How to Add a Socket to a Wall - Easy Step By Step Guide
In this electrical DIY guide i will be showing you how to install a new socket. I will take you through the process step by step so that you can install a new plug socket in your room! We will cover everything from chasing the cable into the wall to wiring up the new socket. If you like the video then leave a like, please subscribe for more content like this and check out the other videos on my channel, there are a lot more electrical guides!
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What other electrical jobs do you want to see?
How to get power from a socket, for lighting such as wall mounted bedside lights
How to install a new shed in your backyard with lights connecting to the house power supply
Solar install
You at my house fitting solar panels for free!
Nice little tutorial. What shade of paint went up afterwards? Looking for something similar for my kitchen?
Another very informative video. I have been looking for this specific one where you have to create a chase. I think the additional video on how to repair the wall is a 5 star tutorial in itself. I must say that the one thing that sets your tutorials apart are the added bonus of showing how to repair walls or ceilings after the work was done. Thank you so much. I'm a happy subscriber.
Mate you make it look so easy thanks for spreading your positive vibes 🙏🏼
My pleasure!
Your videos are always clear, concise and well explained. Thanks for the content you make. And hi from Ireland!
Glad you like them! And Hi to you too!
Great video. I'm confident and competent at installing a few sockets and have been upgrading a few around my house. Some good nuggets of info in this video which will help me improve on my own process. Thanks
Glad I could help, thanks
Very helpful video thanks for that.Can you please also, make some fault finding videos as well.
This is so weird. Last week I followed your ceiling light with joists guide. This weekend I'm tackling plug sockets. Thanks bud great as always!
That is great! Glad to help 😊
Loved the video, just watched out of curiosity as I've done this many times before. And I've learned something new. I didn't realise cable zones allowed horizontal placement of cables. My OCD would've got the better of me with the fact that there was no earth sheathing on that existing plug tho :)
Really appreciate the effort put into this video. Really helpful, thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
really appreciate the work you show 👍
Thanks
Absolutely top job, love the finish
👍
mate that easi fill is such a nice product to work with, great video aswell thank you
It really is! Thanks
Loving watching your videos, so clear and easy to follow. cheers mate.
Glad you like them!
Quality content as usual 👍
So glad I found your channel mate. Never actually tried DIY in the home, moving home and trying to do everything possible myself. Not incompetent, but very unconfident 😂!
Welcome aboard! Take the time to learn the proper methods, do your research and progress with your DIY and you’ll be able to achieve things you never imagined.
I like the fact you explain to a DIY'er like to a DIY'er. Just a wee pointer. When you show items in your videos, don't point them at the camera for a split second and also hold them steady, so we can see them and the branding pre-printed or embossed on these. Just to give you an example, I had to go frame by frame to see the Hager J803 juncton box detailing (in a different video) as you said the name a wee bit too fast to hear properly. I like where you cover the 'kit needed for the job'. I buy my tools off the back of such recommendations. Stuff I never thought I'd need but now do thanks to your superb video guides.
Thanks for the tips 👍
Love the video ad always! Handy tip; When lining up the new socket with level line, don't forget to minus 5mm off your back box to allow for the overhang of the socket! Tip no.2: Always try to run cables under floor boards (if you can) as it saves chasing out solid walls and less mess of course!
Tip number 3. Don't waste your time watching -how to- videos. If you already know how to!
@@grahamd5418 😂😂😂😂⛄️⛄️
Yes, that 5mm is very important. NOT!
@@ThePolaroid669 No it's not that important if you're a cowboy 🤠
Good and excellent tutorials
Brilliant, great tutorial thanks
👍 glad you like it
This video popped up just as I was considering adding another socket in my home. My job is going to be much harder though because it’s in a hallway and the nearest socket is in one of the bedrooms. Separated by different walls and door frames etc - if you made a video on more tricky situations like this that would be so useful! But thanks for this one, super informative. I didn’t know about ring circuits and radial circuits before
Your welcome. If possible, you could drill straight through the wall from a socket on the other side and place your sockets back to back. This method makes it very easy if it’s possible in your situation.
Great video, easifill 60 is marvelous stuff, never go back to the ready made tubs after using it.
Totally agree! Thanks
Thanks so much very informative and easy to follow video 👍👍
Glad it was helpful!
Fair play you have good knowledge
Thank you
Very very good training techniques here. Youll be my KZhead go to now.
