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t26a.txt
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1998-10-07
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Summary
You are considering changing one or a number of 13A Socket
Outlets. To carry out these alterations you will need to
work through a number of steps:
1 Safety first
2 Seeking professional help or advice
3 13A socket outlet ring main circuit
4 Identify the circuit protection
5 Isolating and checking the circuit is dead
6 Removing and securing screws and
disconnecting
7 Replacing a mounting box
8 Surface Mounted Boxes
9 Replace a flush mounted box
10 Connecting the replacement socket outlet
11 Final assembly
12 Safety checks before turning on electricity
Tools
Straight Edge, Electric Drill, Screwdrivers, Lump Hammer,
Bolster Chisel.
Materials
Green and yellow pvc sleeving, various 13A socket outlets,
replacement mounting boxes.
Step 1 - Safety first
Never work on any part of the electrical installation without
first switching off the supply at the consumer unit and,
where possible, removing the circuit fuse. Always unplug
any electrical appliance before doing any work on it.
Check all connections are secure and all covers have
been replaced before you turn the electricity on again.
Step 2 - Seeking professional help or advice
If you donÆt feel competent to do a particular job, always
seek the advice of a professional electrician. Make sure
that any person you hire is fully qualified. A person
registered with the Electrical Contractors Association/
NICEIC, will be approved for undertaking this type of
work and will be well versed in all the wiring
regulations for electrical installations in buildings.
Step 3 - 13A Socket outlet ring main circuit
The 30A protective capacity of the ring main enables an
adequate number of 13A socket outlets to be connected to
the circuit. The ring method of connection permits the
use of the smaller, more easily installed 20A capacity
2.5mm 2 twin and earth cables. On the ring circuit the
conductors need to loop in and out from the various
socket outlet terminals.
Step 4 - Identify the circuit protection
Carefully remove the front cover from the consumer
unit. The design and layout of available consumer
units are quite diverse, but in all cases the
current rating of each protective device should be
clearly shown. The identity of the various circuit
ways may be labelled, nevertheless, this
information should be confirmed by isolating
each circuit in turn.
Step 5 - Isolating and checking that the circuit is
dead
Warning, before starting any work to replace a socket
outlet. The electrical supply, that relates to the
circuit to be worked on, needs to be isolated at the
consumer unit and subsequently proved to be dead.
Step 6 - Removing the securing screws and disconnecting
Unscrew the two securing screws on the face of the socket.
Carefully ease the face of the socket away from the wall
and then disconnect the conductors.
Step 7 - Replacing a mounting box
If it is a surface mounted socket and the mounting box
also needs replacing you should do this now. You may
have to cut out the plastic windows in the box to pull
the wires through on the new box.
Step 8 - Surface mounted boxes
Any bare earth wire must be covered with green and yellow
sleeving. If it is not, then you must cut the appropriate
green and yellow pvc sleeving to length and slip it over
the bare conductors. Leave around 20mm of the earth wire
still showing.
Step 9 - Replacing a flush mounting box
If you are replacing a single flush socket outlet with a
double unit, or if you are converting from surface mounted
outlets to flush mounting, you will need to cut out the
plaster, brickwork, etc. to fit the new mounting box.
Be careful when removing the existing box not to damage
the cables. Mark out the position of the new box and cut
out a close fitting recess.
Step 10 - Connecting the replacement socket outlet
Bare earth wires must be insulated with a green and yellow
pvc sleeving. Loop the circuit earth conductors into the
earth terminal of the socket outlet, connect an additional
bonding conductor to the earth terminal on the metal
mounting box.
Step 11 - Final assembly
Make sure all the conducts are secure and connected to
the appropriate terminals. Gently push the new fitting
into place, taking care to ensure the cables will be
not be trapped when the fixing screws are tightened down.
On older installations the fixing screws could be imperial,
4BA screw thread, modern installations will have metric
fixing screws, 4mm screw thread. Take care to use the
correct size of fixing screw.
Step 12 - Safety checks before turning on the electricity
Good workmanship is essential if electrical work is to be
safe. Before reconnecting the supply check the work is
complete and all covers are securely in place. If you have
a continuity tester, check there are no short circuits
between live and neutral or between live and earth
metalwork. After the electricity is turned back on,
plug a suitable appliance into the new socket outlet
to check it functions correctly.