Best way to move my light switch.

When my new larder unit is fitted, the edge will be in line with the mark on the wall. I need to move the three gang light switch just over an inch to the right and centralise it between the cabinet edge and the door architrave. I have plenty of play on the cables through the trunking so once I have moved the back box to where I want it, would it be best to pull the cables down through the trunking and turn them 90° into the back box going through the side (adding some more trunking for cable protection) or chase the lot out right the way up to the ceiling and move the whole lot across an inch or so? Obviously I'd prefer the first option but not if it’s a no-no. Ignore the two-way cable rear left as that is disconnected at both ends.

Mottie said:

When my new larder unit is fitted, the edge will be in line with the mark on the wall. I need to move the three gang light switch just over an inch to the right and centralise it between the cabinet edge and the door architrave. I have plenty of play on the cables through the trunking so once I have moved the back box to where I want it, would it be best to pull the cables down through the trunking and turn them 90° into the back box going through the side (adding some more trunking for cable protection)

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That's a far easier option, I'll go for that one. Nothing wrong with that. Wires still will be in the safe zones.

The second option is much of a longer job.

If I understand correctly centralising the switch between the line and the architrave will be moving it more than an inch, more like 2 to 2.25", something like this:



In which case the ables will NOT be within the safe zone created by the switch, However of more oncern to me; it will be fair to assume that 4 conduits buried in the wall could easily spread out to outside the width limits of the existing switch box, especially as this work is at least 20 years old when the accuracy of vertical cable runs may not have given the same attention as now. It wouldn't require much deviation to the left to be in the region where fixings will be required for the side panel of the larder unit.

Even moving it only one inch may leave the left cable outside the safe zone.

Oh and the metal switch must be earthed and I suspect a link wire between the backbox terminal and the switchplate terminal has not currently been provided.

SUNRAY said:

If I understand correctly centralising the switch between the line and the architrave will be moving it more than an inch, more like 2 to 2.25",

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I’ve just measured it accurately and for the centre of the switch to be dead centre between the edge of the cabinet and the edge of the architrave, it needs to be moved EXACTLY 1.25” to the right. I’m thinking the two cables entering the top of the right side of the box can be dropped into the box at the left side top of the box and the one on the top of the left of the box can enter on the left side of the box or by hacking some plaster out at the top of the box, can pulled across to enter the box also from the top, even if it means drilling a fresh hole on the back box?

Mottie said:

I’ve just measured it accurately and for the centre of the switch to be dead centre between the edge of the cabinet and the edge or the architrave, it needs to be moved EXACTLY 1.25”

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Thanks, I originally estimated a little over 2" from my sketch. Looking again I calculate the gap to be 158mm and the centre currently 28mm from the line and requires moving to 79mm or 51mm to the right (2"). Working from a photo with parrallex error blatantly doesn't produce accurate dimensions.
However that will still put the cable just outside the safe zone and my other comment about spread should be considered.

All done. I’ll just have to be careful if I use any fixings above the light switch when fixing the larder unit although the larder carcass and end panel will take up 30mm to the left of that line so should be pretty safe.

The wife must be proud!

jurassic sparkk said:

The wife must be proud!

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She will be when she comes home and all my tools are back in the garage and the kitchen no longer resembles a building site!