Changing a 2 plug to a (more) plug faceplate?

JustAnotherSaver

So i was looking at installing new plugs in to a room and what is involved in doing that. Are floorboards needing ripping up, are walls needed to be hammer and chiselled open and then re-plastered. Then someone came in and said about changing the faceplate from one that has 2 sockets on it to one that has 3 or 4. I think this faceplate just sits over your existing one.

Never seen such a thing in my life and was curious about it as if it was really as simple as laying it over then it would solve a few issues for us.

Tried searching how-tos but found nothing so here i am.

Is any of this 2 to 4 sounding familiar? Reading this do you know what product i'm talking about or have i explained it poorly? I'm terrible with electrics but how does this actually work?

Jeepers_Creepers

Yes, it's as simple as removing the existing single socket and replacing it with a double. Of course this means that the new double socket will be much thicker than usual - 20+mm - as it has to be deep enough to take the plugtop pins. But, it's an easy and cheap solution, and you can even go 3-way: https://www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/socket-converters/cat830536

To get a normal 'flush' double socket you'd need to remove the old single AND dig out the single backbox from the wall, drill/chisel out the extra required width and fit a double backbox in its place. Obviously a lot more work, but possibly worth it if it's in a nice room (you'll also have a better range of fascias and the options of USB socket built in.)

You only need to lift floorboards/channel walls if you wish to add additional sockets in the room.

grumbler

https://www.google.com/search?q=four+sockets+converter&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch

Don't expect it to be as flat as normal sockets.

troffasky

JustAnotherSaver said:

So i was looking at installing new plugs in to a room and what is involved in doing that. Are floorboards needing ripping up, are walls needed to be hammer and chiselled open and then re-plastered.

Sockets are usually installed in a "ring". As such, adding a new socket next to an existing one would be a matter of breaking the ring, putting your socket in it and joining the ring back together. If the existing socket is a spur off the ring then you're not supposed to then run another socket off that. Perhaps whoever told you that your floorboards need ripping up took the socket off the wall and found that it was a spur.

https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/spursocket.htm

Ectophile

You can get 3 socket faceplates that are designed to screw onto a 2 socket backbox.

It's also legitimate to run a single or double socket as a spur off a ring.  That can be done by cutting out a hole for the new backbox next to the old one, and running a short wire across between the old sockets and the new ones.  More than two extra sockets would require the ring to be re-routed through the new sockets, but that should be easy for any electrician to do.

knightstyle

Are you going to use it for usb chargers? If so look at swapping the double socket for one that has two sockets and two usb charging outlets.

molerat

Also depends on the build of house.  If a timber frame with plasterboard interior you can simply add another double outlet next to an existing once you know where the timbers are.

onomatopoeia99

Ectophile said:

 More than two extra sockets would require the ring to be re-routed through the new sockets, but that should be easy for any electrician to do.

Also easy for a householder to do if they understand electricity, since it's not "notifiable work" under the latest iteration of BS7671.

JustAnotherSaver

Thanks for the replies.

I flat out don't touch electrics beyond plugging something in the wall and flicking the switch or turning a light on or using the microwave etc. I don't understand it, never have. This talk of rings and spurs and then when you get in to electrical discussions and you're hearing watts and ohms. My head damn near explodes.

My wife on the other hand is better than me. She isn't about to re-wire any time soon but in some of the rooms she removed the old faceplates and replaced them with new faceplates that had USB ports. I'll not even attempt that.

I'm only saying this so you can have an accurate idea of what will or will not be attempted here.

Jeepers_Creepers ... what we'd be looking to do is change double faceplates (not single) in to more. Be that 3 or 4 if you can. I assume that the same applies though.

molerat ... it's a 1930s house. The party wall has had plasterboard dot & dabbed on to brick but the other walls are solid brick.

I like the idea of one faceplate fitting over another. Sticking out a bit more really isn't an issue for where it'll be located. Not unless we're talking many many inches which i doubt.

Problem is we have extensions running every which way & just simple adding more sockets on the wall would help.

So how do these additional faceplate converters actually work then? They must have to draw power from somewhere. Do they have male pins on the rear of them that insert in to the (already fitted) faceplate? And i assume they will have screw holes in them that will line up with the (already fitted) faceplate - guessing that everything is a universal fit? That's one part that has me wondering - how they actually work.

As for USB - it's not a requirement. If they have them they have them. Always nice to have an option. Due to where they'll be located they may not be used.

fenwick458

depends what you are going to use the sockets for, if it's TV, DVD, router, sky box, then they will be fine. (but personally I'd just use a 4 way extension for that)
if you are planning to run Kettle/toaster/washing machine and dishwasher off it then bear in mind the 3/4 gang converters come with a 13A fuse in them

Jeepers_Creepers

JustAnotherSaver said:

Thanks for the replies.

I flat out don't touch electrics beyond plugging something in the wall and flicking the switch or turning a light on or using the microwave etc. I don't understand it, never have. This talk of rings and spurs and then when you get in to electrical discussions and you're hearing watts and ohms. My head damn near explodes.

My wife on the other hand is better than me. She isn't about to re-wire any time soon but in some of the rooms she removed the old faceplates and replaced them with new faceplates that had USB ports. I'll not even attempt that.

I'm only saying this so you can have an accurate idea of what will or will not be attempted here.

Jeepers_Creepers ... what we'd be looking to do is change double faceplates (not single) in to more. Be that 3 or 4 if you can. I assume that the same applies though.

molerat ... it's a 1930s house. The party wall has had plasterboard dot & dabbed on to brick but the other walls are solid brick.

I like the idea of one faceplate fitting over another. Sticking out a bit more really isn't an issue for where it'll be located. Not unless we're talking many many inches which i doubt.

Problem is we have extensions running every which way & just simple adding more sockets on the wall would help.

So how do these additional faceplate converters actually work then? They must have to draw power from somewhere. Do they have male pins on the rear of them that insert in to the (already fitted) faceplate? And i assume they will have screw holes in them that will line up with the (already fitted) faceplate - guessing that everything is a universal fit? That's one part that has me wondering - how they actually work.

As for USB - it's not a requirement. If they have them they have them. Always nice to have an option. Due to where they'll be located they may not be used.

How to do this? Don't you worry your silly little head about that. Um, is your wife in? Could I have a word?

Ah, Mrs JAS! How are you? Goooood.

Ok, you know you replaced the socket faceplates in another room so's they have USB sockets on them? Well, could you slip hubby a £iver for the pub, and repeat this process again, except this time swap the normal 2-gang sockets for 3 or 4-gang versions like these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Switched-Converter-Socket-Sockets-Screws/dp/B073WCZ1HF/ref=pd_lpo_60_img_0/261-4660266-4679107?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B073WCZ1HF&pd_rd_r=e9b25856-843e-4586-ac14-0ea3946897bb&pd_rd_w=D8w9R&pd_rd_wg=Q4UCt&pf_rd_p=7b8e3b03-1439-4489-abd4-4a138cf4eca6&pf_rd_r=0ZZFGJK9BFXNT6K702SA&psc=1&refRID=0ZZFGJK9BFXNT6K702SA

It's the exact same process. You turn off the power, unscrew the old socket - 2 screws - carefully undo the wires nehind and refit these on the new extra-ganged socket. Use the longer fixing screws provided to attach - they will fit in to the exact same holes in the back box.

When hubby comes back home, tell him an Elf did it - he won't be any the wiser. Bless.