My young lad rammed a toy into the electrical socket in his bedroom, cracking the side. Read my DIY book, looked an easy replacement so bought a new faceplate. Its a double socket mounted on a flush metal back box.
Anyway found 6 wires, 2 red going in to L, 2 black going in to N and 2 green sleeved earth wires in to earth. No earth wire between box and faceplate (my book looks as though there should be.)
Problem was one of red wires is very short, live terminal on the old faceplate was on left and on the new one is on right if you see what I mean, therefore not enough wire to allow wiring of new plate.
Currently old one back on. Question is can you get faceplates with the live entry at the other side (I bought MK this time), or better still is this common (I imagine a longer terminal should be present, all the others are longer) and can I extend the live wire (I tried pulling on the cable to see if there was any slack but it didn't budge!)
Old one back on and socket not used at present. If you tell me I need an electrician fair enough (I imagined would be an easy straight swap!). Also I think I should fit an earth between faceplate and metal box - is this sold or do you pinch the earth wire from 2 core and earth and sleeve it appropriately?
Anyway found 6 wires, 2 red going in to L, 2 black going in to N and 2 green sleeved earth wires in to earth. No earth wire between box and faceplate (my book looks as though there should be.)
Problem was one of red wires is very short, live terminal on the old faceplate was on left and on the new one is on right if you see what I mean, therefore not enough wire to allow wiring of new plate.
Currently old one back on. Question is can you get faceplates with the live entry at the other side (I bought MK this time), or better still is this common (I imagine a longer terminal should be present, all the others are longer) and can I extend the live wire (I tried pulling on the cable to see if there was any slack but it didn't budge!)
Old one back on and socket not used at present. If you tell me I need an electrician fair enough (I imagined would be an easy straight swap!). Also I think I should fit an earth between faceplate and metal box - is this sold or do you pinch the earth wire from 2 core and earth and sleeve it appropriately?