whats involved swapping single indoor socket to double on block wall?

[steveo3002]

id like to upgrade an internal wall socket from single to double , never done and chiselling on house walls

i was thinking masonary drill where the corners need to be , maybe a couple of extra holes , then can i knock it out with a club hammer and chisel or no? am i likely to knock off loads of plaster?

if the wires dont meet the new double i can choc block some extra on ?

 

[roofman]

 

[addjunkie]

To save battering the wall to bits and knocking off loads of plaster, drill lots of holes all over the bit you want to chisel out….
Obviously switch off power, remove old socket and back box, position new box to suit cables, mark out..drill what needs chiselling, chisel, fit back box, reconnect new socket. Note itll probably have two wires in it as it will be on the ring main.

Or buy cheap multi plug and save the mess

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mscien-Extension-Individual-Switches-Adapter/dp/B08ZY53C9D/ref=asc_df_B08ZY53C9D?mcid=475809644fc93c0fa1b7bda69e275dba&hvocijid=11366415724153303465-B08ZY53C9D-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11366415724153303465&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9180865&hvtargid=pla-2281435177898&gad_source=1&th=1

 

[richie00boy]

As above but drill to a controlled depth. Drill round the edges neatly (maybe 6mm drill) and join them up with the chisel. Drill the first bit through the plaster with hammer off. If you take your time and be careful you can do it without any filling needed. Try an old wood chisel to get the edge round first through the plaster then if your blocks are hard go for the cold chisel.

 

[Pete.]

Depends what are thebwalls made from and what plaster is on them? Hardwall tends to chip off in big flat flakes so you'll want to cut the shape. Pink plaster is very soft and tends to crumble at the edges. Bonding is usuly solid on the wall you can do anything with it.

if you don't have a mini grinder and diamond disc or you don't want dust everywhere you can do a couple of things.

Put your wall box on the wall and draw around it then drill the perimeter with a 5 or 6mm drill then use a hammer and chisel to knock out the middle to your box depth. Don't use a really wide bolster if your plaster is not very good use a narrower chisel or as suggested above an old wood chisel.

If you have a multi-tool you can sacrifice a blade by plunging through the plaster and cutting the box profile.

If you don't have a hammer drill at least score the outline in the plaster as deep as you can manage before trying to cut the box out.

If you do have a hammer drill that will work on hammer only you can use a 8 or 10mm sds bit as a chisel to do the corners without causing too much damage.

 

[steveo3002]

what if the wires dont reach ...is choc blocks the only way or ? theyre a bit bulky eh

 

[8ob]

You can get a single to double face plate conversion from tool station item number 88126.Just wire it in.

Bob

 

[hotponyshoes]

You can get a single to double face plate conversion from tool station item number 88126.Just wire it in.

Bob

This /\

There are quite a few brands of these available so you might be able to match up to any existing doubles.
Or you can get just the back adapter and fit your own double faceplate.

 

[addjunkie]

what if the wires dont reach ...is choc blocks the only way or ? theyre a bit bulky eh

No choc blocks not the thing to do…just not right.

 

[steveo3002]

You can get a single to double face plate conversion from tool station item number 88126.Just wire it in.

Bob

yeah was just looking at those , my single is up against a door frame so wouldnt work as the extra bit needs to be all on one side

dont mind a bit of work , just never done it before so asking before im stuck in a mess with the leccy off lol

 

[steveo3002]

No choc blocks not the thing to do…just not right.

what is please?

 

[addjunkie]

what is please?

The right way would be to replace the cables back to where they came from.

 

[ajlelectronics]

what is please?

If you must joint, against advice, then I would be using Wago Compacts. However, you are likely to discover that you have two parts of a ring main in there, which is going to make it all a bit tight.

 

[Mark 5]

what if the wires dont reach ...is choc blocks the only way or ? theyre a bit bulky eh

Hi,

You don't want to be using " choc blocks " under any circumstances.

It's a DIYable job even for a first timer but its success is in the prep' and knowing what's involved or might be.

Yours is a good question, " what if ? ".

First investigate, turn the power off to that socket, remove the face plate, what length of tails do you have?. If your lucky the tails will be curled a bit, that should give you enough.

Converting from a single back box to a double you will require at least an extra 2" + in the tails.

Ascertain, do you have a ring main or a radial, many-many people have been surprised?

Personally I think you are making the job more difficult,--- over thinking it.

You have an existing single back box, convert that by simply installing on top of it a single to double pattress spacer box, something like this, no chopping in to walls or drilling required.

You can get these in 16mm, 32mm, depth, you can even buy single to triple conversion box.

Pros', fast and convenient, cons', no longer flush.

Should you have to lengthen tails use Wago type lever blocks.

 

[ajlelectronics]

You have an existing single back box, convert that by simply installing on top of it a single to double pattress spacer box, something like this, no chopping in to walls or drilling required.

He said that it has to be offset to clear a door frame, not central as the adapters are.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Pros', fast and convenient, cons', no longer flush.

I would be screwing a 4 way block to the wall adjacent and a short lead from it with a plug on the end. Neat and functional.

 

[steveo3002]

i mean i can struggle on with a single if its hassle

i dont mind getting the right parts and spending the time , but im really not ripping out all the plaster to run a new wire /wires and yes i expect it has 2 sets of wires in there

no idea about ring /radial ...was rewired when the old colours were going out of fashion if that helps

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Don't use choc blocks...I'm happy using the new style connectors for cables. As there's no screws there's nothing to come loose.

Do a search for wago connectors...just match the connector to the wire size.

I'm assuming you've already checked that the wire feeding the single socket is adequate for a double?

 

[richie00boy]

Also consider blue colour butt crimps if you have a decent crimping tool.

 

[steveo3002]

dunno why they didnt make back boxes a bit deeper , seems difficult stuffing all those tight wires in there without tugging on things