Can you wire two Pyros into one socket?

[SFHD]

Hello all.
I’m new here, and I have a question regarding the old Pyro (MICC) that runs throughout our 1960s era flat.
The previous owner has spurred off a single gang wall socket and plonked another single gang next to it. I’d like to remove both single wall boxes and just have a double gang there for neatness, as there’s a visible gap down the middle of the two sockets.
However, as you can see there are two live and neutral Pyro feeds going into the first socket.
Can I use wire both feeds into a new bobble gang socket? Or shal I make one feed safe?
Also, which connectors would you reccomend I use to extend the Pyro wires with? As you can see they’re very short.

Thanks in advance guys,
Scott.

 

[westward10]

It is probably a ring final circuit so both need connection. You are going to need to knock out the wall below to access the glands to ensure they are very tight as the cable sheath provides the earth. I would seriously consider using an experienced electrician to do that and not some wet behind the ears youngster.

 

[MDJ]

 

[telectrix]

easily doable, but as westie says. also easy to cock it up. for the sake of a few quid, get an experienced electrician in, one who's conversant with MICC. you could do it yourself and it would work, but maybe that life-saving earth is not up to standard.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Also, which connectors would you reccomend I use to extend the Pyro wires with?

none ,you will be playing with dynamite. only the experience spark would work on that .that got the knowledge .

 

[westward10]

The existing back box does need replacing though or a more effective means of earthing to the back box put in place. I don't want to be negative with you but that could turn into a pig of a job even for an experienced electrician. Under no circumstances try to release those milled lock nuts.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Under no circumstances try to release those milled lock nuts.

go on I dire you.

 

[westward10]

Another issue is that they are probably imperial cables and a new back box will have metric entries which will be oversized and hence you lose an effective connection between the gland and back box which you do not want.

 

[Wilko]

As I'm basically micc shy (chicken), I'd leave the original 1 gang micc backbox as is. Perhaps create a new 2g backbox to the left and spur into it?

 

[buzzlightyear]

As I'm basically micc shy chicken, I'd leave the original 1 gang micc backbox as is. Perhaps create a new 2g backbox to the left and spur into it?

don't tell him pike .

 

[KEV 1 N]

Best thing to do with old MICC that’s buried in the wall (especially imperial sizes) is to leave it alone! All it takes is for one of those cables to snap off and that’s the job buggered!

You have been warned!

 

[Pete999]

View attachment 43761 View attachment 43762

Hello all.
I’m new here, and I have a question regarding the old Pyro (MICC) that runs throughout our 1960s era flat.
The previous owner has spurred off a single gang wall socket and plonked another single gang next to it. I’d like to remove both single wall boxes and just have a double gang there for neatness, as there’s a visible gap down the middle of the two sockets.
However, as you can see there are two live and neutral Pyro feeds going into the first socket.
Can I use wire both feeds into a new bobble gang socket? Or shal I make one feed safe?
Also, which connectors would you reccomend I use to extend the Pyro wires with? As you can see they’re very short.

Thanks in advance guys,
Scott.

If you are not an Electrician, with MICC experience, then my advice would be to get hold of one who has experience in this type of cable, as old MICC is not to be trifled with, and to be sure what is a bobble socket?

 

[Pete999]

View attachment 43761 View attachment 43762

Hello all.
I’m new here, and I have a question regarding the old Pyro (MICC) that runs throughout our 1960s era flat.
The previous owner has spurred off a single gang wall socket and plonked another single gang next to it. I’d like to remove both single wall boxes and just have a double gang there for neatness, as there’s a visible gap down the middle of the two sockets.
However, as you can see there are two live and neutral Pyro feeds going into the first socket.
Can I use wire both feeds into a new bobble gang socket? Or shal I make one feed safe?
Also, which connectors would you reccomend I use to extend the Pyro wires with? As you can see they’re very short.

Thanks in advance guys,
Scott.

Can't see anything have you posted a picture?

 

[telectrix]

it's a socket to put a bobble in.

 

[SFHD]

Thank you for the feed back guys.
I actually just had a pair of sparkies round, but they ran out of time to do this. Pyro is new to me, and from what they've been saying and showing me, its awful stuff - especially when it ancient like ours.
We need them back in the future for something else, but I was hoping I could do this on my own in their absence.
Now that I know its not impossible but 'not recommended' for the DIYer (as keen as I am...) I'll take your advise and leave it to a Pro.
Thanks again chaps.
Scott.

 

[SFHD]

P.S. to save confusion the pictures are at the top of the original post. There are 2 links to 2 pictures.
HTH

 

[Pete999]

it's a socket to put a bobble in.

Thanks Tel, tell me where can I get a Bobble, do CEF stock them, or is it an orange shed type item? can't think what the Guy behind the counter would say if I asked for a box of Bobbles to fit the new Bobble socket in my House.
Hope the OP isn't offended, cus it's banter, nothing more nothing less.

