Spur socket advice

[rayleigh20]

Hi.
I would like add an additional double socket in my lounge as a spur off of my current one.

I have an unused coaxial tv socket next to it which would be an ideal location as this will never be used in the future.

I would be getting an electrician to do this, but what do I get him to do with the coaxial wire that will be left in the dry wall ? Does it need to be capped off or does it just sit inside the wall not causing a problem ? Or do I get a connector put on it as if it were going into a tv, just sitting in the wall, rather than the bare wire ?

One of the new sockets will be to feed an outside socket for a string of fairy lights around fence and for pressure washer etc.

Do I need to do this from a rcd inside socket or not needed as I have rcds on the consumer unit ?

And with regard to max power on the spur, does the new and spur share 13amp max or is it 13amp for each.

Sorry for all the questions but only a lay person, hence why I will get it installed by a professional.

 

[SUNRAY]

For a start it that is a dry wall it is probably just as easy to include the new socket on the ring rather than make it a spur.

Secondly is there a reason you wish to plug the outside socket in? It's generally better to permanently wire in, If you are only doing this for the outside socket and you wish to switch it on/off from indoors I'd personally install a switch or FCU:

 

[SUNRAY]

Or with time switch:

 

[rayleigh20]

For a start it that is a dry wall it is probably just as easy to include the new socket on the ring rather than make it a spur.

Secondly is there a reason you wish to plug the outside socket in? It's generally better to permanently wire in, If you are only doing this for the outside socket and you wish to switch it on/off from indoors I'd personally install a switch or FCU:
View attachment 245734

Hi. Thanks for that.

What are the benefits of having it on the ring, rather than having it as a spur ?

The reason I was hoping to have it as a socket is that I use smart plugs to turn things on and off via Alexa. So in this instance I could say “Alexa, turn on back garden lights”, which may seem lazy but is a god send when you are out and wonder if something is turned off or not.

Plus I would have an extra socket in that corner for my uplighter that isn’t currently plugged in !

Thanks for your help though, as I am certainly open to alternatives

 

[SUNRAY]

Hi. Thanks for that.

What are the benefits of having it on the ring, rather than having it as a spur ?

The reason I was hoping to have it as a socket is that I use smart plugs to turn things on and off via Alexa. So in this instance I could say “Alexa, turn on back garden lights”, which may seem lazy but is a god send when you are out and wonder if something is turned off or not.

Plus I would have an extra socket in that corner for my uplighter that isn’t currently plugged in !

Thanks for your help though, as I am certainly open to alternatives

The reason for including it on the ring is simplicity, it's possibly easier to have 2 cables in 2 sockets than have 3 in one and 1 in the other but electrically there's not really much to chose between either way. Your electrician will have his preference.

Thanks for the update and from that I'd say the additional socket is your practical solution.

 

[JohnW2]

The reason for including it on the ring is simplicity, it's possibly easier to have 2 cables in 2 sockets than have 3 in one and 1 in the other ...

I suppose that depends upon what you mean by 'simplicity'. I personally would have thought that if one socket on a ring already exists, it would be (marginally) 'simpler' to just add a single cable from it to a new spurred circuit than having to disconnect the existing socket and 'insert' a new one into the ring. In any event ....

but electrically there's not really much to chose between either way. Your electrician will have his preference.

That's the important point.

I don't really understand why some people have such strong feelings that everything should be 'on the ring'. As is often said, there are some dwellings (particularly bungalows with solid floors) in which none of the sockets are 'on the ring' - all being spurs 'dropping' from a ring of JBs in the roofspace.

Kind Regards, John

 

[SUNRAY]

I suppose that depends upon what you mean by 'simplicity'. I personally would have thought that if one socket on a ring already exists, it would be (marginally) 'simpler' to just add a single cable from it to a new spurred circuit than having to disconnect the existing socket and 'insert' a new one into the ring. In any event ....
That's the important point.

I don't really understand why some people have such strong feelings that everything should be 'on the ring'. As is often said, there are some dwellings (particularly bungalows with solid floors) in which none of the sockets are 'on the ring' - all being spurs 'dropping' from a ring of JBs in the roofspace.

Kind Regards, John

Generally I find the cables are loose in the wall void and find it can be tricky dealing with 3 cables in plasterboard boxes, one cable will often simply move across to the other socket. It really isn't any issue either way, if this was a solid wall the chances of including it on the ring would be minimal without significant chasing work.
No I don't understand that either John, other than making future alterations simpler.

rayleigh has already mentioned there will be an electrician doing the work so I imagine the enquiry is more to do with the suitability rather than the logistics which will be down to the sparks.

 

[rayleigh20]

Generally I find the cables are loose in the wall void and find it can be tricky dealing with 3 cables in plasterboard boxes, one cable will often simply move across to the other socket. It really isn't any issue either way, if this was a solid wall the chances of including it on the ring would be minimal without significant chasing work.
No I don't understand that either John, other than making future alterations simpler.

rayleigh has already mentioned there will be an electrician doing the work so I imagine the enquiry is more to do with the suitability rather than the logistics which will be down to the sparks.

Thanks guys.

what do I do with the redundant coaxial wire ? Is it safe to leave it in the wall void as not sure it can come out completely? As a bare wire or does it need to be capped off ?

 

[SUNRAY]

Thanks guys.

what do I do with the redundant coaxial wire ? Is it safe to leave it in the wall void as not sure it can come out completely? As a bare wire or does it need to be capped off ?

I'd probably tape it to reduce the chance of moisture ingress, if the cable it still connected to a working aerial system then make sure the core and screen aren't touching before taping. Make sure it can't end up in contact with any mains.