"Daisy Chaining" two electrical sockets together
Discussion
I am building a cabinet which covers the only electrical socket I have to power my TV and AV equipment. One plug will have a 6 gang extension lead attached to it, and the other plug will have a proper electrical socket attached to it via a 2.5mm 3 core cable, about 75cm in length.
What I was thinking about doing though was to "chain" another socket to the socket I just mentioned, using the same wire at about a length of ~10cm. I know it's possible to do it, but I don't know whether from a safety point of view whether it's wise to do such a thing.
In the configuration of this cabinet, the 6 gang extension would only ever power the AV equipment, which consists of a Samsung 48" LED TV, a ~1990 Pioneer Laserdisc player, a ~1995/6 Technics CD player, a ~2010 Pioneer AV Home Theatre thing, a slim PS4, a Nintendo Switch, and a BT YouView box. So this extension would be hidden as it wouldn't really need to be accessed all the time.
The "daisy chained" sockets would only power things that were needed to be plugged in externally to this set up. So when I want to use my Mega Drive with the Mega CD (which needs two plugs), I'd plug it in to these sockets. So most of the time they wouldn't be used on a day to day basis.
Am I alright to do it this way, knowing that these sockets will be lightly used?
What I was thinking about doing though was to "chain" another socket to the socket I just mentioned, using the same wire at about a length of ~10cm. I know it's possible to do it, but I don't know whether from a safety point of view whether it's wise to do such a thing.
In the configuration of this cabinet, the 6 gang extension would only ever power the AV equipment, which consists of a Samsung 48" LED TV, a ~1990 Pioneer Laserdisc player, a ~1995/6 Technics CD player, a ~2010 Pioneer AV Home Theatre thing, a slim PS4, a Nintendo Switch, and a BT YouView box. So this extension would be hidden as it wouldn't really need to be accessed all the time.
The "daisy chained" sockets would only power things that were needed to be plugged in externally to this set up. So when I want to use my Mega Drive with the Mega CD (which needs two plugs), I'd plug it in to these sockets. So most of the time they wouldn't be used on a day to day basis.
Am I alright to do it this way, knowing that these sockets will be lightly used?
Hello
You confused me here:
Putting that aside for a moment...
The term you are looking for is a spur - here's a reasonable guide: https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-add-more-e...
Have you ascertained whether the existing socket is already on a ring, or is it a spur itself? Based on the confusing bit above it sounds like it might be a spur already?
To answer your last question it is not OK to assume a socket will be lightly used as there is no telling what someone other than you will do and that could result in a fire. Remember that your multi-gang extension lead will have a fuse in it - a hard wired spurred socket will not, so your bit of 2.5 T&E is the next weakest link. But if you're spurring off a ring it'll be acceptable.
Read the above guide, isolate everything and have a look at it, if you aren't comfortable at that stage phone a pro.
ETA: A picture or two would help here!
Further edit: Above advice based on a misunderstanding of the problem! Disregard.
You confused me here:
sgtBerbatov said:
One plug will have a 6 gang extension lead attached to it, and the other plug will have a proper electrical socket attached to it via a 2.5mm 3 core cable, about 75cm in length.
What is this proper electrical socket - do you mean an extension lead or an existing spur?Putting that aside for a moment...
The term you are looking for is a spur - here's a reasonable guide: https://www.diy.com/ideas-advice/how-to-add-more-e...
Have you ascertained whether the existing socket is already on a ring, or is it a spur itself? Based on the confusing bit above it sounds like it might be a spur already?
To answer your last question it is not OK to assume a socket will be lightly used as there is no telling what someone other than you will do and that could result in a fire. Remember that your multi-gang extension lead will have a fuse in it - a hard wired spurred socket will not, so your bit of 2.5 T&E is the next weakest link. But if you're spurring off a ring it'll be acceptable.
Read the above guide, isolate everything and have a look at it, if you aren't comfortable at that stage phone a pro.
ETA: A picture or two would help here!
Further edit: Above advice based on a misunderstanding of the problem! Disregard.
Edited by Jambo85 on Monday 9th April 11:33
Edited by Jambo85 on Monday 9th April 14:51
Sorry about the confusion.
The socket the 6 gang extension and the one I'm proposing is already in the wall as part of the ring. The living room has 3 electrical sockets, so that's one ring?
The wiring was all done and changed 18 months ago, so I've a brand new metal fuseboard and RCD's for every room in the house.
I wasn't going to use the 2.5mm 3 core wire to join to the existing spur. I was going to wire the 2.5mm 3 core wire to a 13A plug and plug it in.
I'll take a photo tonight when I'm home, didn't think to take any when I was thinking about the question.
The socket the 6 gang extension and the one I'm proposing is already in the wall as part of the ring. The living room has 3 electrical sockets, so that's one ring?
