moving lightswitch question.

[greasedmonkey]

Hi all,

My lovely wife recently decided we need a new fridge, admittedly we had to keep giving the old one a good boot to stop it from making odd "moo-ing" sounds, so I reluctantly agreed she could order one.

So, Saturday morning, the new fridge arrived, after removing the fridge/freezer doors, the side gate and the backdoor, I finally got this huge great big thing into the kitchen, one of them stupidly big American style things. (we also have a full size larder freezer in the "utility shed" and there are only 3 of us, but that's another rant).

Anyhow, this thing, whilst it fits in the available gap, covers over the kitchen light switch. I need to move the switch about 12", but there is only about 3" of slack on the cables.

Could I replace the existing switch with a junction box, or spur and use this to effectively extend the cables by a foot or so?
I know it would work electrically, but would this be considered good safe practise according to regs etc.

Next question is, are junction boxes available that would fit to the existing light switch patress, although it will be behing the fridge, I still want it to look tidy.

 

[ricicle]

Use a blank plate on the existing position and extend the cable across to the required position ?

 

[greasedmonkey]

I thought about this first, but is it ok to just have a bit of choc-block or similar floating about inside the old patress with a blanking plate over it?

I was hoping one could get a nice junction box type thing that would sit nicely onto the patress. It is only a stud wall, so hiding the cables between the old and new positions wont be an issue, just want to make sure the connections themselves are safe and up to any relevant standards.

 

[Taylortwocities]

A junction inside the old box with a blank plate is OK. It will still be "accessible" once you have drunk all the beer in the fridge.

Have you thought about re-siting the switch on the other side of the stud wall?

 

[greasedmonkey]

A junction inside the old box with a blank plate is OK. It will still be "accessible" once you have drunk all the beer in the fridge.

Have you thought about re-siting the switch on the other side of the stud wall?

Yup, but the boss says she does not want the kitchen light switch in the dining room.

 

[stillp]

It will still be "accessible" once you have drunk all the beer in the fridge.

Will he be able to access anything after drinking all the beer in that monster fridge?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

On some fridges he might be able to access Internet porn.

Clarification - I'm not suggesting that that is what she is demonstrating.

 

[riveralt]

Clarification - I'm not suggesting that that is what she is demonstrating.

I should hope not Mr. Sheds. That is my wife you are talking about.

 

[securespark]

we had to keep giving the old one a good boot to stop it from making odd "moo-ing" sounds

Your wife told you that beef looked very fresh, didn't she?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Riveralt's was looking for a saveloy, but could only lay her hands on a chipolata.

 

[greasedmonkey]

Thanks all. I knew it would work, just wasn't sure if a junction box behind a blanking plate behind a fridge would be classed as "accessible" according to the regs.

I actually qualified as a sparky many years ago, but never went into it as I stayed on at college to do electronics and then uni. I like playing with little voltages that can't hurt me. I would imagine that the regs have probably changed quite a bit since I was at college. We are talking the wrong side of 20 years ago now.