Wiring this socket

[Paul17088071]

Hi all

I am replacing this single socket with a chrome socket. Shall I copy the wiring exactly the same in to the new socket?

Reason I ask, there are two earth connections on the new socket, whereas the old one only had one. Should both earth wires connect into one terminal, or one in to each? (See picture)



Many thanks for your help

 

[EFLImpudence]

Reason I ask, there are two earth connections on the new socket, whereas the old one only had one. Should both earth wires connect into one terminal, or one in to each? (See picture)

It doesn't matter. Both terminals are connected by the metal bar.

 

[Paul17088071]

Thanks. On taking the cables out of the old socket, I cannot get the cables in to the new terminals as they are so snall

I am baffled as to why there are so many wires to one socket, so I’m going to seek help from an electrician.

I’m currently putting the cables in to a terminal box, I am struggling to get some of the cables in. Am I okay to use electrical tape and wrap the cables together instead?

 

[EFLImpudence]

Likely two wires for the ring circuit (one in, one out) and another for a socket on a spur(branch) - perfectly normal.

You should not separate the two ring circuit wires for Line, Neutral and Earth.


Buy a better socket with proper sized terminals.

 

[Paul17088071]

Thanks for your advice.

Is this safe like this? I’ve put electrical tape over the Neutral wiring as they won’t fit in the terminal box!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Not really good enough.

Can you not replace the old socket temporarily?

 

[Paul17088071]

Not really good enough.

Can you not replace the old socket temporarily?

The wiring is too thick to fit in the socket. I can’t even get the ends of the wires in to the L terminal with the 3 live wires joined!

Is it safe to turn on the electrics like this if this switch isn’t touched at all?

 

[huggybear]

Hi Paul,

You will need to use larger terminal blocks (30amp or 32amp) and keep all the L, N and E together in the three separate blocks. Otherwise you may find other sockets stop working.

Regards,
Huggybear.

 

[Paul17088071]

Please could someone let me know if this is an okay short term fix until I can get an electrician over?

The sockets won’t be used until then, I just want to make them as safe as possible for now

Many thanks

 

[Adam_151]

NO! You have created a high resistance joint on the ring and the feed to the spur, which will likely generate heat when loaded and may arc and flash depending on how exactly they are. The earth is included as well, so you could have unrealiable earth continuity to the spur socket, and not ignoring the fact that you have got live parts sticking out only loosely covered by tape!. If you are not putting a socket back on straight away you need to get some adequatly sized connector block to do the joint in and then put a blank plate over it. But you may as well just buy a decent quality socket.
MK state their sockets to be suitable for 3x 4mm² so shouldn't present an issue with fitting to what you have there, although there shouldn't be an issue with any decent quality socket, I often use click mode and don't think I'd have a problem there, I might avoid BG though I never really liked the terminals, when using 4mm rings

 

[Paul17088071]

Ah okay, thank you!!

Are you able to advise me on which would be a larger connector block to buy so the copper fits in please @Adam_151

I currently have the one in this picture

Thank you so much!

 

[EFLImpudence]

The terminal capacity according to BG is 3 x 4mm² or 2 x 6mm² so you should have no trouble.

Straighten and tidy - or redo the ends of the wires and don't twist them together.

 

[Adam_151]

You'll have no issues with 60A rated connector block, but why don't you just buy a good quality socket and be done with it

 

[huggybear]

Hi Paul,

You should use something like this: https://www.wickes.co.uk/Deta-30A-12-Way-Connector-Strip/p/710112 and cover it over with one of these if it is temporary: https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Single-Blanking-Plate---White/p/710192
This is safer than leaving the cables sticking out with electrical tape covering them.

Regards,
Huggybear.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

Is it just me or do those cables the op is trying to get into his new socket look like 4mm