Change 2 Gang kitchen socket to 4 gang

[CrazeUK]

This looks promising.

Ive decided to add 3 sockets (a second 2 gang to the ring, and 1 gang as a spur - for other kitchen tools).

I've noticed on their site they have a 2+1 too.
So the big question:

1. Is it better to have 2 +2 gang then a single one. Or add a 2 + 1 gang.

2. given how old the current box is and how deep set it is, is it better to try and replace the old one with dry lining box. (This would then have a gap between all gangs).

 

[Risteard]

I took off the socket below the CU. It's definitely a ring. Quite old, given the red and black wire.

I also worked out why the detector didnt pick it up. The back box is set quite deep. Also the wall seems to be made of something really thin.

My thinking is, take out one of the connections, extend the wire for a ring, then use this Lap backbox (which should be indiscrimate of depth and the thickness of the wall) to add a second 2 gang about an inch apart from the original.

I might also add a single spur off the new 2 gang for the occasional appliances.
View attachment 356719

Definitely a ring unless it's actually definitely a radial. Or perhaps neither and just installed incorrectly, i.e. supposed to be a ring.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

They do other layouts as well and to my eyes it looks better without a gap between the faceplates and as you are going to add other sockets you can have all five in a row

Niglon DES221 2x2x1 Gang Box 35mm Steel

2x2x1 Gang Box 35mm Steel Niglon DES221 Looking for a durable and reliable gang box for your electrical installations? Look no further than the Niglon

thomaselectricaldistributors.co.uk

Niglon DES211 2x1x1 Gang Box 35mm Steel

2x1x1 Gang Box 35mm Steel Niglon DES211 Introducing the sturdy and durable 2x1x1 Gang Box 35mm Steel from Niglon, the ultimate solution for housing

thomaselectricaldistributors.co.uk

if you decide to go the dry lining box route, scolmore do a little gizmo that allows dry ling boxes to be joined at the correct spacing and in theory you could have dozens all in a row using it.

https://www.expertelectrical.co.uk/click-ezylink-dry-lining-box-connector?vat_display=2&srsltid=AfmBOoqZoXDfJuEkQf1qVq55XymKVIZjw4E268LdqVUTntjJ1LwfuEdXXQc

you do have to use their dry ling boxes though. I have used it to join two doubles and two singles together

 

[CrazeUK]

This is brilliant. I was considering dry lining, but thought it may get weak in the middle.

My plan is
mount a wooden battin to the wall to mount the Niglon DES221 To.

I'll just add the whole lot to a ring.

 

[CrazeUK]

Hi all.
Quick update. I bought the Niglon 2+2+1 and a whole load of 2+2's (minimum order of 5 at 27p each).

I installed the it, and glad i went for the 5gang and not 2 x 2 gangs and a 1 gang.

It all lines up perfectly.

Whilst cutting the recess, luckily I noticed the 2 tail cables which where set back. I put a batton over them which I notched, which also gives it protection.

It was odd that the cable detector didnt pick them up as electric cables, it did pick them up as a magnetic field in the beam finder.

the additional complication was a 2x2 vertical wood beam half way along the recess which I notched to fix the back box to.

I was considering the single as a spur as i see it only used for those occasional kitchen appliances. But added it to the ring instead.

 

[ebee]

If you are converting a ring two take 4 outlets such as two twin sockets for example then you might consider either making it a short radial fed directly off the ring origin at the consumer unit by using one 4 or 6 mm cable.

Or if you only have 2.5 cable then spur from the ring origin (the fuseway) to each twin socket in separate 2,5 cables (if you like you could also link the two twin sockets together witch a short piece of 2.5 cable making it two rings (one tiny small ring and one larger ring)
fed from the same fuseway.
Most consumer unit terminals should easily accept 4 conductors.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

Looks good with all the sockets neatly aligned. But it triggers another question, why do most (all?) kitchen appliances, toasters, kettles etc have black plugs and black cable??? White would be less intrusive visually.

