Can this electric socket be hidden below floorboards?

[JP_]

OK, so turning what was a living room into a bedroom, and also insulating under the floor and the external walls. Do not need 2 sockets in the corner, so can I just take the one on the front wall (the double) and put it under the floorboards, like the splitter is? It's dry down there, but I could leave it on a brick just in case.

I guess I could leave the floorboards and insulation loose there and get the electrician to remove that box and join the cables properly, once the room is ready for that.

 

[flameport]

No, and the junction box (splitter) shouldn't be there either.

 

[JP_]

Hmmm, so it all should be re-wired then, with the junctionbox replaced with a continuous cable thingy, and then the other socket running off the one shown?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Any junction with screw terminals must remain accessible. Otherwise you are stuffed if there is a fault.

You can put junctions down there but they must be maintenance free.
Buy a couple of these

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/ASJ803.html

 

[EFLImpudence]

...and disconnect the grey cable that goes to the socket at its other end,

 

[JP_]

had an idea!
Rather than have the junction box, put a new socket on the wall there, then the other 3 sockets (each other corner of room) can come off that socket, so no junctions under the floor.
Pretty sure that junction also spurs off from the room next door - I remember seeing similar when I insulated that room ...

 

[JP_]

although, at least the junction box is by the doorway, so it will always be the most accessible area, as will be able to lift the carpet and floorboards...
but, would be better to have a socket there instead.

 

[JohnW2]

Any junction with screw terminals must remain accessible. Otherwise you are stuffed if there is a fault.

Indeed.

You can put junctions down there but they must be maintenance free.

That would certainly be compliant with regulations. I suppose it depends upon one's degree of 'faith' - since one would again be stuffed if a fault developed in the 'maintenance free' JBs.

[ I have some traditional JBs which have been in service for 50+ years without problems, but I am not aware of any 'maintenance free' ones which have been 'tested in service' for anything like that long! ]

Kind Regards, John

 

[JP_]

I've agreed with the electrician that I'll put the backboxes on, and run the cable to and from each box, then he just needs to disconnect the JB and connect to the new box, and fix up all the others.
That way I can put most of the floorboards back (just leaving access by the door) and even get the room plastered, before final fit is needed.

This sounds like a plan, doesn't it? Look, I even made a picture. S for socket, obviously..

 

[EFLImpudence]

It depends on the size of the cable and the rating of the fuse/MCB protecting the circuit.

If as is common, it was originally a ring circuit, then someone has done some bodging.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

This sounds like a plan, doesn't it? Look, I even made a picture. S for socket, obviously..

View attachment 146584

Multiple sockets on an unfused spur....

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Do not need 2 sockets in the corner

The three certainties in life:

1. Death.
2. Taxes.
3. Predictions of not needing more sockets will be wrong.

 

[JP_]

Multiple sockets on an unfused spur....

maybe not ideal, but when it was the lounge, it had a hell of a lot of stuff plugged in with no problems. Going to be much lighter use as a bedroom.

 

[JohnW2]

maybe not ideal, but when it was the lounge, it had a hell of a lot of stuff plugged in with no problems. Going to be much lighter use as a bedroom.

It's really worse than "not ideal" ...

It is undoubtedly true that, in practice, multiple sockets on an unfused spur will often/usually not be a problem, particularly in 'low load' locations such as you mention. However, that does not alter the fact that it is not allowed by regulations and that, in theory, it could result in the cable being a bit overloaded. Scaremongers might well talk about a 'risk of fire' if cable gets overloaded but, in reality, that's not going to happen with 2.5mm² cable protected by a 32A MCB - but, nevertheless, it is still 'not allowed'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[jg321]

Agreed with BAS (about underestimating the number of sockets) and JW2. If it is indeed a ring, and as you say, the load is low, I'd be considering getting the breaker changed to a 20A one, thereby making it a radial and you can then have as many branches as you like.