Electrical socket - adding/moving

travel_freak

Hi,

I have an electric socket which looks like a DIY job by previous owners. The cable is visible coming up from beneath the floorboard and leading to a double socket secured to the skirting board. It looks messy and is not in a convenient place. It looks like it might be linked to a socket in the adjoining bedroom and fed through under the floorboard.

I would like to lift the floorboard and re-route the cable along the length of the floorboard to relocate the socket to another wall. I haven't looked under the floor yet but expect I will need to buy more cable to join and use a junction box.

Is this something I can safely do myself and/or is it something I can do under the new rules?

I think what is there at the moment has not been properly done as I assume the cables should either be buried in the wall or encased in one of those plastic conduits and not just running from beneath the floorboard up the skirting to the socket.

Many thanks for any advice.

Regards,

System

If you were just replacing the cable then you could do it yourself. However as you are moving it, I would assume that it would be classed as a new installation and require Part P certification.

BTW. If you plan on doing it yourself, DO NOT add a junction box. Run a fresh cable from source.

ormus

yes. always use a new cable.
(only use a junction box if absolutely essential. if no other way).

chateauneufdupape

Could somebody explain what the problem is with using a junction box? It is not that I disagree, it's just that I don't know.

Treadway1

Ive recently just change my old lighting socket for some spotlights in my bedroom and was concerned about the same thing.

However, the leaflet I got with the spotlights said:-

You do not need to notify the Local Authority if you do MINOR (This is highlighted on the lealflet, just so you know) electrical work such as:-

-Replacing or repairing a socket, light, or cable in any room
-Adding extra spurs, sockets or lights to an existing circuit (Except in a kitchen, bathroom or outdoors)
-Adding lights to an outdoor wall on an existing circuit (Porvided there are no exposed outdoor connections, and the circuuit is not extended from the kitchen/bathroom)

however, the works must be done to the standards in the Wiring regualtions and you should consider having the work checked by a competent electrician to make sure its safe. end.

So, by the sounds of things you should be ok to move it yourself, if youre confident enought o do it.

vaio

chateauneufdupape wrote: »

Could somebody explain what the problem is with using a junction box? It is not that I disagree, it's just that I don't know.

The general rule is to only make connections at fixtures, this means they are accessible for inspection and repair, overheating due to loose connections is more likely to be spotted and future electricians are less likely to be misled by unexpected hidden joints