Kitchen Wall Cabinet Half Covering A Light Switch

[charliegolf]

Putting up some wall cabinets in my nephew's kitchen, and the cabinet is going to half cover a light switch on the wall.

Would it be ok to:

1. Extend the 2 conductors with choc blocks,
2. Add a new surface mounted back box tight up to the underside of the cabinet, blocking off the existing back box, and
3. Refit the switch?

Ta.

 

[sparkwright]

If you can't pull any slack down, you may may extend the cable - but 'choc blocks' need to be accessible, and within some form of enclosure - so if you can do this joint within the new switch box, that's ok.

If the join is going to behind the wall cupboard or in the wall, you need to use something 'maintenance free', as the join is not accessible for inspection. So in this instance, you could consider crimps with heat shrink over it.

Be sure to extend the earth wire too, even if it is not actually connected to anything.

 

[securespark]

If the cable is in capping, tie a new length of cable to the old.

Then bash a hole in the plaster just above the wall unit and nibble a hole in the capping with cutters.

Drag the old cable out at this point, which will draw the new one in and up.

Join old and new in a junction box screwed to the top of the new wall unit.

 

[sparkwright]

I love conduit and capping, perfect for things like this.

It's daft not to use it.

 

[charliegolf]

- but 'choc blocks' need to be accessible, and within some form of enclosure - so if you can do this joint within the new switch box, that's ok.

Be sure to extend the earth wire too, even if it is not actually connected to anything.

This is the plan- the cables to the current switch are accessible, just not long enough. The earth wire is currentllt fixed to the existing pattress. Will that not suffice? Or bring that into the new switch too?

Ta.

 

[chivers67]

Can you use an architrave switch that's Narrower? https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/tcl/search?query=architrave+switch&Submit=Search

 

[charliegolf]

Turned out all the cable were long enough, so new surface mount box and switch, tight to the cupboard underside. All done.