Simple question on running cable along a wall?

[Spark2be]

The walls in my house are plastered block work. If I were to add a spurred socket that will be approx 5m from the original is it possible to clip the cable to the wall? I don't want to chase it in and the misus is not keep on trunking. I'm sure that the plaster will just break away with clips??

 

[telectrix]

do it right, chase up, over and down.preferably preserve the RFC if it is one. or if you're prepared to live with an eyesore, then clip it or trunk it,

 

[Spark2be]

RFC?

I know the best way would be to chase but if I were to use clips are there specific clips that you can use in plaster?

 

[Guitarist]

RFC?

I know the best way would be to chase but if I were to use clips are there specific clips that you can use in plaster?

I'm assuming from that post that you are not an electrician. Please be more specific about where you plan to install the spur.

 

[Spark2be]

You assume right. I am in college and I have wired up and tested various exercises, however, the teaching on building techniques and tools etc is non existent.

I plan on putting the spur around 5m from the original. Original is in a bedroom, spur is to be on an adjacent wall.

 

[telectrix]

if you mus t run it surface, use sticky-back trunking along the skirting board. screw and plug every 3 ft. then a riser to each socket,

 

[Knobhead]

I think it’s time you got an electrician to do the job for you.
At the same time get him to have a look at your dads fuse board. You oviously haven’t a clue what your doing.

 

[trev]

I reckon your wife will be a damn sight more unhappy with a surface clipped cable. Trunking looks bloody awful, I wouldn't propose to use it in a house where I hated all the occupants so I'm never going to use it in my own home and I'll bet if you trunk it you'll hate it too.
The chasing tools are over there in the corner mate

 

[Silly Sausage]

You assume right. I am in college and I have wired up and tested various exercises, however, the teaching on building techniques and tools etc is non existent.

I plan on putting the spur around 5m from the original. Original is in a bedroom, spur is to be on an adjacent wall.

RFC - Ring Final Circuit. The socket you're planning to spur off, if you can prove that it's on the ring, do as Tel says, extend the ring to the new socket. That'll give you the option of adding further outlets later (easier).

Again, as T says, bury them cables, unless you've got some posh wallpaper, but then those clipped or trunked cables will look completely sh....

 

[Strima]

Chasing in is the first option I would use, you may as well learn some basic plastering skills as they will come in handy, saved me a fortune over the years.

You can also get quadrant trunking which blends in better with skirting boards.

Sounds like hard work but lift the floor boards and identify the correct cables then wire it so you maintain the ring circuit, better to do the job properly the first time. If your lucky the joists will be running the right way, if not refer to the OSG and start notching out as required. Remember to avoid putting cables close to heating pipes etc and derate the cable as applicable for your fixing method.

Rather than a quick fix, do it properly and you will learn time appreciation for a job and how to overcome problems without the customer looking over your shoulder. Just send your missus shopping until the works done.

 

[telectrix]

Chasing in is the first option I would use, you may as well learn some basic plastering skills as they will come in handy, saved me a fortune over the years.

You can also get quadrant trunking which blends in better with skirting boards.

Sounds like hard work but lift the floor boards and identify the correct cables then wire it so you maintain the ring circuit, better to do the job properly the first time. If your lucky the joists will be running the right way, if not refer to the OSG and start notching out as required. Remember to avoid putting cables close to heating pipes etc and derate the cable as applicable for your fixing method.

Rather than a quick fix, do it properly and you will learn time appreciation for a job and how to overcome problems without the customer looking over your shoulder. Just send your missus shopping until the works done.

what?????

 

[trev]

NOTCHING OUT!!!!!

Burn The Witch!!!!!!

 

[mickys86]

I think it’s time you got an electrician to do the job for you.
At the same time get him to have a look at your dads fuse board. You oviously haven’t a clue what your doing.

Ditto

 

[Adam W]

All you need to do is cut out where the new box is going, you only need to chase down to the skirting board and drill behind it, then just lift a couple of floorboards and simply extend the ring. Quick bit of filler and a lick of paint, bit of testing, job's a goodun. Simples!

