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No, they don’t need to be at 450mm because it’s not a new build or part of a substantial enough extension. I have my guide to part P somewhere that has the exact stipulations, but unless something has changed, perfectly fine to install at normal height. Might just be used to doing them at 450 as that is the new standard tho.
It might be on a 20a because you have a broken ring so it’s essentially 2x 2.5mm radial circuits. 2.5mm as a radial can only take 20A, while set up as a ring can take 32A, it’s a very common thing to do when you can’t get ring readings. You’d need to do end to end continuity of the conductors to confirm either way.
Absolutely no problem having a ring on a 20A breaker. Ib ≤ In ≤ Iz - ib Load, must be less than in breaker rating, which must be less than what the cable is rated for.
Unless you’re planning on having a very heavy load on the circuit, 20A is perfectly fine.
Nef-
Thanks. I think this guy has just riled me up enough already that I'm sensitive to anything he says. And because so much of my job is consuming and regurgitating technical specifications in a way that others can understand, I hate it when someone just says, "because regs" without explaining why. Makes me think they don't actually understand the regs themselves if they can't explain them or know where they might not apply.
stevo_com
Annoying electrician has struck again. Questions for the more knowledgeable folks.
Has put two new sockets in the bedroom at 450mm above the floor, when all other sockets are a more "reasonable" height. He just said "regulation", and I couldn't be fucked to talk to him anymore. Reading Part M, 450mm is only a requirement for new homes or where the rest of the home is already Part M compliant. As my house is definitely not, and we do not have accessibility issues, my argument is there was no need to mount them at a low earth orbit level. Am I wrong?
He has also said that the upstairs socket rings are on 20A and should be on 32A. The CU was only replaced recently so it's my guess/understanding that the electrician that did the CU install, because it wasn't a full re-wire, used 20A as he couldn't confirm the current carrying capacity of the existing wiring well enough or see if it ran through insulation, to be able to fit 32A MCBs. So leaving them at 20A is the sensible thing to do. Current (pun intended) annoying spark is saying they have to be 32A. Again, am I wrong?