Ideas please to extend a restricted socket

telectrix · Jun 25, 2018

lend you this if you want.

[ElectriciansForums.net] Ideas please to extend a restricted socket

tlangdon12 · Jun 25, 2018

You are going to have to cut a hole in the side of the cabinet to get the cables through, why not cut this so that it is directly over the screw that is inaccessible. It looks like you would be able to reach through such a hole, even with a normal length driver to get the screw out. The hole will be covered by the surface mount socket, or will be the whole you cut for a backbox if you install a back box into the side of the cabinet. I don't like the idea of cutting any more out of the cabinet than necessary, but you can give the customer the choice of surface or recessed.

Once you have the old socket off, I would go with your idea of extending the cables in the existing backbox, feed them out through a blanking plate with a 20mm hole and a grommet, and through the hole you made in the cabinet.

You will need the hole in the cabinet to be big enough (50-60mm dia?) so you can get a screw back into the blanking plate working through the hole - think keyhole surgery! Needle nose pliers, a screwdriver with an attachment to hold the screw firmly onto the blade, or a dab of superglue on the end of the screwdriver; all might work.

For the best possible job, the gap between the cabinet really needs covering somehow. If time were no object, I'd get a bit of 18mm ply, primed and painted to match the cabinet, and attach it to the side of the cabinet from inside. Just make the fixings obvious and leave a note for the next poor spark on how to access the original back box.

Big Man · Jun 25, 2018

Awsome ideas peeps! Thanks so much for the help. It has been most enlightening. I think the customer will probably choose tlangdon12’s idea with the replacement trim. Should be a doddle
Love the idea of the dab of glue, I’ve not thought of that before.

Thank you all.

ZippyMo · Jun 25, 2018

Is that a stud wall? If it is, you could go into the room adjacent to it and try to cut it out through the plasterboard and shift it along. But, then you will be left with a gaping hole in the adjacent room which you may just add a spur socket.

Trainee sparky

Zippy.