Hi,
I've just installed some lovely under-the-stairs cupboards with nicely scribed trims and plinth etc. Really happy with my general carpentry effort. However, foolishly, I was focusing on the woodwork and think I may have gone for an electrical solution that was convenient rather than correct & permanent.
The wall that i've covered had two double sockets at knee height. Aware that they needed to remain accessible, I used deep 50mm(!) plastic surface mounted pattress boxes to bring the face plates forward into the cupboards. I cut appropriate holes in the back panel of the furniture and the pattress box protrude about 20mm inside the furniture. The MDF of the furniture makes contact only with the plastic of the pattress box.
Of course, there was insufficient cable inside the backboxes to reach the new location of the faceplates. I had some spare 2.5mm T&E cable and so I cut about 4" length and covered the distance to the new faceplates by wiring the new 4" cable into the ring with 15A connector block. So, behind each faceplate I now have, a 2.5mm T&E into 3x 15A connector blocks. Into the 3x connector blocks on the other sides I have the 2 lives, 2 neutrals and 2 earths from the ring which had original connected directly to the outlet faceplates.
I believe both sockets are part of a 30A ring, MCB protected at the consumer unit. This part of the house is old style Red & Black.
a) Are 15A connector blocks acceptable here? (yesturday I thought yes, but after doing my homework it now seems to be mixed views depending where you look).
b) Should I have used connector blocks at all? (Please assume that running new wiring to the consumer unit is not an option). Would WAGO's be better, or soldered connections (note: solid core cable), or a junction box small enough to fit behind the pattress?
c) What's the best way to make this right. Preferably of course not removing my entire install would be nice. Of course these are technically still accessible, as was the whole point, but there isn't a huge amount of room inside the cupboard.
Massive thanks in advance, it kept me up all night....wish I'd asked before I did the rest of the job!
I've just installed some lovely under-the-stairs cupboards with nicely scribed trims and plinth etc. Really happy with my general carpentry effort. However, foolishly, I was focusing on the woodwork and think I may have gone for an electrical solution that was convenient rather than correct & permanent.
The wall that i've covered had two double sockets at knee height. Aware that they needed to remain accessible, I used deep 50mm(!) plastic surface mounted pattress boxes to bring the face plates forward into the cupboards. I cut appropriate holes in the back panel of the furniture and the pattress box protrude about 20mm inside the furniture. The MDF of the furniture makes contact only with the plastic of the pattress box.
Of course, there was insufficient cable inside the backboxes to reach the new location of the faceplates. I had some spare 2.5mm T&E cable and so I cut about 4" length and covered the distance to the new faceplates by wiring the new 4" cable into the ring with 15A connector block. So, behind each faceplate I now have, a 2.5mm T&E into 3x 15A connector blocks. Into the 3x connector blocks on the other sides I have the 2 lives, 2 neutrals and 2 earths from the ring which had original connected directly to the outlet faceplates.
I believe both sockets are part of a 30A ring, MCB protected at the consumer unit. This part of the house is old style Red & Black.
a) Are 15A connector blocks acceptable here? (yesturday I thought yes, but after doing my homework it now seems to be mixed views depending where you look).
b) Should I have used connector blocks at all? (Please assume that running new wiring to the consumer unit is not an option). Would WAGO's be better, or soldered connections (note: solid core cable), or a junction box small enough to fit behind the pattress?
c) What's the best way to make this right. Preferably of course not removing my entire install would be nice. Of course these are technically still accessible, as was the whole point, but there isn't a huge amount of room inside the cupboard.
Massive thanks in advance, it kept me up all night....wish I'd asked before I did the rest of the job!
