How to move an outlet to another location

Moving an outlet or switch to another location means dismantling and installing them at a distance. Most often they are lowered. By old standards, the installation height was about 100 cm, and now it is about 30 cm. In addition, the question of how to move the outlet may be associated with the emergence of new technology to create more comfortable living conditions. The work can be done with your own hands by a person who knows the basics of electrical engineering and how to hold a hammer drill. The transfer is usually done over a short distance.

Relocation of the outlet in the apartment

Incorrect relocation of the socket can cause the following malfunctions:

• heat;
• lack of tension;
• poor anchorage;
• sparking contacts.

Consistent and correct execution of operations will avoid installation errors.

Preparatory work

In preparation, first of all, a diagram is drawn up, the location of sockets or switches is selected, and the location of the cable is also determined. To do this, you need to find out how hidden wiring is laid. If it was made according to standard projects, then you can find the wires using a special device. Then the amount of work is estimated, and the right tool is selected if the work is done by hand:

• perforator;
• crown;
• screwdriver, pliers, hammer, chisel, probe.

The following materials are needed:

• mounting box;
• cable (recommended VVGng);
• socket;
• dowel-clamp, gypsum or alabaster, electrical tape.

When choosing an outlet, you must correctly determine which type is needed. Grounded outlets are currently in use. When transferring them, it is necessary to provide for the laying of a ground wire.

Laying the cable for the socket

For those who want to lay the cable for sockets and switches with their own hands, there are several possible options. The main one is the laying of new wiring.

Scheme of laying a new cable to the installation site of the outlet

New branch from distribution. boxes

1. disconnecting the power cable in the box;
2. dismantling the old outlet;
3. wiring a new cable to the new installation site.

With a large removal of the junction box in the wall, a new one is made. The figure above shows the wiring diagram. The phase and neutral cores are shown in red and blue colors, respectively. The diagram does not show a ground wire, but it must be carried out together with them if a Euro socket is installed. Inside the junction box, the power supply wires to the old outlet are disconnected (in the diagram on the left).

The sequence of operations for transferring the outlet is as follows:

1. The nearest junction box is located and de-energized, to which the old outlet is connected. To do this, turn off the circuit breaker in the panel, in the apartment or house, through which electricity is supplied. It should be provided that there is no possibility of accidental supply of electricity. For power tools, a separate temporary input is made with an automatic machine and a socket.
2. In the junction box, the old outlet is turned off by disconnecting the outgoing and hidden cables. Disconnected wiring can be left in the old place.
3. A new route is marked on the wall for chasing a furrow for a new cable. The depth of the groove is made so that a layer of plaster 15 mm thick can be applied on top of the cable.
4. At the installation site of the socket, a hole with a depth of 50 mm is drilled with a puncher with a crown.
5. The mounting box is installed in the nest and fixed in it with building plaster.
6. A cable is laid in the furrow and fastened with dowel-clamps with a pitch of 500 mm.
7. The output and new cables are connected through the terminal block, by soldering or with a galvanized bolt with washers and a nut. Then the connections are insulated with tape.
8. A cable is connected to the new outlet, and it is installed in the mounting box.

The fastening of the socket must be strong and without backlash, and the cable cores are wrapped in rings around the set screws.

1. The outlet is tested for functionality, after which the electricity is turned off again, and the furrow is laid with building plaster.

Permission is required for wall chasing. It is not allowed to make grooves on horizontal sections of load-bearing walls in a panel house. You can hide the cable under the screed or plaster.

How to connect wires?

It is important to create a reliable wire connection. The best methods are crimping, soldering and welding. At home, the first and second are usually used. For crimping, sleeves made of the same material as the wires are used (Fig. a). This requires special pliers. The sleeve into which the wires are inserted is crimped on both sides.

Wire connection methods

For welding and soldering, twisting is first done (Fig. b, c). It is also a separate connection method, but it is used as a temporary connection or at currents not higher than 2 A. For a powerful consumer (electric stove, boiler, etc.), this method is not suitable. It is not allowed to twist different materials, but if it is absolutely necessary, the copper wire should be tinned beforehand. It is possible to wrap one wire around the other, if the curl is made by both, the number of turns on each must be at least two.

Soldering connects the copper wire well. To connect aluminum, heated TOC-type solder is rubbed between the twisted turns.

Welding is carried out by melting the wires at the end of the twist using a graphite electrode made from the brush of the electric motor collector. The inconvenience is the need to connect the welding machine. Now compact inverters have appeared everywhere, greatly facilitating the process.

It is convenient to connect wires from different materials using a bolt with a nut and washers (Fig. D). The figure shows one of the simple ways to create threaded connections. Among them there are varieties: terminal blocks and captive terminals.

With screw connections, the wire is bent into a ring between the pad and the nut (fig. below, left). If it is slightly flattened, the contact area will increase several times, and its resistance will decrease significantly (fig. below on the right). This will allow electrical current to pass through the wire connections for an electric stove or other powerful load.

Bend wire for threaded connection

Shortening the power cord

The method is rarely used when it is possible to move the outlet along the power wire, which is connected from below. To do this, the old socket is dismantled, the wire is carefully removed from the wall, the excess part is cut off, a new socket is installed, and the connection is made.

Power cable extension

The option is the most common, although it is not recommended to use it. If it is absolutely necessary, wiring is pulled through the socket of the old one to a new outlet. The connection to the additional wire is made in the old junction box, or a new junction box is installed instead. It won't be quite right, but it can be done. The box should be closed with a lid, with the possibility of providing access to it.

It is forbidden to twist wires from different materials!

If possible, it is better to completely replace the supply wire by laying a new one along the old furrow. If the wiring is done in pipes, replacement is even easier.

In the apartment from time to time you have to rearrange the furniture, while you need to change the location of the outlets. Old sockets can be left disconnected, but at the same time they are reliably disguised. In the future, they may come in handy with a new permutation.

Adding a new socket to an old one

In this option, you do not need to remove the old outlet and put a junction box in its place. The figure below shows a daisy chain connection when two sockets are located on the same power line. There may be more of them, as far as the section of the supply cable allows. Sometimes you can just install a double outlet instead of a single one. Connection to sockets of switches for lighting is not allowed.

Connecting sockets with a loop

The daisy chain connection is suitable only for low-power energy consumers: portable light sources, irons, TV, vacuum cleaner. The washing machine, boiler, electric stove and pumps require connection through a junction box or a separate cable from the power panel machine.

Sockets for powerful consumers

Sockets for heavy loads, such as electric stoves, require special attention. They need to be checked more often and replaced if the contacts are burned or other defects.

The maximum current of the device must be 25 A or 32 A. You may need a larger outlet. It is installed outside or mounted in the wall.

Wall-mounted electrical outlet

Switching an outlet. Video

You can learn about how to independently transfer the outlet to another place in the video below.

The transfer of sockets and switches to a new location should be carried out in accordance with all the rules. With a phased installation, the work can be done by hand. It is important that the rearrangement complies with electrical safety regulations.