switching double socket

tampopo

Hello,

I have a double socket that I use a lot. I am fed up unplugging the plugs all the time. Can I, in thoery, remove face of the existing socket and affix a new face with those flick' switches? Presumably so long as the power supply is turned off I'll be alright?

tia

tampopo

cast_iron

Yes, as long as you ensure the power is switched off (plug a lamp or something in to make sure the right trip has been switched off), it's fairly straight forward.

AckwelFoley

Switch off the MCB at the board for the corresponding socket before attempting to go near it.

tampopo

thank you both. I had intended to unscrew the fuse on the main fuse board. I don't know what MSB is.

Good idea to plug a lamp in, unscrew the fuse and proof that power is disconnected...

The fuses are well marked, "Parlour, Sockets"

thanks.

AckwelFoley

they replaced fuses.

but it seems u have a fuseboard... so unscrew it

Pete67

One other thing to check, there is no standard layout for the wire terminals on twin sockets, so make sure that you are connecting it up correctly. The cables may not easily reach the correct terminals, which may not be in the same place as they were on the socket you are replacing. If in doubt don't do it yourself.

You probably know this already, but just in case:

Brown cable goes to Live (L)
Blue cable goes to Neutral (N)
Green/yellow or more commonly bare copper wire goes to earth.

tampopo

Thank you Snyper for that.

Pete, yes but to be sure, I've written it down just in case. I get confused when I see red and black wires!!! I take red would be live, (danger) and black...not...earth must be the same either way...

thank you both.

tampopo

el diablo

tampopo wrote: »

Thank you Snyper for that.

Pete, yes but to be sure, I've written it down just in case. I get confused when I see red and black wires!!! I take red would be live, (danger) and black...not...earth must be the same either way...

thank you both.

tampopo

maybe it would be best if you called an electrician who would ensure correct wiring, tightness of connections etc. You sound quite unsure of what you're doing...

Stoner

Pete67 wrote: »

One other thing to check, there is no standard layout for the wire terminals on twin sockets, so make sure that you are connecting it up correctly. The cables may not easily reach the correct terminals, which may not be in the same place as they were on the socket you are replacing. If in doubt don't do it yourself.

You probably know this already, but just in case:

Brown cable goes to Live (L)
Blue cable goes to Neutral (N)
Green/yellow or more commonly bare copper wire goes to earth.

good point Pete,

do you think its worth mentioning the old colours, i.e as there is a fuseboard in this house so it may not have the latest colour scheme?

So
black = blue
red = brown
green = green yellow

Hopefully you dont have the older cable types again, the rubber insulated ones, if you do then you need a rewire, you should change your board over anyway as advised above.

tampopo

thank you both Stoner and Pete,

when I defrost my fridge, I bring it out the back. The cooker is by the back door, but blocks the gap. The wire connecting the cooker is too short, so I end up disconnecting it from the box with the red switch/light. One or other of the connections has the red and black wires.

It just doesn't stay in my head, like it would an electrician.

I've been thinking about doing this for a couple of years, I'm in no rush and my never do it. In theory it's simple but I am wary, too.

ta

UrbanFox

Two points.

1) If you want to do a fancy job you can get switched sockets with neon illuminators on the switches which are helpful if you have any people on board who have sight problems or when you are doing your check before bed-time to make sure things are disconnected. The light is on when the socket is switched on.

2) Watch your earth wire !

The earth wire has no insulation in the standard type of cable. Some people put a piece of black / red/ brown / blue insulation over the bare earth wire to insulate it.

Beware of that and don't make the mistake of identifying the earth conductor as being one of the others !

For safety I never do that and always sleeve the earth wire with a bit of green or green / yellow insulator so when the next fella comes along fifteen years later he knows what I did