Thanks 😊
Very well explained. If it were me I would also put some sleeving over the old earth wires whilst I was about it.
Maybe this is very messy job, but as the wire & socket embedded inside the wall all the efforts are well pay-off to seal them from dust and very secure to the best safety possible worth doing it!! Excellent video, nice job!!👍👍
Glad you like the video 👍
Great guide 👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks!
Excellent tutorial ☘️👍
Thank you 👍
Good vid bud. One thing, I did the same with the conduit, but my plasterer advised that when you’ve plastered them in they can cause cracking in the future in the plaster so he advised against em 👍🏼 A good number of your vids have been very useful. Too job 👌
Thanks, glad you like the videos 👍
What would you use instead?
@@noire1001all round band or clip direct
Hi Great channel. If you keeping the ring main to add additional socket . Do you crimp on the one of the existing cables to the new and loop back again ?
awesome video as always!
Thanks a lot
new here dude! learnt a lot just from this one video! subbed and will be watching your past and future vids! top job dude!
Welcome and thanks for watching
perfect thanks :)
Excellent video. See you upgraded the sticky plaster half way thru. Hope you're on the mend. 😊
Thanks. Haha yep! Morale of the storey is wear gloves when cutting angle beads 😂
I'll look forward to that video. 😂
Many thanks!
You're welcome!
A great video. I'm doing some work in my new home (old council build) and the problem I'm coming across is that the plug socket in my living room is only about 30mm above some surface mounted copper heating pipes, so any plugs used have the wiring resting on the pipes. I'm needing to bring the socket forward from the wall so I can box in the pipes and still use the socket. Any tips on what I should use? Thanks
I used quickwire throughout my bungalow Refurb project
👍
How did you get on with them, Kevin?
Great video - really helpful for planning for the jobs I've been putting off! Quick question about the fill at the end - if I'm only doing one or two smaller jobs, what's a more economical alternative to the large 10kg bags? Would polyfilla suffice, or is that going to cause other problems?
Great video as usual Cameron, keep the electrical and plumbing videos coming mate.👍👍
Thanks, will do!
Great video mate
Thanks 👍
*Thank you Sir*
Most welcome
Legend many thanks
No problem 👍
For fitting one additional socket instead of using foam I set the socket in quick drying Pollyfilla. Same result but much cheaper as once a foam tube is opened the next time you need it it is solid!! For the making good of the channel I use Pollyfilla as well as it sets quickly and can be sanded and filled where necessary rather than using bonding and multi finish which comes in big bags!!
Thanks for sharing
i agree! bonding not needed in a 30mm chase! I go straight to the easifill 60 and pva not needed either
Each to their own 👍, if your method works that’s great
Thanks
Welcome
I realy enjoyed
👍👍
I'm not even doing up a house...but these videos are so educational and entertaining. Well done! Can't wait to see the finished product... hopefully you do a home network and a smart home video o.O
Glad you like them! Thanks
Great video!
Thanks!
Jetcem holds the boxes perfectly
👍
Another great video. Thanks 😊 Can you suggest how we can put a socket to an angled wall?
Thanks. Tell me more about the angled wall.
Weyyy mk socket very nice Cameron
Oh yes 👍
Also do a video on adding an extra socket to be included in the ring main. Should be very similar just an extra wire. But may be useful for others
Great suggestion!
As a time served electrician we are continuously told we need to update our training 17th edition 18th edition etc we had to serve a 4 year apprenticeship and many firms have to sign up to napit, niceic where they are grilled on yearly audits and it costs a fortune. Whereas there is no guard against diyers doing these types of jobs you can just pop down B&Q and crack on. At least the gas guys have gas safe and corgi. What you’ve done in this job albeit handy for a diy er is encourage unskilled and untrained people to attempt these jobs, yes 80 odd percent of the time this might work and be ok. It if it goes wrong there’s no dressing it up your dealing with death. For all the effort you put in to do this couldn’t you have got the floor boards up and broke into the ring main, that’s what a spark would be looking to do then he’s have to give you a minor works certificate that way there’s trace ability for future and nobody gna get hurt. I understand in this day and age people are strapped for cash but you need to remember that electricity kills and some unskilled guy could introduce a lethal hazard into his home. Be careful folks
Unfortunately 99% of those who've commented on this thread have absolutely no idea why we carry test equipment. To them if it works it works.
