Socket installation

Socket installation means fitting a socket where there is already a back box and a cable: after a renovation, in a new flat from the developer, or when switching to a different range of fittings. If there is no cable in the wall yet, you need a different service, a new electrical point.

How the handyman fits a socket

• switches off the circuit at the consumer unit and checks with a tester that the box is dead;
• prepares the cable ends and connects live, neutral and earth to the right terminals;
• fixes the socket into the back box, levels it and fits the faceplate;
• switches the power back on and checks it works and is wired correctly.

Safety

Electrical work should be done by a handyman qualified for it, always with the circuit switched off. The most common DIY mistake is leaving the earth unconnected: the socket works, but if an appliance develops a fault it gives no protection against shock. Bathrooms and outdoor spots need sockets with a higher IP rating, and the circuit should have RCD protection.

What to prepare

• sockets and plates from your chosen range, or, if the handyman is to bring them, the make and colour;
• access to the consumer unit so the circuit can be switched off;
• the number of sockets and photos of the back boxes in the job.

Common questions