Plus socket face change trouble!

jacobball · 10 May 2014

Hi, I have just tried to replace a double plu socket face as 1 of the plus sockets on it was not working, the switch was all stiff and sticky. I have turned off the power to it at the fuse box and removed the face, but there is a problem.

The wires are so short through the wall, that when I removed the face they just pulled out from the back of the socket, they must have been liked this for years anddo not have enough length in them to be able to fix and secure them to the back of the new socket face terminals! It is ridiculous! Is there anything easy i can do to fix this please? Thanks for your help.

sparkwright · 10 May 2014

Yes.

Assuming you can't gently pull any more slack on them, you can extend them.

You will need 30 amp connector blocks, and a very short length of twin and earth cable the same size (mm2) as your existing wiring.

Typical cable size for plug sockets is 2.5 mm2. In very rare circumstances it could be 4.0 mm2.

You will need green and yellow sleeving to cover any bare copper earth wires.

How many individual wires at the socket?

PrenticeBoyofDerry · 10 May 2014

You will need some connectors rated either equal or greater than the circuits protective device (fuse/breaker)
Then suitable lengths of colour coded cable equal to CSA of what is existing and then you can join them up/extend within back box.

jacobball · 10 May 2014

Thanks for your help

There is 3 wires, 1 seems to run down to a spur that supplies the washing machine.

PrenticeBoyofDerry · 10 May 2014

Three wires, you mean three sets of cable?

jacobball · 10 May 2014

Hi it is a ring in the kitchen, there are 2 sockets side by side. I use it sometimes for the microwave.

PrenticeBoyofDerry · 10 May 2014

I would be concerned if the W/M socket was being spurred from or part of a multi spur arrangement off a ring final. But three cables at worktop would suggest maybe not!

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Plus socket face change trouble!

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