After cutting my thumb with an angle grinder at the start of summer (and effectively ruining my whole summer), I suggest you fit the side handle to the angle grinder! I was lucky and kept my thumb, and it still works correctly. The scar does hurt like hell occasionally when I take my phone out of my pocket!
👍
Question, do you think it's a good idea to add some mesh tape after the bonding but before the final easifill layer?
Question: how do I know when a socket is a spare from an existing one?😅in order to prevent me adding more to the new one!!thks
When creating a spur off an existing socket to the other side of the wall can it be directly behind it or would it be better to be offset to the side?
Which wall chaser do you have. Also could you attach a link thanks
Can you wire the socket to be a part of the ring? By using wagos in the old socket on one of the old cables connected to the new then run two cables to the new socket and back to the old one?
Thanks for a great video. You said you can't spur off of a spur. How do you determine if an existing socket is a spur or not? Thanks.
If there is only one set of cables in it then likely a spur.... However.....it could also be a radial circuit which would be fine to extend....these are on 20amp MCBS or RCBOS. Or if there is FCU powering the spur...then you can add sockets to it fine with no problem
Very useful thank you. Have you done a video on plastering and/or skimming a wall?
Great. I haven’t as plastering to a good level isn’t within my skill set I’m afraid.
@@TheDIYGuy1 Haha you and me both!
How did you do the earth to the back box? Where did the additional wire come from it sort of just appeared on the video? Or do you get a new wire and attach it?
Awesome video, this will come in so handy when we buy our house, hopefully next month. Even in my current room, sockets are in places which are covered up, like back of the bed or wardrobe so you then need to run a extension. The good thing is, I have all the tools, apart from a chaser drill, I had a look, they are not too expensive so it might be a good thing to have but you can still do the chase with a grinder, but take your time. Question, what is the maxium socket you can have tied to one of the original plug socket. So say for example, I did what you did, add one to the right so 2 sockets on a row but you wanted to add another socket in the middle, maybe for a TV, could you do that, add another socket and connect it to another existing socket. Hope that makes sense. Thank you for once again, you are so very good at explaining things. Also, what is the cut of wheel called, that you used in your grinder?
I’ve done this. I should however say that I’m just an enthusiastic DIYer and certainly not an electrician. The way I did it was to first insert an FCU before the spurred sockets - my understanding from the research I did was that the FCU prevents the risk of the cables on the spurred sockets from overloading / overheating in the event that you ran too many energy hungry devices from them.
Sorry should have said FCU = Fused Connection Unit. When researching for my use of it, I noticed people often just referred to a “fused spur”, which I believe just means a spur like Cam did in the video but with a FCU included first.
Love your videos pal, but you should have fitted the new socket first, as the neutral could still touch the earth causing an RCD to trip out when cutting the wire of the new socket. Just turning off the MCB isn't enough nowadays. I would also recommend adding an earth sleeve to that bare cable on the old circuit.
Could you also do a similar video but with plasterboard walls as i am moving into a new build in 2 weeks and looking at adding more sockets
Lucky you. You'll have less mess from fewer chases. Find how far apart the vertical studs in the wall are by using a tester like he showed but on the wood setting and then simply cut out a chase a couple of centimetres wider on either side of the stud. You can then enjoy... the task of threading the cables through the wall from one hole to the next. Then where you want the new socket, get yourself a plastic back box for plasterboard, cut your hole and basically clip it into place. I'm sure that there's plenty of videos how to do it and why trust some bloke commenting on another's site but this is the gist of it.
Hey great video's, I was wondering how to move an old kitchen socket from the middle of the wall down the wall to lower level socket. Regards
You will need to extend the cable using a maintenance free junction box or pull the cable back to its source and replace with a longer one
Hi would it be possible to run another socket from a living room through a stud wall to a kitchen to add a socket on a kitchen wall. There is a socket on same wall that is mirrored in the kitchen wall behind, but would be easier to run another to its left around a corner and up the wall to its position on the kitchen wall
Have you ever tried the mk rapid fix socket? It’s really good apart from when it comes to securing the cpc as I find when you secure the socket to the wall the cpc always becomes loose.
I’ve not tried them, I’ll give them a look sometime 👍
I just used a multi tool and appropriate cutting blade for the brick because u was just chasing a cable i didnt need to go very deep caused a lot less dust was a bit if a bastard knocking out the holes for the back boxes though
👍
The only things i would add is. Check the existing socket is still a RFC, all to often its broken somewhere... You need to make sure the Zs and R1+R2 is good. The fly need is good practise but not needed if the backbox has one solid lug and if it hasnt then the fly need isnt needed if a class 2 fitting is being used.
