I am intending relocating a double power socket and will be extending the wiring. What is the best connector for the job. Once the aperture where the old socket was is filled in, the connection will be hidden. Blair
You're not allowed to hide it. Use chocblock to connect the wires and a blanking plate to cover the existing box.
If it's going to be filled over, it should be crimped using the correct connectors and tool then totally sleeved in heat shrink - I'd use the glue sort. It may also be soldered and each connector sleeved then overall as before.
However, if this is done the wiring may no longer be running vertically or horizontally from a visible accessory, and if so would require mechanical protection to be retrofitted.
Owain
That's assuming that the existing cabling is either horizontal or vertical, and the extended cabling is in line with it.
That still applies if it were jointed with a choc block inside an obvious enclosure?
No, because you can tell where a properly routed cable will run from a visible fitting.
Thanks to all who replied. Two mentioned chocblocks for joining wires and one said joining wires should be carried out with a proper crimping tool and covered with heat shrink material. Is there a connecting block which lies between the two which I can use/ Blair
Think you've missed the point. You can only use a connector block of any type if it is accessible afterwards, and plastering it into the wall makes it inaccessible. If you wish to use a connector block then simply put a blank cover over the box where the socket was - or leave the existing socket there and extend the ring. And as has been pointed out, unprotected cable plastered into a wall must either be more than 25mm below the surface or follow certain allowed routes to the socket. This is to help prevent someone knocking a nail in the wall and striking the cable, etc.
I have accepted that I am going to use a blanking plate but I wanted to know is what type of connector block should I use. I thought that a simple connecting strip would not be suitable and that there would be a better alternative. Blair
A suitably rated choc block will be fine - that's what they're for.
It's just the same as the connectors in switches, sockets and junction boxes ...
correct
and plastering it into the wall makes
yes
If you wish to use a connector block then simply put a
No - the depth should be over 50mm 'from any surface' or enclosed in earthed metal conduit (trunking or ducting) or installed horizonrtally or vertically within 150mm of the angle formed by 2 walls or run horizontally or vertically to an accessory or consumer unit.
see IEE Onsite Guide (p 53 in blue cover edition)
[Note the Guide leaves the issue of ceilings unclear - the illustration in the IEE Guide shows a 150mm junction on a wall immediately below ceiling as being a permitted zone, implying that 'wall' in the rule (7.3.2) includes ceilings. OTOH it is generally accepted SFAIUI that cable can be laid anywhere over & resting on a ceiling]HTH
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