ᐅ Electrical outlets: Always prepare in groups of five? What is the best approach?
Created on: 31 Jul 2019 12:52
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Christian K.C
Christian K.31 Jul 2019 12:52Hello everyone,
We are doing the electrical installation ourselves, and I had planned to drill boxes for five outlets each, but only use, for example, two of them. The rest would be covered and plastered over. The advantage would be that if I later need more outlets, I can remove the plaster and expand the outlet.
Now I’ve heard that making this flush with the wall is problematic. I would have to use spacer rings or similar. Also, the effort to simply drill new boxes later wouldn’t be any greater. In other words, the effort is higher if I drill more boxes in advance.
What do you think?
One more point that came up later: We are running NYM 7x2.5mm² cables per room for the outlets. The idea is to be able to measure and switch five outlets, and the rest are constant power. The problem is that connecting a 7x2.5mm² cable inside a device box with an outlet is not possible due to limited space. My idea is therefore that if, for example, I have a double outlet, I will install at least one additional empty box nearby to make the cable connections.
So more specifically, my questions are:
a) Is it worth pre-drilling?
b) What should I keep in mind during installation so that it is not visible later?
c) Do you have a better solution for cable connections in an empty box?
Cheers
We are doing the electrical installation ourselves, and I had planned to drill boxes for five outlets each, but only use, for example, two of them. The rest would be covered and plastered over. The advantage would be that if I later need more outlets, I can remove the plaster and expand the outlet.
Now I’ve heard that making this flush with the wall is problematic. I would have to use spacer rings or similar. Also, the effort to simply drill new boxes later wouldn’t be any greater. In other words, the effort is higher if I drill more boxes in advance.
What do you think?
One more point that came up later: We are running NYM 7x2.5mm² cables per room for the outlets. The idea is to be able to measure and switch five outlets, and the rest are constant power. The problem is that connecting a 7x2.5mm² cable inside a device box with an outlet is not possible due to limited space. My idea is therefore that if, for example, I have a double outlet, I will install at least one additional empty box nearby to make the cable connections.
So more specifically, my questions are:
a) Is it worth pre-drilling?
b) What should I keep in mind during installation so that it is not visible later?
c) Do you have a better solution for cable connections in an empty box?
Cheers
Christian K. schrieb:
We are installing one NYM 7x2.5mm (7x0.1 inch²) cable per room for the outlets. The idea is to be able to measure/switch 5 outlets individually, while the rest have constant power. That would mean having 4 outlets individually switchable/measurable and one circuit for constant power.
You’re right, using a 7-core cable with 2.5mm² (0.1 inch²) conductor size is quite difficult in a junction box. What is the reason against using 2x5x1.5mm² (2x5x15 gauge) cable instead?
Christian K. schrieb:
Also, the effort wouldn’t be any greater later on to just drill the outlets again. Exactly. You have to install all outlets now anyway through wiring connections. Why not do it properly from the start?
Christian K. schrieb:
b) What do I need to consider during installation so that it’s not visible later? I don’t understand that concern. Make the wiring connections before plastering, put the plaster cover on, clip off any flags, and plaster over. Take plenty of clear photos to know exactly where the empty boxes are later on. Knocking on the wall won’t help much.
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HilfeHilfe31 Jul 2019 13:46Recreating a set of five is easy and not complicated! I would leave it as is.
guckuck2 schrieb:
I don’t understand the concern. Connect before plastering, put a plaster cover on it, naturally clip off the flags and plaster over them. And take plenty of clear photos to be able to find the right spot of the empty box later on. Tapping won’t get you far. Either I misunderstood him, or you did, or I misunderstood you.
As I understand him, he wants to connect the boxes sometime in 5 years.
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Christian K.31 Jul 2019 15:25@Lumpi_LE & @HilfeHilfe
As I said, it was something I was considering and I wanted your opinion because I had some doubts. From what you’ve said, it seems best to only drill what is necessary at first and if needed, drill again later.
I need to pull more cables. Since these run underground, I also have to use conduits, which means more effort and higher costs. Of course, I considered that, but with the 7x2.5mm² cables, the only issue is the risk of jamming. The alternative would actually be 2 bundles of 5 cables with 2.5mm², not 1.5mm². I use 1.5mm² for lighting.
I didn’t fully understand it either. At a party, someone suggested it’s not that simple and that a plaster cover wouldn’t solve it.
Currently, I would proceed like this: For example, with a double gang box, I would drill three holes, use one for clamping, and plaster over it. This would solve the space issue, and from the outside, no difference would be visible.
Is there any other alternative besides using 5mm² cables?
As I said, it was something I was considering and I wanted your opinion because I had some doubts. From what you’ve said, it seems best to only drill what is necessary at first and if needed, drill again later.
guckuck2 schrieb:
You’re right, 7-core cables with 2.5mm² conductors are not easy to handle in a junction box. What about using 2 bundles of 5 cables with 1.5mm² instead?
I need to pull more cables. Since these run underground, I also have to use conduits, which means more effort and higher costs. Of course, I considered that, but with the 7x2.5mm² cables, the only issue is the risk of jamming. The alternative would actually be 2 bundles of 5 cables with 2.5mm², not 1.5mm². I use 1.5mm² for lighting.
guckuck2 schrieb:
I don’t quite understand the concern. You clamp before plastering, install a plaster cover, of course clip off the flags, and plaster over it. Take plenty of clear photos so you can find the right spot on the junction box later. Knocking on the wall won’t help much.
I didn’t fully understand it either. At a party, someone suggested it’s not that simple and that a plaster cover wouldn’t solve it.
Currently, I would proceed like this: For example, with a double gang box, I would drill three holes, use one for clamping, and plaster over it. This would solve the space issue, and from the outside, no difference would be visible.
Is there any other alternative besides using 5mm² cables?
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