 

[AVTECH]

why use clips? go the whole hog and buy a pritt stick........not the cheap type tho you want to do the job properly.......:freak:

 

[mickys86]

Can't believe you haven't thought about getting the wireless ones, would be so much easier!

 

[telectrix]

All you need to do is cut out where the new box is going, you only need to chase down to the skirting board and drill behind it, then just lift a couple of floorboards and simply extend the ring. Quick bit of filler and a lick of paint, bit of testing, job's a goodun. Simples!

unless the cables are from above, then it's 7ft chases down from ceiling.

 

[telectrix]

whats wrong with an extension lead under the carpet. or........ move the bloody telly.

 

[Adam W]

unless the cables are from above, then it's 7ft chases down from ceiling.

The new wiring could just go under the floorboards though, which is simpler - join 2 sets of cables in the terminals in the old socket and "splice" the other 2 together behind it.

 

[Guitarist]

Guys, the OP has wired a few test circuits at College and has no experience of tools or even a basic grasp of installation. I really don't think we should be encouraging him to do any work himself unsupervised as I'm sure many people will be very upset if he hurts or even kills himself...

 

[Silly Sausage]

Guys, the OP has wired a few test circuits at College and has no experience of tools or even a basic grasp of installation. I really don't think we should be encouraging him to do any work himself unsupervised as I'm sure many people will be very upset if he hurts or even kills himself...

I think he's got off quite lightly, hasn't suffered the usual vitriol that gets slung at newbies.
We don't want him to do a hatchet install.

 

[Spark2be]

Thanks for all your replies and a few of you are right I am not completely sure what I am doing thats why I am asking questions. As to wiring a spurred socket from a ring main I believe I am cabable of doing that along with the appropriate testing (before and after). What I am not sure of is the building side of things and I can only learn that by actually doing it.

I would not mind just clipped cable as the socket and cable would be out of site.

 

[Guitarist]

Thanks for all your replies and a few of you are right I am not completely sure what I am doing thats why I am asking questions. As to wiring a spurred socket from a ring main I believe I am cabable of doing that along with the appropriate testing (before and after). What I am not sure of is the building side of things and I can only learn that by actually doing it.

I would not mind just clipped cable as the socket and cable would be out of site.

I admire that you are asking questions. What you should really be doing though, is working supervised during your apprenticeship while you learn these basic skills. I am only saying this as I am a caring electrician...

 

[trev]

Ok mate, what testing are you going to do before and after?
And, a 5M surface clipped cable is going to be all out of sight? It's a long run.

 

[Octopus]

Is it too late to add bonding and RCD protection to the OP's deliberations?

I like the notching idea, plumbers make huge notches so whay can't we??

 

[Guitarist]

Is it too late to add bonding and RCD protection to the OP's deliberations?

I like the notching idea, plumbers make huge notches so whay can't we??

Don't the building regs limit the amount of timber removed for plumbers to 80% of joist depth? :wink5:

 

[Spark2be]

Thanks for caring Guitarist, however, I am assuming that this site is not only for qualified electricians to answer questions that qualified electricians do not know?

I know that chasing the wall would be better, I was just hoping for a straight forward "yes you can clip into plastered walls if you use these.......clips" lol

 

[Plonker 3]

"yes you can clip into plastered walls if you use these.......clips" lol

Go to you local wholesaler ask for what size cable you need and then for clips to suit. Cable clips are only available in one type, how ever should you struggle to clip the cable then you may need to re-evaluate what you need to run the cable correctly.

 

[Des 56]

Thanks for caring Guitarist, however, I am assuming that this site is not only for qualified electricians to answer questions that qualified electricians do not know?

I know that chasing the wall would be better, I was just hoping for a straight forward "yes you can clip into plastered walls if you use these.......clips" lol

yes you can using these clips 2.5mm Flat Twin & Earth Cable Clips (100 per pack)| MeteorElectrical.com


Silly me,I think I have given the secret away

 

[Knobhead]

Have you tried looking for cable clips on Google? No, I didn't think so.

