercat

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

Hi lads,

Tryin to do this. I've no knowledge of it really.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

my advice would be to let the professionals at it

electricity kills

Bruthal

I think the OP should leave it alone. Connecting into existing sockets seems so simple, but is often done very badly by diy persons.

Burrito Maniac

Yea it's a fused connection unit. I'm tryin to put a radio up on the wall so I have to run it through the fcu first?? Then I loop that onto the original socket, which is a single socket.

Cerco

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

Yea it's a fused connection unit. I'm tryin to put a radio up on the wall so I have to run it through the fcu first?? Then I loop that onto the original socket, which is a single socket.

Why not just plug the radio into the socket?

Burrito Maniac

Because i put the wire from the radio behind the wall..

2011

You will still need to answer / consider the following to be able to do this properly:

Also what size is the load?
How many points are already on the socket circuit?
What size cable is the socket circuit?
What size and type of protective devices is the socket circuit fed from?

Burrito Maniac

Also what size is the load?
What load?

How many points are already on the socket circuit?
Just one single socket

What size cable is the socket circuit?
2.5mm2 maybe. Standard house wiring.

What size and type of protective devices is the socket circuit fed from?
No idea what this means

Thanks for your time 2011, it's much appreciated!

M cebee

if you mean you want to fit a 13amp fcu at low level adjacent to an existing socket and connect the radio into a outlet plate or joint at high level(as a fixed appliance)

i wouldn't fit an outlet plate for a radio unless absolutely neccessary -i would fit a 13amp socket(needs spur if wired in 2.5 off ring cct)

afaik a dedicated 13amp socket is ok outside of normal height restrictions

if you need to isolate the power to socket you can fit a dp switch on a 16/20amp radial or a 13amp FCU off a ring cct

M cebee

domestic appliances should be connected to 13amp sockets where possible imo

for maintenance,cleaning,testing of fixed wiring and any warranty issues etc. imo

any isolation of sockets is mostly with DP switch now as there's less ring ccts

rum and coke

sure why not.
we only spend 4 years training to become sparks.

does anyone know anything about open heart surgery,,can't be too hard can it?

Burrito Maniac

You obviously didn't train that hard because you haven't given me a solution yet!!

2011

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

You obviously didn't train that hard because you haven't given me a solution yet!!

I think that meercat gave the best advice when he said:

my advice would be to let the professionals at it

No offense intended, but I think this is beyond you.

rum and coke

Burrito Maniac wrote: »

You obviously didn't train that hard because you haven't given me a solution yet!!

Obviously.