Adding a socket

itssmallstuff

Guys

In the pic, you see is my cabinate which houses central heating. My telephone mains is in there on left ...

Below this cabinet is my other cabinet which houses my printer, local cloud storage, WiFi router (always on) etc.... Only WiFi router is always on

I want to add a power socket for printer etc..

Can I spur from the boiler switch? 

The junction of right is connecting the underfloor heating pump (which I believe remain ON always but it actually turns on based on programme/schedule/temperatures)...
 Would this be any better for spur?

fenwick458

what circuit is the boiler on? the only option is the boiler switch, you can't connect it to the UFH pump

Bendy_House

Junction on right, almost certainly no (it would appear to be PURELY part of the switched CH system).

The boiler isolating switch on the left, quite possibly, but it would need spurring from the 'live' side, and ideally for that boiler supply to be part of a larger mains 'ring' (which it 'would' appear to be, as there are TWO grey cables going in to it), and NOT being fed by its own dedicated MCB.

Would I recommend YOU do this? No. Not at all. Too many unknowns. Nope.

If the cupboard below has power - which it clearly does - then why not just take a multi-way extension socket up from there to the upper cupboard? It's all very low powered stuff you are using. 

That upper cupboard houses a boiler, just out of sight? I'd design in some serious leak protection for your gear below - seriously. Either a tray to hopefully catch any leak before it overflows, or some kind of waterproof box or cover for the electronics. 

Look up 'exterior socket boxes' - these are cheap, come in lots of sizes, have sealed entrance holes for cables, and could very well do the job. They are designed to hold things like extension sockets, transformers for outside chrimbo lights, that sort of thing.

The chances of a boiler leaking unexpectedly at some point is high. I know

How large is your cloud? How well protected is it?

itssmallstuff

Bendy_House said:

Junction on right, almost certainly no (it would appear to be PURELY part of the CH system).

The boiler isolating switch on the left, quite possibly, but it would need spurring from the 'live' side, and ideally for that boiler supply to be part of a larger mains 'ring', which it 'would' appear to be, as there are TWO grey cables going in to it.

Would I recommend YOU do this? No. Not at all. Too many unknowns. 

If the cupboard below has power - which it clearly does - then why not just take a multi-way extension socket up from there to the upper cupboard? It's all very low powered stuff you are using. 

Thanks. The cabinet below is where all the stuff I need to power is.. and there is no socket there..

Was hoping to spur off the boiler switch and add a double socket...

itssmallstuff

Behind the  wall where the telephone socket is, is garage with its own ring circuit and there is a socket there too... 

Other options is to drill through the wall and spur off the garage socket.... The telephone wire follows the same route..

Bendy_House

Ah, ok. In that case you do have two options - one is a 'hard-wired' socket taken from that boiler switch - which can be done but I WOULDN'T recommend you do at ALL, and the other is the drill-through-wall and pass flexible cable through to a fused PLUGTOP (not a spur) in the garage. A multi-way socket in that lower cupboard - drill the hole through directly to that lower cupboard IF it's just as easy, but check both sides of that wall before drilling. 

Label your plugtop 'PC - LEAVE ON!' or similar!

Also add label to garage MCB in your CU to indicate PC SUPPLY ?

And still design some waterproof covering.

Section62

Bendy_House said:

Would I recommend YOU do this? No. Not at all. Too many unknowns. Nope.

100% agree.

itssmallstuff

Bendy_House said:

Ah, ok. In that case you do have two options - one is a 'hard-wired' socket taken from that boiler switch - which can be done but I WOULDN'T recommend you do at ALL, and the other is the drill-through-wall and pass flexible cable through to a fused PLUGTOP (not a spur) in the garage. A multi-way socket in that lower cupboard - drill the hole through directly to that lower cupboard IF it's just as easy, but check both sides of that wall before drilling. 

Label your plugtop 'PC - LEAVE ON!' or similar!

Also add label to garage MCB in your CU to indicate PC SUPPLY ?

And still design some waterproof covering.

