Extending cables

P

plugy

Joined
30 Jan 2014
Messages
52
Reaction score
0
Location
Cheshire
Country
United Kingdom
We are converting out garage into a living space. There are six sockets around waist level where bench once sat. We need to lower the sockets only a couple of feet lower. Would it be better to strip all the wiring and insert new runs (Means ceiling out and replace) or would solder/crimp and heat shrink work?
Any suggestions.
 
it will be easier to run new.

But remember there is no need for every socket to run up to the celing.

You bring a cable to the first socket position, then run it horizontally to the next, then the next, then the next. If it is on a ring then the last socket in the room has to go up (or down, or through the wall) to return to the CU.

When cables come down from the ceiling, it can be convenient to fit a high outlet, such as an extractor fan, near the ceiling on this drop

This is the quickest and simplest way to put sockets into a room, especially a kitchen or workshop which needs plenty. if you run the cables inside conduit or miniduct, it is very easy, at a later date, to cut into the wall and add extra sockets or switches later, without needing new chases. Oval conduit is easy to plaster over.

I recommend running your sockets all round the room. Have them at 2-metre intervals or closer. Cost and effort of additional sockets fitted at the same time is very slight.
 
But don't run your cables horizontally if the sockets are not in a straight line.
I.E. If one is, say, 4" above the next one along the wall you cannot run the cable across the wall.
The 4" is merely an example.
 
conny said:
But don't run your cables horizontally if the sockets are not in a straight line.
Click to expand...
You have to run them horizontally - or vertically.

I.E. If one is, say, 4" above the next one along the wall you cannot run the cable across the wall.
Click to expand...
Yes, you can if you have one socket at that level.
More sockets anywhere, however much higher or lower, create more zones - horizontally and vertically.
 
But if you have 1 socket at 40" high on the left of the wall and another, on the same wall 6' feet away (for example), which is 44" (for example) or higher, then the cable will run not run horizontally but at an angle, thereby running out of a safe zone.
As you say, you have to run them horizontally or vertically to create a safe zone. You don't automatically create a safe zone because you run a cable at an angle from the horizontal or vertical.
 
conny said:
But if you have 1 socket at 40" high on the left of the wall and another, on the same wall 6' feet away (for example), which is 44" (for example) or higher, then the cable will run not run horizontally but at an angle, thereby running out of a safe zone.
Click to expand...
As you imply, that would not be allowed
conny said:
As you say, you have to run them horizontally or vertically to create a safe zone. You don't automatically create a safe zone because you run a cable at an angle from the horizontal or vertical.
Click to expand...
No, but you can run a cable horizontally from one until it is 4" above or below the middle of the other one, and then turn the cable and run it vertically for the last 4 inches in the (vertical) safe zone created by the second socket.

Kind Regards, John
 
This could create a few safe zones

upload_2020-5-5_19-11-58.png
 
but OP says he wants new sockets at a lower level. It would be perverse to install them at irregular heights
 
I would assume all the sockets in this new living space would all need to be at the same height.

And if a cable needs to pass along the cable route horizontally, without connecting directly to the socket, then it can go straight through the back box. Extra deep boxes would be an advantage here.
 
sparkwright said:
And if a cable needs to pass along the cable route horizontally, without connecting directly to the socket, then it can go straight through the back box.
Click to expand...
That's not actually allowed - unless the same zone is defined by a socket/accessory to which it is connected.
 
sparkwright said:
And if a cable needs to pass along the cable route horizontally, without connecting directly to the socket, then it can go straight through the back box. Extra deep boxes would be an advantage here.
Click to expand...
That would be fine if the cable were travelling in a safe zone created by one (or both) of the accessories into which that cable were terminated but, at least theoretically, an accessory does not create a safe zone for a cable that is not connected to that accessory.

Kind Regards, John
Edit: typed too slowly again :)
 
Only if, as said, there is a socket to which it is connected in the same zone.

Don't get me started on rings with both legs in the same place.
 
EFLImpudence said:
Only if, as said, there is a socket to which it is connected in the same zone.

Don't get me started on rings with both legs in the same place.
Click to expand...

Don't quite follow.

Can, for example, there be two 2.5mm2 T+E cables (on a ring circuit) running down a wall in the same oval conduit down to a socket box.

One cable connects to the socket.

The other cable runs through the box then goes horizontally along the wall in oval conduit.

Also in this horizontal conduit is another 2.5mm2 T+E, which also connects to that socket.

So is that ok?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top