single or double pole socket??

niall24 wrote: »

Hi please can some one tell me what the difference is between the double and single pole plug sockets as i need to replace some.

A single pole switches live only a double pole switches live and neutral. The double pole switch is safer but inevitably more expensive. Some circuits require a double pole switch by regulation but for a normal ring main or radial single pole is sufficient. Is it possible you are confusing single gang (ie one switched outlet) and dual gang (two switched outlets) with the switching arrangements?

One of the sockets getting replaced has One cable going to it, the other one has two cables going to it both are in the same room.

On a radial the sockets have two cables (one in from the previous socket and one out to the next socket) with the exception of the last one in the run which only has one cable in. I think that is what you are describing and whether the switching arrangements sockets are single pole or double pole doesn't matter.

Another socket in in the hall and has several cables going to it.

This will have one in and one out as before. If there is a third cable it is likely that someone has run a spur off the back of this socket to feed another.

Cheers