DIYFit extra electrical sockets.pdf

FIT EXTRA ELECTRICAL

SOCKETS

No special manual skills are required, but a sound

knowledge of electrical work is an advantage.

Working with electricity is potentially dangerous, and you

should not attempt to convert or add sockets unless you

have the necessary experience and knowledge. If in doubt,

enlist the help of a professional electrician.

Always turn off the electricity supply at the consumer unit

when working on electrical installations. Wear eye protectors

and gloves when using a club hammer and bolster.

An adequate number of electrical sockets will eliminate the

inconvenience and expense of extension leads.

To increase the number of sockets in your home either

convert existing single-socket outlets to doubles or fit

additional sockets. Single sockets will be either 'flush', i.e.

they don't stick out from the wall, or 'surface-mounted', i.e.

boxes that do stick out a little bit from the wall.

2 - Preparation

The following assumes your house is wired conventionally,

using modern materials. Old round-pin sockets should be

replaced by an electrician.

Most socket outlets in modern homes are connected to what

is known as a ring circuit or ring main. From a 30amp fuse

or 32amp miniature circuit breaker (MCB) in the consumer

unit, a length of 2.5mm² two-core-and-earth cable runs

from one socket to another and then back to the consumer

unit where it is connected to the same set of terminals from

which it originated.

There are usually two ring

circuits in the average h

one supplies power to the

ground floor sockets and the

other to the sockets upstairs

At each socket the cable is

cut and connected to

terminals behind the

faceplate.

ouse,

Some homes have only one

or two socket outlets per

room, but the number can b

increased with the addi

an extension known as a

spur. This comprises a s

2.5mm² cable connected to

the terminals of an existi

socket or to a separate

junction box on the ring

circuit. From there, the spur cable runs to a new socket. You

can have as many spurs as there were socket outlets on the

ring originally. Each original double socket counts as two.

tion of

ingle

dividual radial circuits are used to supply power to a single

appliance such as a cooker or shower unit, but radial circuits

can also be used to supply a number of sockets. Spurs can

also be connected to this multi-outlet type of radial circuit.

A radial-circuit cable terminates at the last socket - it does

not return to the consumer unit as with a ring-circuit cable.

A 2.5mm² two-core-and-earth cable is used for a floor area

up to 20m² (24yds²), and the circuit must be protected by a

20amp fuse or MCB. Higher-rated fuses and cable are

required for larger floor areas.

doubles or even fused triple sockets. Spur sockets can also

be upgraded, provided the spur cable is serving only the one

socket outlet.

tep 1: Before testing the circu

using the main switch on the consumer unit.

mounting box. Note the number of cables feeding the soc

- if three cables are connected, it is safe to upgrade the

socket. If two are fitted you should test the circuit.

it, turn off the electricity

tep 2: Unscrew the socket faceplate and ease it off its

ket

remove the red-coloured live wires from the socket termin

and separate these wires. Attach a continuity tester between

the two live wires - if the tester glows, the socket can be

changed.

tep 3: Disconnect all the appliances on the circuit, then

• If the tester fails to light, get a qualified electrician

•

to test the circuit before changing the socket.

Similarly, if only one cable is connected to the b

of your single socket, have that tested by an

qualified electrician to make sure it is safe to

ack

ingle sockets on a ring or radial circuit can be converted to

3 - Testing the circuit

convert.

4 - Converting - Surface-mounted sockets

This is one of the easiest ways to increase the number of

socket outlets in your home. No extra wiring is required and

little or no redecoration afterwards. Just swap the single

mounting box for a double box of the same depth, and

connect the new double socket to the existing circuit cable.

Step 1: Before starting work, turn off the electricity using

the main switch on the consumer unit - check that the power

is off with a proprietary plug-in socket tester.

Step 2: Remove the two securing screws and pull the old

faceplate away from its mounting box. Loosen the terminals

securing the wires and remove the faceplate.

Check that the bare earth wires are covered with

green/yellow earth sleeving - if not, cut a piece of sleeving

to length and thread it over the wires, leaving about 12mm

(1/2in) of each wire exposed.

Step 3: Remove the old

mounting box. Break the

plastic web covering the

appropriate 'entry hole' for

the cable in the new box.

Pass the cable through the

hole and screw the box to t

wall.

Use a spirit level to get your

mounting boxes horizontal.

Slotted holes allow you to adjust the position of each box as

you drive the fixing screws into the wall.

You may be able to use the existing screws and wall plugs. If

not, drill new fixing holes in the wall and insert wall plugs.

Step 4: Connect the existing wires to the terminals in the

new socket - red to the L-terminal, black to N-terminal and

green/yellow to E-terminal. Make sure all the wires are held

securely and that no bare wire is exposed.

When two or more identical wires are connected to a single

terminal, they should be twisted together with pliers to

ensure a good connection.

Step 5: Push the socket faceplate into the box, taking care

not to trap the wires, then tighten the faceplate screws.

Step 6: When all is secure, turn the electricity on and test

the socket by plugging in a lamp or a plug-in socket tester.

5 - Converting - Flush sockets

The simplest way to upgrade a flush socket is to use a

special mounting box that converts it to a double surface-

mounted socket. The conversion box is attached to the

existing metal box, using the two short screws provided.

Converting a single flush

socket to a double or triple

flush socket involves more

work but the result looks

neater. It is probably best to

leave this type of conversion

until you plan to redecorate.

Step 1: Having turned off the power at the consumer unit,

unscrew and remove the old faceplate and metal mounting

box. You may need to cut around the old box in order to

release it from the surrounding plaster.

Step 2: Hold the new metal box in the required position -

this is largely determined by the original hole in the wall, but

there is some leeway. Draw round the box to indicate how

much masonry needs to be removed.

Step 3: Using a cordless drill

fitted with a masonry bit, drill

a series of closely-space

holes in the masonry. Use a

depth stop or a piece of tape

wrapped around the drill to

ensure the holes are all the

same depth.

You can buy a drilling jig for boring out the recesses for

mounting boxes - it is comprised of rows of closely packed

tubes mounted on a backing plate that you attach to the

wall.

Step 4: Use a bolster or cold

chisel to chop out a neat

rectangular recess for the

new box. Drill fixing holes

and fit wall plugs.

Step 5: Knock out a convenient cable-entry hole in the box

and line the hole with a rubber grommet that will prevent

the metal chafing the cable. Pass the cable through the hole

and screw the box into its recess.

Use decorator's filler to make good any damaged plaster.

Step 6: Connect the existing wires to the terminals in the

new socket - red to the L-terminal, black to N-terminal and

green/yellow to E-terminal.

When two or more identical wires are connected to a single

terminal, they should be twisted together with pliers to

ensure a good connection.

Make sure all the wires are held securely and that no bare

wire is exposed.

Dealing with a hollow wall:

It is relatively easy to convert a flush socket that is set in a

plasterboard partition wall.

Step 1: Turn off the electricity using the main switch on the

consumer unit.

Step 2: Remove the old fitting and draw round the new

mounting box. You may need to reposition the box to one

side of the original opening to avoid cutting into wooden

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