How do I add another plug socket?
Discussion
I have a socket at normal height, but it's below my desk and a real faff to plug and unplug things into. I've spent the last couple years with an extension lead sat on my desk but it looks untidy.
I would like to therefore install a double socket in the wall, above my desk, directly in line with the socket below.
It's a new build houses so the cable runs vertically upwards, behind metal sheathing. We built the house over a number of years, so I know how it's all laid out.
Id like to cut out the plasterboard snip out the metal sheath to access the cable, but the cable is obviously going to be reasonably taught, and with the metal sheath pinning it to the wall blocked from letting me rerun a cable from new socket back down to original socket.
Is there any useful tips or approaches, for splicing into the cable to allow me to install an additional socket?
Thanks
I would like to therefore install a double socket in the wall, above my desk, directly in line with the socket below.
It's a new build houses so the cable runs vertically upwards, behind metal sheathing. We built the house over a number of years, so I know how it's all laid out.
Id like to cut out the plasterboard snip out the metal sheath to access the cable, but the cable is obviously going to be reasonably taught, and with the metal sheath pinning it to the wall blocked from letting me rerun a cable from new socket back down to original socket.
Is there any useful tips or approaches, for splicing into the cable to allow me to install an additional socket?
Thanks
I electrified my desk instead.
I have a bank of sockets on a board at the rear of my desk. they are powered from a single lead to a plug. It's all low power devices, so there's a 5amp fuse in the plug.
Half of the sockets are always live (charger adaptors, network switch). The other half are through a single switch so I can switch off without crawling on the floor. (computer, printer, amp etc) It's all fixed to the back side of the desk, I can reach the switch, but none of it is visible.
I have a bank of sockets on a board at the rear of my desk. they are powered from a single lead to a plug. It's all low power devices, so there's a 5amp fuse in the plug.
Half of the sockets are always live (charger adaptors, network switch). The other half are through a single switch so I can switch off without crawling on the floor. (computer, printer, amp etc) It's all fixed to the back side of the desk, I can reach the switch, but none of it is visible.
Why not just get a desktop extension?
Like this, for example, but they come in all shapes and sizes:
https://www.kenable.co.uk/networking/power-distrib...
Like this, for example, but they come in all shapes and sizes:
https://www.kenable.co.uk/networking/power-distrib...
For some reason we didn't have any sockets on the wall where the head of our bed sits, do no way yo plugging phones on bedside lights.
But on other side of the wall was a double socket.
Next door is an electrician so I got him to fit a spur.
Could have done it myself but CBA.
Good job because he had to offset it as the wall is too thin to put sockets back to back.
Basically the cable for the spur crosses through the wall at an angle.
But on other side of the wall was a double socket.
Next door is an electrician so I got him to fit a spur.
Could have done it myself but CBA.
Good job because he had to offset it as the wall is too thin to put sockets back to back.
Basically the cable for the spur crosses through the wall at an angle.
Two sockets would not be enough for my desk.
I would just plug in a 4-way and mount it on the side of the desk or similar.
OTOH, spurring in a socket is not difficult, plasterboard is easy to repair assuming you don't mind repainting the wall.
That way you can have a double socket with USB outlets.
I would just plug in a 4-way and mount it on the side of the desk or similar.
OTOH, spurring in a socket is not difficult, plasterboard is easy to repair assuming you don't mind repainting the wall.
That way you can have a double socket with USB outlets.
Pit Pony said:
For some reason we didn't have any sockets on the wall where the head of our bed sits, do no way yo plugging phones on bedside lights.
But on other side of the wall was a double socket.
Next door is an electrician so I got him to fit a spur.
Could have done it myself but CBA.
Good job because he had to offset it as the wall is too thin to put sockets back to back.
Basically the cable for the spur crosses through the wall at an angle.
Should not beBut on other side of the wall was a double socket.
Next door is an electrician so I got him to fit a spur.
Could have done it myself but CBA.
Good job because he had to offset it as the wall is too thin to put sockets back to back.
Basically the cable for the spur crosses through the wall at an angle.
I wouldn't add a new socket because it's effort and if you move the desk you end up with a weird orphan floating outlet. I'd use a desk mount extention strip instead.
If you really really insist then you might need to pull things apart a bit to expose/fit cables depending on how tight the capping is. Assuming it's a ring then you want one cable to still go direct to the lower socket, and then split the other so the new socket is connected to it. I doubt there's actually enough slack so the best option for a short section like this is to pull the existing cable back to the new socket, cut it to the right length, and add a new section between the two sockets to replace the bit you removed.
If you want it properly vertically inline you'd likely have to pull both cables back so the continuous one can run down through inside the backbox too.