The wiring was all done and changed 18 months ago, so I've a brand new metal fuseboard and RCD's for every room in the house.
I wasn't going to use the 2.5mm 3 core wire to join to the existing spur. I was going to wire the 2.5mm 3 core wire to a 13A plug and plug it in.
I'll take a photo tonight when I'm home, didn't think to take any when I was thinking about the question.
Why not just do it properly and add another double socket to the ring?
And when I say that, I mean get an electrician to do it because it sounds like you know less about electrics than you think you know.
Apologies if I've misunderstood your description, but it sounds like you are designing something like this.
And when I say that, I mean get an electrician to do it because it sounds like you know less about electrics than you think you know.
Apologies if I've misunderstood your description, but it sounds like you are designing something like this.
SHutchinson said:
Why not just do it properly and add another double socket to the ring?
And when I say that, I mean get an electrician to do it because it sounds like you know less about electrics than you think you know.
Apologies if I've misunderstood your description, but it sounds like you are designing something like this.
Nope, that isn't what I'm trying to do.And when I say that, I mean get an electrician to do it because it sounds like you know less about electrics than you think you know.
Apologies if I've misunderstood your description, but it sounds like you are designing something like this.
This is a diagram of what I'm trying to do.
Physically there isn't space to add another socket to the wall. There's a TV coaxial socket next to the socket already.
Jambo85 said:
I get it now thanks. So confirm that your socket is on a ring (two neutrals, two lives and two earths into the back of it) and you should be fine to add a spur - but as pointed out above it sounds like incorporating the new socket into the ring would be just as easy.
I can confirm that, as I helped the sparky do the wiring. It's just that this spur is just above the skirting board covered by the unit, so for ease of plugging stuff in to it I want to produce a socket ~1m above that outside of the cabinet.
I really do need to take a photo!!! It's times like these I wish I was on the rock 'n' roll and could be at home 
The bottom socket, with the two 13A indicated is the original socket that is in the wall.
The two sockets above that one are the ones I want to attach to the bottom plug via the 2.5mm 3 core flex and 13A plug.
The bottom socket, with the two 13A indicated is the original socket that is in the wall.
The two sockets above that one are the ones I want to attach to the bottom plug via the 2.5mm 3 core flex and 13A plug.
sgtBerbatov said:
...The bottom socket, with the two 13A indicated is the original socket that is in the wall. The two sockets above that one are the ones I want to attach to the bottom plug via the 2.5mm 3 core flex and 13A plug.
So you want to fit 2 x double sockets to the wall, string them together and then plug them in? Why not just use a 4 x way extension-lead and clip it to the wall? Essentially, you want to hang a 6-way extension lead and a 4-way extension lead from one socket?
Just because you put two double faceplates on them and call them a socket doesn't mean they're any different to just plugging a 4-way in.
Does running 10 items from the single original socket sound reasonable?
Just because you put two double faceplates on them and call them a socket doesn't mean they're any different to just plugging a 4-way in.
Does running 10 items from the single original socket sound reasonable?
The wiring to the two new sockets will be protected by the fuse in the plug top plugged in to the existing socket, although you might struggle to get 2.5mm into a plug top unless you are skilled at wiring. What are the two new sockets mounted on? Could you not use another 4 way outlet block or is it that too ugly?
Having worked with someone with a similar approach to these things I believe the plan here is to wire a length of T+E Into a 3 pin 13A plug on one end and a double socket plate on the other end then plug the end with the plug into the existing socket on the ring thus creating a live spur. Then spur another socket from the newly created "spur".
I would, with my limited electrical knowledge (My dad was a sparks but I am a mere mortal) suggest humbly that you do not do this.
I would, with my limited electrical knowledge (My dad was a sparks but I am a mere mortal) suggest humbly that you do not do this.
StoatInACoat said:
Having worked with someone with a similar approach to these things I believe the plan here is to wire a length of T+E Into a 3 pin 13A plug on one end and a double socket plate on the other end then plug the end with the plug into the existing socket on the ring thus creating a live spur. Then spur another socket from the newly created "spur".
I would, with my limited electrical knowledge (My dad was a sparks but I am a mere mortal) suggest humbly that you do not do this.
But in practice it's no different to using a 4 way block is it? I would, with my limited electrical knowledge (My dad was a sparks but I am a mere mortal) suggest humbly that you do not do this.
You need to break into the ring for what you're proposing. I will soon be doing the same for our bedroom, albeit I'm going to be forced to use surface conduit as I am unable to chase anything into the walls currently. Pop the socket out, break into the ring, this will allow you to install new sockets as you see fit.
It looks like you're proposing to do this from just a normal 13A plug... which is basically the same as just using loads of extensions. Not a great idea.
It looks like you're proposing to do this from just a normal 13A plug... which is basically the same as just using loads of extensions. Not a great idea.
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