Adding extra electrical socket

noelphobic

Slithery wrote: »

It shouldn't be a problem running a new spur from an existing socket and chasing the new cabling into the wall - visible cables or trunking just look cheap in my opinion.

Are the walls painted or is this high-end wallpaper we're talking about? The cost to redecorate afterwards would vary enormously.

It's currently wallpapered and will be getting stripped and re-papered in a few weeks.

phill99

noelphobic wrote: »

It's currently wallpapered and will be getting stripped and re-papered in a few weeks.

Then get him to channel into the wall.

Slithery

phill99 wrote: »

Then get him to channel into the wall.

This.

If you have a mobile/tablet then take a look at faceplates with in-built USB chargers, it will save you a socket and you can't lose the charger

noelphobic

Slithery wrote: »

This.

If you have a mobile/tablet then take a look at faceplates with in-built USB chargers, it will save you a socket and you can't lose the charger

Good idea, but it's a guest room, so probably won't be used much. Don't you still need a charger cable with those sockets?

I will consider it when I get the bigger bedroom done, although I have a bedside lamp with an inbuilt USB charger.

bris

Take the skirting off and you will find a gap at the bottom that you can channel rather that above the skirting. you don't need to plaster it afterwards as the skirting just goes back in place to hide it.

Owain_Moneysaver

Behind skirting is not a permitted zone for running concealed mains cables, unless they incorporate an earthed metallic sheath such as MICC or BS8436, the latter requiring a type B energy limiting class 3 circuit breaker to BS EN 60898 or type B RCBO to BS EN 61009 with a rating > 16A, 20A or 32A for cable sizes 1.0mm, 1.5mm and 2.5mm respectively, and Zs of not less than 0.048 ohms.

Mr.Generous

You can actually run cable round the outside brickwork too, just has to be the right stuff, electrician will know what to use if you want to do it but it never looks great. I'd go for channeling in as you're redecorating.

Owain_Moneysaver

noelphobic wrote: »

It's on an outside wall, so that isn't an option.

Actually, it is

Thomas_Crown

noelphobic wrote: »

It's currently wallpapered and will be getting stripped and re-papered in a few weeks.

In that case, why not channel both walls? Run the cable up the first wall from the existing socket, through the roof void, then down the other wall to the new socket.

rach_k

noelphobic wrote: »

It will be on a different wall. I want to be able to have a bedside lamp, without having an extension lead. There's a lamp post directly outside the window and I want blackout curtains, but think it could be a little dangerous without any lighting being accessible from the bed.

This isn't what you asked about at all, sorry, but have you asked the council whether they can do something about the light? We have a streetlight opposite our house. I emailed the council about it and they'd fitted something to the light to stop it throwing light through our bedroom windows within a week.

If it's only a guest room that won't often be used, I'd try the free option and then use non-blackout curtains before getting a new socket put in!