Sounds like it will be option 2 then.  The hole where the telephone wire comes in is wide enough for a flex cable to pass as well, so might getaway without any drilling.

A plug into existing socket in garage - Got it!

On the other end, could I put a double socket that comes with its back box first?  Then I can put switched extension for all the stuff that need turning ON occasionally...

WiFi router goes straight in the double socket.

Section62

itssmallstuff said:

Other options is to drill through the wall and spur off the garage socket.... The telephone wire follows the same route..

Which wall would you be drilling through?  Note that the one at the back of the cupboard (the one the boiler switch is fixed to) looks as though it could possibly be asbestos.  Not uncommon to find this in boiler cupboards.  DON'T drill/cut/screw into this material until you are sure it isn't asbestos-containing.

Personally I wouldn't do Bendy's option 2 either.  IMV it is dangerous and a bit of a bodge to have multiple items of electrical/electronic equipment plugged in to a multiway adaptor plugged into a socket in a space outside the main habitable space.  If anything goes wrong, someone will need to access the garage to disconnect the electrical supply.  If the 'something wrong' is somebody receiving an electric shock, time is critical. If it is something overheating/catching on fire then the result of a delay in cutting the power could be serious.  Is this cupboard below the stairs, or on your main 'escape' route from the house?

I would look at the value (to me) of all the equipment (and data) stored in the cupboard and conclude the best thing to do would be to get a qualified electrician to run a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit to the cupboard with it's own RCBO.  This would allow the comms equipment to stay powered up if other circuits have to be isolated for work, and reduce the occurrence of the comms equipment being affected if other circuits 'trip'.  Hopefully the garage circuit is protected by a RCD - so bear in mind if you use this socket for power tools/garden stuff then it is probably the circuit which is most likely to 'trip'.

I wouldn't recommend running a mains cable through the same hole as the phone line.  With the two cables in that close proximity there's a risk of introducing electrical noise into the phone line, which may in turn impair your broadband service.

Finally, with central heating pipes/equipment plus electrical equipment in the cupboard, have you ensured there is enough ventilation to keep it cool? (see above regarding fire risks)

itssmallstuff

Section62 said:

itssmallstuff said:

Other options is to drill through the wall and spur off the garage socket.... The telephone wire follows the same route..

Which wall would you be drilling through?  Note that the one at the back of the cupboard (the one the boiler switch is fixed to) looks as though it could possibly be asbestos.  Not uncommon to find this in boiler cupboards.  DON'T drill/cut/screw into this material until you are sure it isn't asbestos-containing.

Personally I wouldn't do Bendy's option 2 either.  IMV it is dangerous and a bit of a bodge to have multiple items of electrical/electronic equipment plugged in to a multiway adaptor plugged into a socket in a space outside the main habitable space.  If anything goes wrong, someone will need to access the garage to disconnect the electrical supply.  If the 'something wrong' is somebody receiving an electric shock, time is critical. If it is something overheating/catching on fire then the result of a delay in cutting the power could be serious.  Is this cupboard below the stairs, or on your main 'escape' route from the house?

I would look at the value (to me) of all the equipment (and data) stored in the cupboard and conclude the best thing to do would be to get a qualified electrician to run a dedicated circuit from the consumer unit to the cupboard with it's own RCBO.  This would allow the comms equipment to stay powered up if other circuits have to be isolated for work, and reduce the occurrence of the comms equipment being affected if other circuits 'trip'.  Hopefully the garage circuit is protected by a RCD - so bear in mind if you use this socket for power tools/garden stuff then it is probably the circuit which is most likely to 'trip'.

I wouldn't recommend running a mains cable through the same hole as the phone line.  With the two cables in that close proximity there's a risk of introducing electrical noise into the phone line, which may in turn impair your broadband service.

Finally, with central heating pipes/equipment plus electrical equipment in the cupboard, have you ensured there is enough ventilation to keep it cool? (see above regarding fire risks)

A lot to consider.. I miss life when it was simple without internet and the likes! 

Your feedback is very very appreciated. Thank you 

markin

I really would not put anything under the boiler, Water proofing things without then over heating things will be tricky.