Moving power sockets

[manxcat]

Got old house with 300 m.m skirting boards.Some of the power sockets are surface mounted boxes on the skirting which look ugly and it is difficuld to get plug into as they are too close to carpet.I would like to move them up the wall and fit normal flush sockets.However there is no slack in the existing wiring so will have to extend wiring to new location.Presume I could do this by fitting J/B under floorboards but wonder if there is a method of safely extending the wiring without a J/B.Any suggestions appreciated

 

[Dippy]

JBs need to be accessible so putting one under the floor is not on. I believe that there may be specialist wire connectors which may get around this, but I can't comment on them. Otherwise you'd need to replace the existing sockets with blanking plates. Not the ideal solution but maybe would look better at least?

 

[JohnD]

this sounds like it is very old. tell us what colour the old cables are, what they seem to be made of, and what condition

are the wires stranded or solid? Copper or silvery?

can you post a pic inside a typical socket?

 

[TopQSBoy]

Any connections must be accessible for inspection, you cant just 'plaster them into the wall', you could use the existing back box as a juction and fit a blanking plate to the front. (This will probably be dicounted due to appearence). The only other option will be a below floor JB, it will be arguable if this will be accessible if a fitted carpet or worse laminated flooring is installed.

 

[manxcat]

Hi Johnd

I know that these surface mounted boxes were fitted by the previous owner in 1975(understand he was an electrician during RAF call up)Cable is grey , wires are solid copper.Reading previous posts about taking sockets out of use they talk about connection strips which are crimped on,will these not do the job of extending the cables.The crimped connection could be in a space behind the skirting board i.e not plastered into the wall

 

[Chri5]

Cable that is 32 years old is likely to be at end of service life.

I'd suggest that you lift floor and run new cable for all the sockets. you could do this on a room by room basis until you eventually have a completely new ring main.

As you will know, behind each existing surface mounted box will be a hole to bring the cable in to the existing position. Get a similar sized hole cutter and repair skirting with blanks made from the hole cutter, dabbed with a bit of hard as nails, then fill, sand and paint.

This is best done after the new cable are in place, since the old cable might serve as a part draw wire to feed the new cable through. Most older houses will have a slight cavity toward the floor line, seldom was the plastering done all the way to the floor line, however you will have to attempt to chase behind the skirting between new socket position and the cavity I mentioned.

If the cable hadn't been so old I would have suggested simple connector crimps, which as a permanent join could have been left in a non serviceable position such as behind the skirting or under the floor.

2.5mm cable is about £20 x 50m or £37 x 100m, so the cost of replacing the existing cable isn't going to break the bank- and if a jobs worth doing........etc

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Notifiable, though...

 

[saxondale]

Notifiable, though...

no its not

 

[ColJack]

you sure?

which bit?

I thought that replacing damaged cables is not notifiable ( damaged through age deterioration.. ) ..
likewise for the re-fixing of accessories? ( moving them because the skirting board is being changed are you..?? AHEM!!!! ?? )
the addition of sockets to existing circuits is also non-notifiable..

(and so begins another "this is my interpretation of the part P building regs" argument.. )

 

[ban-all-sheds]

you sure?

which bit?

The rewiring of a complete circuit is notifiable.

I thought that replacing damaged cables is not notifiable ( damaged through age deterioration.. )

Replacing A damaged cable is non-notifiable, not dozens of them, and not if they aren't actually damaged.

the addition of sockets to existing circuits is also non-notifiable..

you could do this on a room by room basis until you eventually have a completely new ring main.

And when he gets to the kitchen, is your advice on addition of sockets still going to be correct?

 

[saxondale]

you sure?


(and so begins another "this is my interpretation of the part P building regs" argument.. )

LOL - nice call, thats all they are " his interpretations", those who actually get inspected tend to have very different ones

 

[ColJack]

The rewiring of a complete circuit is notifiable.

nowhere does he mention replacing an entire circuit.. only SOME sockets on the surface of skirting boards.. would you prefer he used crimp connectors to move them or do it right and replace the cable?

Replacing A damaged cable is non-notifiable, not dozens of them, and not if they aren't actually damaged.

one of the criteria to check for when inspecting is age.. being 32 years old, there is s strong likelyhood of the cable insulation being degraded

And when he gets to the kitchen, is your advice on addition of sockets still going to be correct?

at no point does the OP mention sockets in the kitchen.. and given that the sockets he wants replacing are on the skirting boards, I think it highly unlikely to be kitchen sockets..

 

[JohnD]

... not if they aren't actually damaged...

I can come round and damage one if you like.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The rewiring of a complete circuit is notifiable.

nowhere does he mention replacing an entire circuit.. only SOME sockets on the surface of skirting boards.. would you prefer he used crimp connectors to move them or do it right and replace the cable?

Sigh.

Let's try again, shall we?

Cable that is 32 years old is likely to be at end of service life.

I'd suggest that you lift floor and run new cable for all the sockets. you could do this on a room by room basis until you eventually have a completely new ring main.

.
.
.

and if a jobs worth doing........etc

Notifiable, though.

one of the criteria to check for when inspecting is age.. being 32 years old, there is s strong likelyhood of the cable insulation being degraded

These are PVC insulated and sheathed cables. I doubt that there is a strong likelihood of them being damaged.

And when he gets to the kitchen, is your advice on addition of sockets still going to be correct?

at no point does the OP mention sockets in the kitchen.. and given that the sockets he wants replacing are on the skirting boards, I think it highly unlikely to be kitchen sockets..

Your advice on adding sockets was in conjunction with advice from Chri5 to rewire the entire ring.

 

[ColJack]

my advice was independent from what chris wrote..
and again, the OP never mentioned the entire ring, chris did..
the OP also never mentioned the kitchen..

in your strict interpretation then any more than 1 cable damaged at ANY time during the life of the circuit will mean that the LABC would have to be consulted for any further damaged cables..