UK Upside Down UK Plug Socket - Is This Normal/Ok?

Grimers · Oct 23, 2023

Hi all,

Just recently moved into a renovated house in the UK where a desk is quite high, so the plug socket above it has had to be put in upside down! Other than a bad case of OCD, is this normal/ok?

Please see attached photo.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Upside Down UK Plug Socket - Is This Normal/Ok?

Cheers,

Will

newfutile · Oct 23, 2023

It’s so the flex don’t foul on the worktop someone cut it in too low

DPG · Oct 23, 2023

There's no way I could keep that as it is!

newfutile · Oct 23, 2023

I guess it’s better than not being able to use it due to the flex, and I can’t think of any reg it contravenes

Dustydazzler · Oct 23, 2023

As it is just one plug socket above a fitted desk I would persoanlly just leave it as is and live with it upside down

Whats to say its not the correct way up and we have just been fitting sockets the wrong way up for decades

Grimers · Oct 23, 2023

Thank you for your quick replies, all. Probably is best to just leave it as apparently trying to move it up and then fix the wall afterwards may look even worse! I will message the electrician we know and see what he says (he put the electrics in and is very good). Cheers!

DPG · Oct 23, 2023

It's going to look a bit crap with the wires coming out of the top in a loop. But that's just aesthetics.

Dustydazzler · Oct 23, 2023

If it really is setting your OCD off into hyper-drive , you could get the sparks to blank off the socket and cut in a new sockets directly above thus avoiding haveing to spend a hour trying to patch any damage attempting to move the old socket up 2 inches

timhoward · Oct 23, 2023

Dustydazzler said:
If it really is setting your OCD off into hyper-drive , you could get the sparks to blank off the socket and cut in a new sockets directly above thus avoiding haveing to spend a hour trying to patch any damage attempting to move the old socket up 2 inches

Another crazy idea : M2 grid frame, 2 USB charger modules, and a spur down to socket(s) under the desk.

DPG · Oct 23, 2023

timhoward said:
Another crazy idea : M2 grid frame, 2 USB charger modules, and a spur down to a socket under the desk.

Nice idea. I'd do that.

snowhead · Oct 23, 2023

A possibility

Grimers · Oct 23, 2023

Great idea, snowhead. That would save blanking, moving and/or replacing. Appreciate everyone else’s thoughts, too. Would the bottom sit on the desk with the back on the wall?

pc1966 · Oct 23, 2023

This may be a dumb question, but I'm assuming the desk is fitted? Otherwise a lower desk might be an answer to allow normal orientation!

Grimers · Oct 23, 2023

Yep, it was bought from Howdens and their desk heights are higher than the standard (not sure on the complete details as someone else dealt with it). We worked out the height of the socket assuming standard height, but no they didn’t tell us that the one they provided was higher! We probably should have confirmed, but it was too late once we had painted ready for the desk to be installed…

Grimers · Oct 23, 2023

By the way, there are plenty of sockets below the desk, so we can always use a cable hole and drop the cables down below it if it's a problem, but was just wondering if there was an easy solution to fix this (maybe snowhead's idea is the way to go). Has anyone else come across/installed sockets this way round before?

snowhead · Oct 23, 2023

Cheap and cheerfull option, turn the socket the right way around,
then use one (or 2) of the below, it has to have the plug low down and side sockets sideways, not all do have.
This one is from Toolstation.

littlespark · Oct 23, 2023

Bloody hate those cubes.

Rather use a 4 way adapter that can be hung on the wall.

loz2754 · Oct 23, 2023

If keeping the socket upside down, I recommended putting something under it to catch the electricity that falls out.

Moley · Oct 24, 2023

loz2754 said:
If keeping the socket upside down, I recommended putting something under it to catch the electricity that falls out.

No need to. It'll just form a puddle on the top of the desk. If the desk wasn't there then I agree that you would need something to catch it. I would use a plastic takeaway container. Don't use one of the foil ones as you could get a shock if you didn't ground it before emptying.

DPG · Oct 24, 2023

Moley said:
No need to. It'll just form a puddle on the top of the desk. If the desk wasn't there then I agree that you would need something to catch it. I would use a plastic takeaway container. Don't use one of the foil ones as you could get a shock if you didn't ground it before emptying.

Foil containers should be grounded anyway. Surprised you aren't aware of that.

Grimers · Oct 24, 2023

Joking aside (thanks I did LOL at some of the jokes). Is this really ok? I’m concerned that if we use it then there could be issues. I think the best thing is to cover it but not sure!

pc1966 · Oct 24, 2023

Grimers said:
Is this really ok? I’m concerned that if we use it then there could be issues.

Provided no cables are strained, etc, it is fine, just unconventional. FYI the sockets on some trains are that way for the same sort of reasons, just labelled to explain it!

If it worries you then a lower desk, or some spacer so it is not hard against the wall, would allow a conventional solution.

Grimers · Oct 24, 2023

pc1966 said:
Provided no cables are strained, etc, it is fine, just unconventional. FYI the sockets on some trains are that way for the same sort of reasons, just labelled to explain it!

If it worries you then a lower desk, or some spacer so it is not hard against the wall, would allow a conventional solution.

Thanks, unfortunately we can’t lower the desk as it’s fixed. We will sort it one way or another!

westward10 · Oct 24, 2023

If the back box is metal you can replace it with a dual box and two one gang sockets, they will be on their sides but not upside down.

Grimers · Oct 24, 2023

westward10 said:
If the back box is metal you can replace it with a dual box and two one gang sockets, they will be on their sides but not upside down.

Thank you also. Can you link to what this is? Sorry, I’m in the IT not electrical trade!