This is a DIY channel Pal aimed at those who's moto is if it works its a good job. I doubt very much the poster will give 2 nuts about whether the impedance on his sockets is good & whether it will meet disconnection times in case of a fault.
Nice1..D.I.Y & thank u
Thanks!
👍👍👍.Thanks
Your welcome 🤗
I assume you could run 2 cables over to extend the ring using Wagos?
Could you go vertically first then horizontally from the lower socket? And do you have to be a qualified electrician to do this ? Can you run the cables loose behind the plasterboard without a conduit and what if you want to keep the new socket in the ring main rather than creating a spur?
Hiya Cameron, I sit here like most of the country stricken with flu and feel awful, BUT the video cheered me up..Good man. One question, what is the reason for a single spur only?. Surely if the source of the cabling can supply the voltage and current on a consistent amount, then it should be able to support another socket, or is it just safety regs? PS, just two words, masking tape, so much kinder to the walls :) Thanks for the video, Paul.
Hi Paul. The answer to your question is quite a long and technical one but to put it pretty short and simple…. The single spur rule is in place to protect the cable supplying the first spur from being overloaded. If too many sockets were used at any one time then the draw from these sockets could overload the first piece of 2.5mm twin and earth. Haha damn masking tape!!, I always end up pulling paint off 😂🙈
@@TheDIYGuy1 Thanks for the reply, as for the single spur rule, never stops us lot from sticking numerous 3 way plug adaptors in and creating a house fire waiting to happen..My only mild justification is that I always switch a socket off when done (bar fridges and freezers :)
Good information many thanks. Ive been doing electrics for many years (qualified) and ive never seen the earth wire used to pull the outer sheath back 😄. Certainly quicker and safer than scoring with a knife and pulling back !! . Never too old to learn 👍🤔
😊 thanks, glad I was able to add some value for you 👍
Well i wont forget that trick next time. Doesnt work on SWA im sure 😁😂@@TheDIYGuy1
True 😂
Can't believe you've never seen that before my friend. It has been the most common technique used for ever. It doesn't work so good on 6 or 10mm T/E though. In the case of these thicker cables you would use a Stanley knife scoring the sheath vertically starting off shallow gradually getting deeper as you come to the end of the cable and then just pull the sheath back and it will tear along the scored line. It doesn't matter if you cut into the conductors near the end of the cable because it's going to be stripped or trimmed anyway.
@@truthseeker7794 Yep, I thought every 'proper' electrician knew how to strip T&E 🤷♂
How do you know if its a radial or spur socket?
you should untwist the earth connections on the old socket they go into the same connection but for testing purposes its not good practice to twist them together like that (not a show stopper but pain in the ass later when fault finding)
I see what your saying but on such old cable it can often snap if it has been so tightly wound so I don’t like to do it if I don’t need to.
I can't believe you didn't sleeve the old earth wires.
Hi mate, how do you know if the circuit is a ring or radial? I understand looking in the CU to check for either one or 2 wires however, a single wire at a socket could also mean a spur than a radial? Keep up the good content 👌🏼
this is easy. check at the CU, if you have to sets of cables then most likely a ring. Then check the socket you want to extend from, if it only has 1 cable coming in, then you need to go check another socket. If it that one has 2, then that means the first socket you went to is already a spur, which you can not/should not spur off again.
@@j8ybb I could also check if its a ring or radial by looking at the circuit breaker mcb right? Ring would be 32amp whereas radial would be 16amp or 20amp. I could probably check this from the socket by doing a continuity test between earth to earth, neutral to neutral and live to live to get a reading
On these soft blocks it's a lot less messy if you score the plaster with a Stanley knife and then just chisel the channel out with an old wood chisel. It was the the most common way in my years as a sparky. The other way was to use a drill with a masonry bit and just drag it along the lines you've drawn and then just gently chop it out. It's quick and not messy.
Interesting, never used those methods but thanks for sharing them
Great job , also i liked the fact you covered the subject of wiring zones. Plenty don't.
Thanks, glad you picked up on the coverage of that 😊
Another superb helpful video. Great job mate. Cheers
Glad you enjoyed it
Is the foam used low expansion foam or sticky foam?
