How many sockets??

Author
Discussion

mondeoman

Original Poster:

11,430 posts

265 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Part 3 of remodelling the lounge and we're onto sockets.

We previously had 3 doubles around the room, sunk into the skirting board, and had a bundle of extension leads for all the electronickery that we have.

The plasterer is due in next week, so I'm chasing out for new sockets tomorrow. Question is how many to put in?

Would you put in a single socket for every item or carry on with extension leads? As an example, in one corner I need power for TV, Sky, PS3, Apple TV, HDMI switch, Table lamp, possibly a network switch and a spare for justin. That makes 4 double sockets and I think that'd look a bit silly, even though they would be hidden behind a unit. Other parts of the room are similar. Its not a power consumption issue, more of a clutter thing.

Mojooo

12,668 posts

179 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I am going for 2 double sockets in most rooms (i.e 4 individual plugs).

8 sockets may be overkill but if they will be used then surely its better and prob safer than using extension plugs.

mondeoman

Original Poster:

11,430 posts

265 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
http://www.eca.co.uk/filelibrary/download/?FileID=...

ECE recommends 6 for a living room, plus at least two more if its used for "home entertainment" yikes

Could easily end up with a wall of sockets...

mph1977

12,467 posts

167 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
if you look at the power demandsof most thingswe plug in they are decreasing rather than increasing, it;s the sheer number of devices that pose the problem

the exceptions to this fall into three or four groups

1. kitchen stuff
2. tools
3. Amplifiers etc
4. 'grooming tools' i.e. haridryer and straighteners


overall power availability won't increase unless you rewire and put in more rings or some direct from the consumer unit spurs ( like you would for a electric shower or a cooker) - as you'll still be limited to the rating of the wire making up the ring and the breaker in the consumer unit

decent extension leads shouldn't pose a problem - much of the issues with extensions are based around the old fashioned 'plug in cube' socket multipliers rather than the bar type extensions.


to some extent it;s a shame there isn't a universal LV voltage and plug socket ( and rid us of all the power bricks in favour of either transformers i nthe wall plate ( like shaver sockets) or a central mains to lV transformer) to complement mains plug / socket combinations and USB (as sockets that present USB for power only are increasingly common.

B17NNS

18,506 posts

246 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Whilst you have the opportunity, wherever there is an electrical item put a socket. At least a couple of doubles behind the TV.

mondeoman

Original Poster:

11,430 posts

265 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
That'll be 11 then.

singlecoil

33,310 posts

245 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I have not, in recent years, ever seen a room with too many sockets. I've seen a few with too few though.

Rick Cutler

635 posts

216 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Just run 64amp cable from the distribution block. Then you can have almost as many 4 way extensions as you want. I wouldn't put more then two doubles in each location. Other wise you could have on 4 sockets each an 8 way extension lead which could pull 13amp each socket so 416amps on a standard twin and earth!!!

DrDeAtH

3,586 posts

231 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Rick Cutler said:
Just run 64amp cable from the distribution block. Then you can have almost as many 4 way extensions as you want. I wouldn't put more then two doubles in each location. Other wise you could have on 4 sockets each an 8 way extension lead which could pull 13amp each socket so 416amps on a standard twin and earth!!!
..or in the real world... The breaker would trip around 32amps


wseed

1,501 posts

129 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
While I was doing the house up I had a double in every corner of most rooms as a minimum to ensure flexibility when furnishing and giving options to relocate stuff.

I upped the numbers in the home offices to 4 doubles where desks where to be put and in the snug 2 doubles in the areas where TVs where likely to be placed and the main lounge has 3 doubles where AV gear is and another double behind where the TV is mounted.

I figured they're not so ugly that they spoil the look of a wall and trailing cables are a pet hate of mine.

clockworks

5,292 posts

144 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I'd go for a double in each corner, two doubles by the telly. Maybe an extra one beside the sofa for a reading lamp or laptop/tablet/phone charger.

ATG

20,480 posts

271 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I'd say location is usually more of a problem than number of plus. Having to run extensions across the room is much more of a pain than just using a short extension to go from 1 to 6 plugs to run the entertainment kit.

Muncher

12,219 posts

248 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Our lounge has 4 doubles, 4 lamp sockets and another double behind the TV. Most rooms in the house have 4 or 5 doubles.

mondeoman

Original Poster:

11,430 posts

265 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
http://dornob.com/redesigned-3-prong-power-cords-i...

Shame these never got off the ground

bigdom

2,072 posts

144 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
6 doubles behind TV, currently 9 of 12 in use. Another 6 doubles in living room, so nothing trailing and always a free socket for something. Overkill, maybe, although i find it tidier.

jep

1,183 posts

208 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
The more the merrier I say, and if you can, put a couple of those with USB ports already fitted.

mondeoman

Original Poster:

11,430 posts

265 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-13a-2-gang-switched-...

2 of these will do nicely, one each end of the sofa smile

Nuisance_Value

721 posts

252 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
just worked out I'll need 19 sockets when our sitting room is finished.

You can never have enough sockets.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Nuisance_Value said:
You can never have enough sockets.
This.

You REALLY don't want to know how many I put in! (And I still have multi boards).

Baldinho

585 posts

213 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
mondeoman said:
http://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-13a-2-gang-switched-...

2 of these will do nicely, one each end of the sofa smile
Top find!

Off to order a couple now. Thanks