Removing a double socket

bettz1 · 28 Jul 2019

Hi was made aware that the previous owner had added a double socket in the kitchen which is too close to the cooker from a post on here.

Finally got round to what I thought was going to be an easy job of just disconnecting the wires from the original socket into the new socket when I found more wires?

I can see the wires he's used to piggyback off the original socket but then I can't find where the wires that are going up are going to

I've since removed the piggyback wires from the socket but the sockets still getting power

Any ideas? And why were there wires piggybacking?

terryplumb · 28 Jul 2019

I can't view your pics ?

ericmark · 28 Jul 2019

Yes you have just split the ring final without altering the supply, you may now over load either of the circuits, you need to return it to how it was, and stop playing until you understand what you are doing, you can so easy cause a fire.

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2019

You have probably broken the ring circuit - making it dangerous.

DetlefSchmitz · 28 Jul 2019

Well. I'm not aware of any regulation specifying the distance from the hob, other than common sense. Secondly it looks like you just broke your ring circuit. This could be fixed by extending the right hand socket cable into the left one using suitable connectors, and rejoining the ring.

bettz1 · 28 Jul 2019

In the socket in our spare room upstairs directly above the added socket Ive unscrewed the socket and found 2 wires of everything

After unplugging 1 set the plug that's been added is no longer getting power

Echo the husky · 28 Jul 2019

The socket is close to the hob, but not something I'd worry about, it's not over it. I'd rather have the extra socket...

bettz1 · 28 Jul 2019

DetlefSchmitz said:
Well. I'm not aware of any regulation specifying the distance from the hob, other than common sense. Secondly it looks like you just broke your ring circuit. This could be fixed by extending the right hand socket cable into the left one using suitable connectors, and rejoining the ring.

That plug shouldn't be there it's been added by the previous owner

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2019

bettz1 said:
In the socket in our spare room upstairs directly above the added socket Ive unscrewed the socket and found 2 wires of everything

After unplugging 1 set the plug that's been added is no longer getting power

Well it wouldn't - now you have split the ring in two places leaving an unconnected bit in the middle.
Put it all back as it was.

https://www.diynot.com/wiki/Electrics:socket_circuits:A1-Ring-final-Circuit

DetlefSchmitz · 28 Jul 2019

I think that the suggestion that you are playing around with your wiring without a real understanding is correct. I believe you should put everything back as it was, before you cause a serious accident.

Echo the husky · 28 Jul 2019

bettz1 said:
That plug shouldn't be there it's been added by the previous owner

It doesn't look 'added' it's part of a ring circuit with cables in different directions, the back boxes throughout are all fixed with the same nails etc. It looks very much part of the original wiring.

EFLImpudence · 28 Jul 2019

You could get an electrician to fit a single socket which would make it look better - but you must put the wiring back as it was.

bettz1 · 28 Jul 2019

Trust me it's been added none of our neighbours have an extra socket that close to the hob.

A friend who's Mrs job is building regulations said that a socket should be 300mm away from a sink and hob.

Also none of our neighbours have a socket which has been added in the downstairs toilet above the fusebox??

And we've also got 1 socket in the build in wardrobe that the previous owner has added himself

Which is piggybacked off a socket in the boiler cupboard ??

AndyPRK · 28 Jul 2019

if those sockets are fed off a B32 breaker, the sockets need to be in a ring. (e.g every socket having 2 incomming cables in simple terms)

You have fixed a minor non issue and created a more dangerous situation.

You need to make the wires pass through that blanked off socket, and connect it up again, upstairs otherwise the kitchen will overload the circuit

Rxt_ian · 28 Jul 2019

Why are you so worried about these sockets?

There was nothing wrong before you started changing things - now you’ve changed something that had a tiny chance of causing any issue into something definitely dangerous.

If you’re going to post asking for advice, then at least follow it and put everything back as it was - or better get an electrician in to sort it out.

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Removing a double socket

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