Good video. I've tended to do things a bit differently: 1. A dust extraction attachment for a 115 or 125mm angle grinder can work very well. I have a Sankyo 125mm hood for my old Bosch grinder. Not cheap but very useful. 2. I use round conduit with connectors into the boxes. Since I use it everywhere, it's easy to pull cable through. You could have made the new socket part of the ring either by Wago connectors in the first box or new cable from wherever the first box came from or goes to. For conduit: 25mm takes two cables of 2.5mm2 twin & earth easily. Otherwise 2 * 20mm diameter for easy movement of cable. 3. I'd have cleaned out the first box - both vacuuming and scraping out all the gunk in it. 4. I'd have gone 6mm deeper then glued a piece of 6mm plywood or mdf into the hole to screw the box to that. 5. For some weird reason, I've never used plaster to fill the chased areas. Probably because I've had a bit of ready-mix cement available along with a small tub of fine filler. I really ought to follow your example. Just finished a little project putting 3Amp neon light switches for each of our three toilet-shower-bathroom lighting and fan circuits. Supply to 3A switch to motion detector switch then load to light and extractor fan switch to fan
Thanks. It’s always great to hear other people’s methods and thank you for sharing yours 😊
I've been a chippy for 20 years and assumed sparkies were agents of dark magic until these brilliant videos.
Brilliant, glad to have helped out
how to drill behind a tiled wall to wire between socket and new fsu box?
Will that foam hold over time? I assume it’s good for switches as you push them. But sockets get pulled on all the time
It will indeed.
Whats the difference between an SDS drill bit and a regular one ? I only have a standard (not battery) drill and i need to go through a thick wall.
Sds are designed for masonry/concrete and the shank has grooves in it to lock-in to the chuck of an sds drill (I think to help with the hammer action that is typically used for drilling into masonry/concrete).
How do you tell if it’s a Ring or a Radial ?
Continuity test with power off.
Not having a go at women here but my wife thought all you needed to do is screw new sockets to the wall (anywhere) and they would work, she looked a bit confused when I was chasing in cables to the ceiling. 😅😅
😆
Evening fella, I have a question have you got any method of contact to grab some info from you
Hi, you can find me on instagram.
I just wired a uk plug but there the wire 8mm diameter but the hole in the base of plug is 11mm so there is gap. Do you how to cover this gap? Is there a Sleeve or gland to go over the cord and into the plug?
Nice tidy work, however , should of checked the socket your coming off incase it’s already a spur. And maybe sleeved them earths ,
Thanks. Yeah I could have shown checks. In my case I know it’s not a spur because have had all the floors up in the property recently.
How can you do it if you need it to go on the corner and round the room
Finding the 2 earth wires twisted together you should have separated them and sleeved them.
I don’t advise the unwinding of old cable when cpc/earth has been wound like that, on old cable it can often snap the wire due to the ‘winding’ having weakened the conductor. But in a sense I suppose for the purpose of the video I could have touched on the subject. The property will be undergoing a rewire on that side of the house within the next few months that’s why I wasn’t too worried about the sleeving because those original cable will be pulled out but yes you do have a point.
@@TheDIYGuy1 I understand where you’re coming from but the person watching the video in seeing the wires twisted may think it’s ok to do this.
how common is moisture in wall sockets? I noticed my sockets started to corrode, took face plates off and there was moisture inside, the wall is freezing so I presume its condensation
How do you know if you have a ring main, or the other one 🤔
Should be testing before carrying out any work 👍
What would you do if you just wanted to move the socket? I’ve got one that I want to raise about half way up my wall so the tv hides it
15:12 where does the green and yellow wire on the far left come from? It wasn't there earlier.
This is the earth link to the metal box. All metal boxes should have one.
I've just had an electrician do this in my home on the exact same set up. The only difference was that he chased the wall from the existing socket down over & ran the cable under the floorboards. He then chased from the skirting up to the new socket. The sockets were set at the same height as yours. He said it was the best way to do it to minimise the damage & dust. Can you tell me was this method safe? Thanks 👍
His method is safe. Both the method he used and the method shown in the video are valid and can be used in this circumstance.
Thanks so much for your reply. I'm really enjoying your content 👍
Thanks 😊
Would it not be better to extend two cables and extend the ring circuit, rather than spuring off the existing socket?
You could if you’ve access under floor or above ceiling but this video is probably the more common way people will look to undertake the job.
Unless the new socket is to be used for a power drain over 13 amps - ie two 3kw electric fires at the same time - a spur is all that is needed so extending the ring is a much bigger job and rarely necessary