 

[ebee]

Well a contrast as such might be in a kitchen could be an advantage by giving clarity of positions and dangers too reduces inadvertent tugs, physical collisions and burns in flexes etc
Horses Courses ?

 

[plugwash]

I suspect one issue is that white flex is more prone to staining and/or discolouration caused by heat.

 

[CrazeUK]

If you are converting a ring two take 4 outlets such as two twin sockets for example then you might consider either making it a short radial fed directly off the ring origin at the consumer unit by using one 4 or 6 mm cable.

Or if you only have 2.5 cable then spur from the ring origin (the fuseway) to each twin socket in separate 2,5 cables (if you like you could also link the two twin sockets together witch a short piece of 2.5 cable making it two rings (one tiny small ring and one larger ring)
fed from the same fuseway.
Most consumer unit terminals should easily accept 4 conductors.

I considered doing this as an electrician suggested I do this. Personally I don't like dealing with the CU unless I HAVE to lol. Something about it makes me nervous.

Also, the CU only has one spare slot, which i would rather keep as a back up for anything else that may need to be added.

As there was already a part of the ring right where I wanted to extend, it felt right lol.

 

[CrazeUK]

Looks good with all the sockets neatly aligned. But it triggers another question, why do most (all?) kitchen appliances, toasters, kettles etc have black plugs and black cable??? White would be less intrusive visually.

Thanks.

I have seen some with white, usually, budget brands. I do hate the discolouring.

My black cables will soon pop out more when I finish the sockets and paint everything white.

I like white walls

 

[CrazeUK]

On a slightly different note - the opposite wall only had a 2 gang.
There is a fridge connected to it. The original socket for the fridge is under counter, and onnan outside wall that i think has some damp type issue which made it pop some time back.

I also have some smaller devices plugged in. I knew this maybe a more challenging change, it was in brick with some thick crumbly facing. I couldn't get the Nigol 2x2 in as it was too deep and I got bored of trying to knock a deep Crevice. Suffice to say the crazy thin old plaster and 2bcables started crumbling the wall away. Now I need to device on reskim or foam and polyfill.

 

[CrazeUK]

Given the presence of the consumer unit immediately above, I would also be very careful when chipping out for the new socket. There may well be cables in the wall.

Thanks for this, made me so much more cautious, which paid off.

You can get twin double boxes ie which nicely put the two sockets perfectly in line

Niglon DES22 2x2 Gang Box 35mm Steel

2x2 Gang Box 35mm Steel Niglon DES22 Introducing the perfect solution for all your wiring needs - the Niglon 2x2 Gang Box. This box is a game-changer

thomaselectricaldistributors.co.uk

looks like rexel electrical stock them and there are branches in Manchester

Thanks for this, exactly what i used..ish

 

[ebee]

I considered doing this as an electrician suggested I do this. Personally I don't like dealing with the CU unless I HAVE to lol. Something about it makes me nervous.

Also, the CU only has one spare slot, which i would rather keep as a back up for anything else that may need to be added.

As there was already a part of the ring right where I wanted to extend, it felt right lol.

Just to clarify, I was not meaning you to create an actual additional circuit for those extra sockets but merely an alteration to the existing circuit by combining an existing ring final and a new radial portion as one circuit total.
or.
Creating a very tiny ring of two twin sockets connected to the existing ring to form a new double ring circuit and still being one circuit total.
In both of these alternatives you would have one circuit supplying all of these sockets and would not affect any other circuits or spare ways.
Of course you could always add the additions required as a new circuit in their own right (Which makes work notifiable) and later on you could still connect them together to become one circuit if you wanted to create a spare way for a future circuit.
The point I was making was there were a few different choices of how to do the job safely and conveniently and without limiting a number of spurs or ending up with spur on spur arrangement. Albeit with creating a slightly unusual circuit layout.
Having those options gives you a bit more choice in the final design of things.

 

[blup]

Just extend the ring , you never know when you might need to extend it again.