4 cables feeding 1 socket

[AaronHarvey]

In the process of renovating our kitchen and after removing the faceplate of 1 double socket with the intention of replacing the faceplate and adding a spur I've found there's 4 cables feeding it.
4 live, 4 neutral, 4 earths. All 2.5mm t+e.
Now there's two feeding it from above, both I assume are the original wiring with solid green earth sleeves (1970's house), and two from below which I assume have been added after when the kitchen was last done 20 years ago or so. Still red and black live and neutral, but yellow and green eath sleeve.

Now not sure what to do here, as I said wanted to add a spur. We only currently have two double sockets above the counter. The only have outlet nearby is a socket behind the fridge. The other double socket at the other end of the kitchen has 3 cables (2 I assume the ring?) And 1 spur feeding the extractor fan.

 

[AndyPRK]

If the back box is big enough You could get two 3 way wago for the L &
N

1 existing wire
1 to socket
1 new cable

For both L & n

The earths should be small enough to fit in or make use the the screw connector in the back box,

Personally I would try a spur elsewhere as that’s a nightmare job for diy

 

[AaronHarvey]

I've got a few of those wago connectors spare, but not sure what cables you mean to connect together?

If the back box isn't deep enough, I'm happy to remove it, knock out and replace with a deeper one.

 

[AndyPRK]

Do you have a wago with 3 holes for wires

 

[AaronHarvey]

Yes

 

[AndyPRK]

You remove a modern cable from the socket. Fit this into wago.

Using a short new cable connect between wago and socket.

Put new spur cable into wago

 

[AaronHarvey]

Ok yeah I understand you now, going to be a lot to squeeze in like you said.

 

[AndyPRK]

Yes. There has to be a way to connect else where!

 

[john4703]

You say four cables feeding it. That seems strange.
Could the old ones be the ring and the other two spurs going to other sockets?
It would be worth finding out where each cable runs to, or from, then decide how to proceed.

 

[AaronHarvey]

You say four cables feeding it. That seems strange.
Could the old ones be the ring and the other two spurs going to other sockets?
It would be worth finding out where each cable runs to, or from, then decide how to proceed.

I thought it was strange too. I did little research before posting here. Seen a a couple of similar situations on other forums. Some people have suggested a ring spured off the ring. Like a figure of 8?

Does this seem likely?

 

[Taylortwocities]

As above. It is probably a ring with two spurs coming off it. Not a great arrangement.
10 minutes work with a voltage tester will map out what is connected to what. You can’t add anything else until you have done so.

 

[flameport]

As it's a kitchen, assume that whoever installed the wiring was a moron, and that none of it complies with any known standards.
Attempting to connect new items onto other people's blunders is not valid.
It's time to just dispose of what's there and start again.

 

[SUNRAY]

Some people have suggested a ring spured off the ring. Like a figure of 8?

Does this seem likely?

Totally forbidden by the regs.

 

[BS3036]

Totally forbidden by the regs.

I wouldn't have thought that to be the case. Admittedly it is not a standard circuit described in the book, but the regulations would surely permit the design of a circuit of any configuration for which proper calculations had been performed?

 

[flameport]

but the regulations would surely permit the design of a circuit of any configuration for which proper calculations had been performed?

They do - but that's the problem.
Proper design and calculations were not done in that kitchen, or in the vast majority of other domestic installations.
If they were, all of the calculations, design documents and other specifications would be available for future electricians to reference.