Or go to B&Q one of their experts will sell you something.

 

[Spark2be]

Dead test
Continuity / polarity
Insulation resistance
Zs
PFC
RCD

 

[Adam W]

I know that chasing the wall would be better, I was just hoping for a straight forward "yes you can clip into plastered walls if you use these.......clips" lol

You can if you want, but it'll look really amateurish, which is why a professional wouldn't do it that way.

 

[Guitarist]

Have you tried looking for cable clips on Google? No, I didn't think so.

Or go to B&Q one of their experts will sell you something.

The experts can even tell you how to rewire your house, no testing or notification required....

 

[Spark2be]

Yes I got 2.5mm twin and earth clipping from B & Q tried putting one in the wall and it just broke straight out leaving a little hole.

You thought wrong mate.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I'll do it for him. No Part P, no free money to the council, electrically perfect, as long as he does the plastering. And he'll learn from a craftsman!

 

[Adam W]

Yes I got 2.5mm twin and earth clipping from B & Q tried putting one in the wall and it just broke straight out leaving a little hole.

You thought wrong mate.

You could chase the cables into the plaster instead, then the plaster wouldn't chip because it would be over the top of the cables.
Or if you really want it to look amateurish you could clip the cable to the top of the skirting board, or use screws and plugs instead of the nails you get with the clips.
Or use self adhesive cable tie bases and cable ties.

 

[Spark2be]

Thank you Adam W, very helpful post. It looks like Im going to get some practice chasing.

 

[Spark2be]

Mate I have not meant to offend you by asking for advice on clips. If I had chance at an apprentiship I would go for it, I don't so I have to learn best I can.

 

[Richard Burns]

Yes I got 2.5mm twin and earth clipping from B & Q tried putting one in the wall and it just broke straight out leaving a little hole.

You thought wrong mate.

If you really want to just clip the cable to the wall then if you use pin plugs (available from big B&Q stores),
drill a hole in the plaster and use these plugs they should hold the cable clips well without breaking any more plaster, so long as you have enough depth available. Using cable clips direct in plaster does not work well.

 

[Spark2be]

As I have discovered. That's sounds like it would fit the bill.

Don't you have to enclose the wires in trunking even if you are burying it in the wall?

 

[Geordie Spark]

The new wiring could just go under the floorboards though, which is simpler - join 2 sets of cables in the terminals in the old socket and "splice" the other 2 together behind it.

.......... and if it's a concrete floor ???

 

[Silly Sausage]

.......... and if it's a concrete floor ???

This is a nice house here, not some concrete box in Gateshead.

 

[Geordie Spark]

This is a nice house here, not some concrete box in Gateshead.

rrr: :30:

 

[Geordie Spark]

The experts can even tell you how to rewire your house, no testing or notification required....

You've given me an idea

I think I'll apply for a job there to fill my time in now I'm retired.

 

[ipf]

.......... and if it's a concrete floor ???

Clip along that ?

 

[Geordie Spark]

Clip along that ?

Aall clip yer lugs lad !!! :angry_smile: :furious3: :boxing_smiley: :wink_smile:

 

[Silly Sausage]

Aall clip yer lugs lad !!! :angry_smile: :furious3: :boxing_smiley: :wink_smile:

And in the Queen's that translates as...???

 

[Geordie Spark]

And in the Queen's that translates as...???

I shall box your ears my good fellow.

 

[Silly Sausage]

I shall box your ears my good fellow.

I am very much obliged for your translation of that rough North Eastern barbarism of the English.
As a thanks, you are more than welcome to come to my club in Manchester, I'll be sure to order some of that 'Newcastle Brown' that you chaps partake in up in the 'Wilds'

 

[Adam W]

.......... and if it's a concrete floor ???

Read the title of the thread - this is a SIMPLE question. Throwing spanners in the works such as making it a concrete floor would be over-complicating matters.