Adding socket next to CU

[bassplayer88]

Just finished decorating main living room in my house and I have had the CU boxed in.

However ive just realised (as weve only moved in recently) that all the sockets are on the opposite wall. We'd really like to have a socket on the wall where the CU is.

The simplest and neatest soulution (i think) is to add a curcuit to the CU, we have three 32B Legrand trips that dont do anything when they are turned off (we have checked extensively!).

Im happy with wiring up a non recessed socket (that i'll attach to side of the mdf boxing) and drilling a hole for the flex to go in to the box but im stumped on how to safely access the contacts for the relevant non-used fuse inside the CU and connect the flex. The length of flex will be well under 1M. The make of CU is tenby.

It seems such a small job that its not worth getting a pro spark in.

Any thoughts or advice?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Yes - get a spark in:

• You shouldn't be using flex.
• Although it seems no different to an unfused spur, if it's coming off it's own MCB that makes it a new circuit, which is notifiable, and it means that the cable needs to be sized for a 32A radial.
• A new circuit should also be tested and certified.
• You don't seem at all confident to do the work.

 

[bassplayer88]

ok, rated cable not flex (i wouldnt have used the wrong stuff i just used the wrong term)

could you not explain how I could connect the correct cable safely inside the cu?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

ok, rated cable not flex (i wouldnt have used the wrong stuff i just used the wrong term)

OK - what will you use?

could you not explain how I could connect the correct cable safely inside the cu?

Turn off all the power.

Remove the CU cover.

With a test instrument on whose accuracy you are prepared to trust your life verify that the power is off.

Take the cable into the CU and connect the phase to the outgoing MCB terminal, the cpc (sheathed) to the earth bar, and the neutral to the neutral bar (the correct one, downstream of the RCD supplying the MCB, assuming you've got an RCD).

 

[comms]

http://www.labc.uk.com/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=38&pageNumber=4

Spur off an existing socket circuit mcb, no need to worry about new circuit then
If no rcd on cu use a SRCD (socket with built in rcd)