1 Gang socket conversion to 2 gang

[simonchimera]

I'm looking to change a one gang wall socket to a double but there is an another socket next to it but i don't know what it is (image attached). I'm a complete novice when it comes to electrics so I was wondering if anyone could tell me how easy it would be to change the current setup to a double wall socket?

 

[Adam_151]

Thats a fused spur, it looks like it once fed a flex and now is redundant, if thats the case and its on the ring with the socket then you can simply change it to another sigle so you have two singles next to each other (A double would involve hacking out the wall to replace the dual [bar] box with a double)

EDIT: spelling

 

[plugwash]

The item on the right is a fused connection unit. Given that the fuse is missing and the thing has a flex outlet on it I strongly suspect it's redundant.

Physically speaking a double socket is smaller than two single sockets so I would suggest either replacing the fused connection unit with another single socket (giving you two single sockets next to each other) or replacing both the socket and the fused connection unit with a triple socket (the latter is more work but IMO having a single accessory is neater and more sockets are always good).

Can you take the socket and fused connecction unit off the wall and photograph or descrive the wiringso we can advise how the wiring side of things is to be dealt with?

 

[sparkwright]

You should check if the switched fused spur is actually connected to the socket circuit first.

It may be a redundant storage heater point or part of the lighting circuit, for example.

Though it's likely to be part of the socket circuit.

There may be an outgoing cable inside which wouldn't be needed, though the flex outlet on the front suggests not.