 

[elsparko]

It is probably a ring final circuit so both need connection. You are going to need to knock out the wall below to access the glands to ensure they are very tight as the cable sheath provides the earth. I would seriously consider using an experienced electrician to do that and not some wet behind the ears youngster.

oi! i know what u mean though, only time i really worked with pyro is at college

 

[elsparko]

Thanks Tel, tell me where can I get a Bobble, do CEF stock them, or is it an orange shed type item? can't think what the Guy behind the counter would say if I asked for a box of Bobbles to fit the new Bobble socket in my House.
Hope the OP isn't offended, cus it's banter, nothing more nothing less.

i can only find bobble borats

 

[Pete999]

oi! i know what u mean though, only time i really worked with pyro is at college

And there in lies the problem.

 

[Davisonp]

What about disconnecting the spur then using a single to double socket converter over the MICC socket and filling the remains of the other single socket?

 

[Pete999]

What about disconnecting the spur then using a single to double socket converter over the MICC socket and filling the remains of the other single socket?

You would need to ascertain the integrity and the method of how the original SPUR was installed. is it part of the RFC or a spur from a spur, not as simple as imagine Davisonp

 

[Davisonp]

You would need to ascertain the integrity and the method of how the original SPUR was installed. is it part of the RFC or a spur from a spur, not as simple as imagine Davisonp

The folk who used to install MICC in general used to do things properly, so in this setup there was a single back box with two MICC into it, an someone wanted a second socket, so spurred off the MICC socket putting a second back box next to the original. Confirming the original MICC install should be straightforward, and not disturbing the original MICC back box preferable to messing with the buried cables, hence to tidy things up, a socket converter giving two sockets from a single back box and fill or remove and fill the spurred back box. Still a job for a proper electrician.

 

[Pete999]

The folk who used to install MICC in general used to do things properly, so in this setup there was a single back box with two MICC into it, an someone wanted a second socket, so spurred off the MICC socket putting a second back box next to the original. Confirming the original MICC install should be straightforward, and not disturbing the original MICC back box preferable to messing with the buried cables, hence to tidy things up, a socket converter giving two sockets from a single back box and fill or remove and fill the spurred back box. Still a job for a proper electrician.

good luck with that

 

[SFHD]

Davisonp: Thats food for thought, Ill tell my sparkie but Im still tempted to do it myself lol. I won't though, as you've said, the back box and milled nuts are ruined. I could be in a world of pain very quickly!

 

[LankyWill]

It is probably a ring final circuit so both need connection. You are going to need to knock out the wall below to access the glands to ensure they are very tight as the cable sheath provides the earth. I would seriously consider using an experienced electrician to do that and not some wet behind the ears youngster.

This youngster has rewired a lighting circuit in a church using Pyro, were all not complete tarts i will have you know.

 

[AJshep]

Last time i worked with Pyro was when a builder put an angle grinder through a 10mm 2 core submain in a empty flat.


Bloody thing was imperial it cost about £200 for the tools and gland that I needed to order to re- terminate it, I had to solder the pot on too as it was obsolete and didnt quite fit.
The stuff is so expensive now, personally wouldnt want to touch it unless I had the tools to hand.

 

[ipf]

Another issue is that they are probably imperial cables and a new back box will have metric entries which will be oversized and hence you lose an effective connection between the gland and back box which you do not want.

You could be right W, not sure. If it's push on neoprene, it's metric. The imperial discs I remember didn't have it. The sleeves were lipped and pushed through holes in the disc from the inside of the pot before sealing.

 

[davesparks]

If it's push on neoprene, it's metric. The imperial discs I remember didn't have it. The sleeves were lipped and pushed through holes in the disc from the inside of the pot before sealing.

Both types of disc and sleeve are still available, if I remember correctly the lipped type of sleeve is a higher temp deal than the standard stub cap type.

 

[ipf]

Both types of disc and sleeve are still available, if I remember correctly the lipped type of sleeve is a higher temp deal than the standard stub cap type.

True, I'm not saying they aren't.....but pre metric they were all lipped.

 

[davesparks]

Pyro is new to me, and from what they've been saying and showing me, its awful stuff - especially when it ancient like ours.
.

It’s not awful stuff at all, it’s a pretty versatile and very resilient type of cable.
Working with it is a less common skill these days and these people telling you it is ‘awful stuff’ suggests that maybe they don’t have the skills.

Someone with the relevant experience, and maybe a little lateral thinking should have no problem doing the job safely and in full compliance with the regulations. Although whoever does it and however they do it there will have to be a bit of a hole made in the plaster to access the glands and cable.

 

[Toneyz]

Thanks Tel, tell me where can I get a Bobble, do CEF stock them, or is it an orange shed type item? can't think what the Guy behind the counter would say if I asked for a box of Bobbles to fit the new Bobble socket in my House.
Hope the OP isn't offended, cus it's banter, nothing more nothing less.

CEF would probably tell you one price for that Bobble and charge you another price.

 

[driverman]

Why not leave the existing MICC socket as it is , but replace the actual socket itself. Remove skt box on the left and replace it with a new twin socket box. Flush 2nd box about half inch from existing MICC box. That way, all neat and tidy, plus you will have 3 x sockets.

 

[mossep]

What about disconnecting the spur then using a single to double socket converter over the MICC socket and filling the remains of the other single socket?

Agree with Davisonp, simple DIY job & you'll be done in no time. Not worth complicating it if your not sure you have the skills.