Chasing ring main cable into wall - DIYer

[MTBOO]

Hi

We haves moved and new place has a bedroom with double plug socket in internal stud wall. There is a spur off this to another double socket which is mounted on (not in) adjoining wall but around a corner and about 3 metres away. However cable is protruding outside of side of first socket and tacked along skirting and then round corner to other wall mounted socket sitting just above skirting but housing is loose.

I want to chase along walls and bury existing cable and put the other socket into wall with double patress and wire it up.

Basically hide cable which will run about 5 to 10 cm above skirting along first wall, round corner then along to second socket.

Floor is not an option as horrible tongue and groove type board.

Is this allowed full stop and can I do this as a DIYer. Technically just rewrite of existing cable into new socket in wall?

 

[telectrix]

so chasing on first wall will slope up slightly say 20cm up over 2 metres .

that's a big fat NO. cable run must NOT "slope". if you need to step up the level you must do it as a step in the corner within 150mm.

 

[telectrix]

and as said by westie and others, you need to leave this job till your electrician replaces the CU (fuse board) with on the provides RCD protection, generally to ALL circuits.

 

[rsgaz]

Are they both stud walls? Why all this talk of 'chasing'?

Is there a loft above?

 

[Hoon]

Not sure the RCD is a problem they could always put a rcd socket on.
Agreed they look ugly but no more than repairing the wall will look, stud wall or not.

I’m more interested if we can satisfy A.D.S first.

 

[westward10]

The lack of additional rcd protection is a problem for the cable in the wall, fitting an rcd socket will not resolve this.

 

[MTBOO]

IF we get the RCD sorted out, can the cable elevate or does it need to be spirit-level level !

 

[Hoon]

Agreed unless they get the cable 2 inches in the brick if it is brick than it needs a rcd.
If you go two inches deep your probably over a 1/3 ofnthe brick so a no go on that front.
A RCBO maybe?
I’m personally still more concerned with the state of the cpc than additional protection for a cable.

 

[westward10]

What is the problem with the cpc.

 

[Wilko]

When a cable is not able to be seen (i.e. you've hidden it in the wall) there are safety regulations that apply. You've probably guessed there was, which is why you put forward your original question. Have another read, all the info is here already .

 

[MTBOO]

Confused. Most of the sockets in the house and light switches have cables in walls , although directly up from floor or down from loft...so what’s the difference ?

Someone suggested loft which I didn’t think about, although additional socket is on an external wall and original spurred from in on an internal wall.

I’m going to try and raise the original socket so it’s off the skirting and in-line with where I want to put the spurred socket. Will then run cable in wall in conduit directly across (2m), round internal corner and then directly across to (2m) to new socket. Will wire it in, make good and then get electrician to test it when the RCD protected CU goes in later this month.

 

[Andy78]

Leave the socket alteration until the CU change and ask for it done as an extra job.
You shouldn't be doing this work without the ability to install, test, and certificate to the standards of the wiring regs.

 

[MTBOO]

according to my read of the regs, you can go directly horizontal both ways from socket until you reach corner or door etc. If in safe zone then can be less than 50mm in wall. I think I need to think about whether anyone in the future could reasonably assume there is a cable run between the two points.

Due to RCD requirement I think it is best left to when the protection is in place .

Thanks for the feedback everyone.