Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

BuildHub.org.uk

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Extending power socket(s)

Featured Replies

Hi All, 

I just wanted to know what best practice was when extending (moving a socket down) on a wall. 

I'm in Amsterdam, so I know the regulations are different - but still looking to hear best practice from UK perspective. 

 

My thinking is:

 

  • I use a connector (I have wago 203 connectors for this) to connect the new cabling.
  • Keep this in the old back box
  • Chase the wall
  • Wire new socket below
  • Rinse, repeat. 
  • Plaster over once ll sockets are done (as whole wall will be plastered). 

 

My other question - if you need to take a socket no only down, but along the wall. Is it still ok /best practice to chase the wall horizontally? It doesn;t quite 'feel' right to me....but thought I'd ask. 

 

Edit: FYI, the walls are made of this soft white concrete block stuff (horrible! - same material inside plasterboard). 

thanks!

Neil 

 

 

Screenshot 2021-03-13 at 10.52.51.png

Edited by NeilScotland

Not sure on the Dutch regs but in the UK, in line with our regs, you can crimp or solder to effect a maintenance free joint.

 

This was to demo joining two bits of T&E,  2.5mm new & old in this case,  (note the cpc  (earth) might be smaller):

 

Dead easy on a bench, fiddly in a wall, even getting the crimping tool in of course:

 

Strip the sheaths:

 

SAM_7953_zpsc8ba2893.thumb.jpg.da900cd2d32916ae138b22bde8fbfa8e.jpg

 

Stagger the joints so you don't get the "python after a large meal" bulge in the middle. The join needs to be long enough so you can slip the heatshrink on and slide along far enough to do the crimping and ideally shrink the crimp without affecting the tubular heat shrink:

 

SAM_7955_zpsabf8fc8a.thumb.jpg.4ab4cb184a934e48243b629eb02e58fe.jpg

 

SAM_7955_zpsabf8fc8a.thumb.jpg.4ab4cb184a934e48243b629eb02e58fe.jpg

 

Strip the ends:

 

SAM_7956_zps5af4b854.thumb.jpg.459d581595e8f2de806480ce83f5330a.jpg

 

SAM_7957_zpsa06f0e4c.thumb.jpg.341d5d8357c8658483fd72ea12544411.jpg

 

Heatshrink slipped on BEFORE you crimp!

 

SAM_7958_zpsf3519a8d.thumb.jpg.1712cacc9a7ab3f227937571f9b8fcb6.jpg

 

SAM_7959_zps2363d60b.thumb.jpg.505eaf64acf04707c354283067248d2e.jpg

 

SAM_7960_zps1d20780e.thumb.jpg.1e6240bf09a3d8bd892a66a26e41ccce.jpg

 

Crimp heat shrunk - has glue in that melts and sticks to the core:

 

SAM_7961_zps23a36210.thumb.jpg.65ba04856c3e2acac4286f12c7efe5d2.jpg

 

Green / yellow sleeving on. SOMETIMES as said above you might want a smaller crimp for the cpc:

 

SAM_7962_zps5c6c5239.thumb.jpg.794995da99bf2fc39069d6d5f8a54bb6.jpg

 

Cpc done:

 

SAM_7965_zps23d99cf5.thumb.jpg.1aed49bf9c2b10e71df88fefd5fe7e18.jpg

 

All neatly crimped, old colours for the heatshrink 'cos I've got it:

 

SAM_7967_zps2abf98e4.thumb.jpg.2c814c2195bfe91eb38c7718e065ecd1.jpg

 

Heatshrink over the top:

 

SAM_7968_zps8c859536.thumb.jpg.38335eb4034dc7f2f2a4bd17a19b719e.jpg

 

Chuck it in the wall and get plastering! :)

 

SAM_7969_zpsb0245a37.thumb.jpg.ceafcda4e8565d3c2d4c84545cf45e2f.jpg

 

Similarly it could be soldered but make damn sure you get no sharp wispy bits of solder that might poke through the heatshrink!

Edited by Onoff

  • Author

Thanks for this. Very helpful. 
 

Isn’t a wago connector a lot easier? (And I believe also maintenance free). 

 

this is just a question of curiosity not judgement! I don’t know the regs. 
 

Although this way looks cleaner for sure. 

 

thanks again

Neil 

Create an account or sign in to comment

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.