But honestly don't bother, get a proper mounted extension.
If you really really insist then you might need to pull things apart a bit to expose/fit cables depending on how tight the capping is. Assuming it's a ring then you want one cable to still go direct to the lower socket, and then split the other so the new socket is connected to it. I doubt there's actually enough slack so the best option for a short section like this is to pull the existing cable back to the new socket, cut it to the right length, and add a new section between the two sockets to replace the bit you removed.
If you want it properly vertically inline you'd likely have to pull both cables back so the continuous one can run down through inside the backbox too.
But honestly don't bother, get a proper mounted extension.
KAgantua said:
Should not be
I once had a good long argument with a contract electrician about all the diagonal runs they'd put in at first fix. The regs weren't enough, I had to go though all the pictures in the NICEIC** guide before they'd accept it was wrong and rerun it. One of the simplest aspects of the whole business is routing & protection and lazy stupid people still f
k it up.**Used that one as they were NICEIC registered!
JoshSm said:
I wouldn't add a new socket because it's effort and if you move the desk you end up with a weird orphan floating outlet. I'd use a desk mount extention strip instead.
If you really really insist then you might need to pull things apart a bit to expose/fit cables depending on how tight the capping is. Assuming it's a ring then you want one cable to still go direct to the lower socket, and then split the other so the new socket is connected to it. I doubt there's actually enough slack so the best option for a short section like this is to pull the existing cable back to the new socket, cut it to the right length, and add a new section between the two sockets to replace the bit you removed.
If you want it properly vertically inline you'd likely have to pull both cables back so the continuous one can run down through inside the backbox too.
But honestly don't bother, get a proper mounted extension.
Absolutely this - you will end up with a load of work to get a double socket in a new (and strange) place when chances are you'll need to plug an extension into it anyway.If you really really insist then you might need to pull things apart a bit to expose/fit cables depending on how tight the capping is. Assuming it's a ring then you want one cable to still go direct to the lower socket, and then split the other so the new socket is connected to it. I doubt there's actually enough slack so the best option for a short section like this is to pull the existing cable back to the new socket, cut it to the right length, and add a new section between the two sockets to replace the bit you removed.
If you want it properly vertically inline you'd likely have to pull both cables back so the continuous one can run down through inside the backbox too.
But honestly don't bother, get a proper mounted extension.
I'd recommend using command strips to fix an extension cable to the wall above your desk - then if you don't like where it is you can just rip it off the wall without having to fill any holes, and put it somewhere else. I've mounted an individually switched 6 gang socket with 4 USB charging ports on my wall and it easily covers everything on my desk and anything that can be charged by USB, and is a totally solid fixing.
David_M said:
Why not just get a desktop extension?
Like this, for example, but they come in all shapes and sizes:
https://www.kenable.co.uk/networking/power-distrib...
i have a pair of 8 socket units that are wall mounted wall mounted Like this, for example, but they come in all shapes and sizes:
https://www.kenable.co.uk/networking/power-distrib...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Extension-Outlets-P...
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 14th September 12:45
Sparkies have a great set of Flexi rods, you can extend the wiring from existing and taping wiring to rods can push up to exit where your new socket above is, as you have a nice cavity
You can do it or find nice sparky as it's an hour's work at most for someone good or a whole morning for us DIYers!
(I'm no sparky and would caution if you were to run very high amp items due to load but for a desk it's no different to folk running plug in extension leads, imho)
You can do it or find nice sparky as it's an hour's work at most for someone good or a whole morning for us DIYers!
(I'm no sparky and would caution if you were to run very high amp items due to load but for a desk it's no different to folk running plug in extension leads, imho)
KAgantua said:
Pit Pony said:
For some reason we didn't have any sockets on the wall where the head of our bed sits, do no way yo plugging phones on bedside lights.
But on other side of the wall was a double socket.
Next door is an electrician so I got him to fit a spur.
Could have done it myself but CBA.
Good job because he had to offset it as the wall is too thin to put sockets back to back.
Basically the cable for the spur crosses through the wall at an angle.
Should not beBut on other side of the wall was a double socket.
Next door is an electrician so I got him to fit a spur.
Could have done it myself but CBA.
Good job because he had to offset it as the wall is too thin to put sockets back to back.
Basically the cable for the spur crosses through the wall at an angle.
The sockets could both be at the same height but offset laterally & joined by a cable route drilled through the wall, but which would still be within the prescribed zone when viewed in elevation.
Many extension cables have screw 'slots' on the back. You could just mount a 4-gang extension to the wall in front of the desk.
https://jeostorm.com/uk/how-to-wall-mount-an-wall-...
https://jeostorm.com/uk/how-to-wall-mount-an-wall-...
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