What is a ring circuit?

Usually,there are many mains sockets in a flat to provide electricity for electrical appliances.Do you know how these mains sockets are connected to the electric cable that carries electricity to the flat?

The electric cable that carries electricity to a flat is connected to the consumer unit.In the consumer unit,the electric cable branches into a number of parallel circuits that deliver electricity to ceiling lamps,mains sockets,air conditioners(or other appliances with high working current),etc.The circuit that delivers electricity to main sockets exists in form of a ring and is therefore called a ring circuit.

The ring circuit provides two paths for electric current to flow from the consumer unit to the mmain sockets.Each path only carries half of the electric current.Therefore,the chance of overloading the circuit is reduced.Besides,if one of the paths is damaged,there's still another path for carrying electric current.