Socket with slimest back connections?

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Discuss Socket with slimest back connections? in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

Mark Wright

Mark Wright

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Hi, The walls have been chased out and he fitted 25mm back boxes and to be fair you can't really go any deeper but one socket on a ring is feeding a spur so three cables and yes you can fit it in but really id like a bit more room.

Are there any sockets that have very thin connections on the back?
Thanks
 
is the socket one of those awful flat plate abortions. these need deeper boxs, usually 35mm.
 
Hi, thanks for your reply :)

At first he wanted a USB socket he bought but there was no way that was going to fit, the current socket I'd say the connection on the back are protruding about normal. What I'm wondering if anything exists with very slim connections on the back.
 
BG USB sockets will fit on a 25mm back box, although some care with dressing 3 cables would help.
 
The problem I had with the previous USB socket is it didn't have that notch at the bottom where the cables enter the box.

IMG_20230227_170144.jpg



I'm probably being a bit picky but if anything exists thinner than the two pictured above that would be great.
 
I hate the USB sockets . `Unless they are a lot better , i have heard too many stories of them not be safe enough for charging ??
 
davesparks said:
In what way unsafe?

Where have you heard the stories?
Click to expand...
Mobile phone forums etc etc . Something about many of them not having much of a safety regulator etc built into them .many people saying use a plug in charger is far safer for the protection of the item been charged etc ??
 
I think the usb charger thing was down to poor quality products, which includes the socket outlet, not just the usb charger, if I recall. I would use electrical accessories from a reputable manufacturer, then the usb charger shouldn’t be a problem.

I’ve also used those spacers before in such circumstances. If I recall, they were a bit fiddly to fit, but did the trick. Obviously need pairing with the socket manufacturer.
 
LukeD said:
Mobile phone forums etc etc . Something about many of them not having much of a safety regulator etc built into them .many people saying use a plug in charger is far safer for the protection of the item been charged etc ??
Click to expand...

You are much more likely to have issues with cheap/counterfeit plug-in chargers than decent quality USB sockets.
 
LukeD said:
Mobile phone forums etc etc . Something about many of them not having much of a safety regulator etc built into them .many people saying use a plug in charger is far safer for the protection of the item been charged etc ??
Click to expand...

I think, as with everything, if a low quality one is used then there may be problems. But the same is true of plug in chargers too.
 
it does seem a bit dodgy - the transformer malfunctions fine the MCB trips but on a ring there is also a broken leg and 32A MCB = fry time.

Anyway thanks guys for your help. Not been on here for ages. Nice to see some regular faces who always have the best advice :)
 
Mark Wright said:
it does seem a bit dodgy - the transformer malfunctions fine the MCB trips but on a ring there is also a broken leg and 32A MCB = fry time.

Anyway thanks guys for your help. Not been on here for ages. Nice to see some regular faces who always have the best advice :)
Click to expand...

It wouldn't break the ring leg if the USB Socket fails though.
 
Mark Wright said:
No I mean theres two faults, malfunction transformer and broken leg.

One of the reasons we use fused plugs in the UK is because we use rings.
Click to expand...

Ah I'm with you.

The USB sockets will have circuit protection built in if they are built to the appropriate standard.
 
Mark Wright said:
it does seem a bit dodgy - the transformer malfunctions fine the MCB trips but on a ring there is also a broken leg and 32A MCB = fry time.
Click to expand...

If the power supply for the USB outlets fails then the protection built in to that unit will operate.

A broken ring won't change how an MCB responds to a fault, it only affects overload situations.
 
Mark Wright said:
Anything plugged into a Ring should be fused in case of a broken leg. With a broken leg it becomes a radial wired in 2.5 and a 32A MCB will not provide adequate protection.
Click to expand...

No, see my previous comment. The socket will have built in protection, otherwise it would not meet the BS standards.

Edit, not sure I understand your point. I was answering your previous point about USB sockets not being fused.
 
"Previously, each mains socket had its own connection to the fuse board. To save copper, Britain adopted the ring main system, with sockets connected sequentially, but this meant each connection needed its own fuse. Instead of putting the fuses in the sockets, they were included in the plugs themselves."

Fused plugs are only required in the UK where we use Rings.

the flex is protected by the Fuse/MCB at the DB on a radial.
 
Mark Wright said:
Not going too off topic but technically now you mention it an unfused supply off a ring? maybe theres a reg being broken there.
Click to expand...
If you are talking about USB 13A sockets, since 2016 when the socket British Standard was revised to cover built-in electronics, the design has to incorporate a fusible link or fuse, and the psu must be SELV, meeting creepage and clearance distances and transformer insulation requirements etc. etc.
USBs got off to a bad start before that revised standard, when the market was flooded with dubious products, though I think China also makes 'proper' ones now.
But these days I like to think if you buy an approved product from a reputable manufacturer/source, there should no longer be a problem!
Newer technology allows a phone or tablet you plug in to negotiate with the USB charger what voltage/ current it wants.
I guess you could say that's that's an added safety feature, or something else to go wrong!
 
Avo Mk8 said:
If you are talking about USB 13A sockets, since 2016 when the socket British Standard was revised to cover built-in electronics, the design has to incorporate a fusible link or fuse, and the psu must be SELV, meeting creepage and clearance distances and transformer insulation requirements etc. etc.
USBs got off to a bad start before that revised standard, when the market was flooded with dubious products, though I think China also makes 'proper' ones now.
But these days I like to think if you buy an approved product from a reputable manufacturer/source, there should no longer be a problem!
Newer technology allows a phone or tablet you plug in to negotiate with the USB charger what voltage/ current it wants.
I guess you could say that's that's an added safety feature, or something else to go wrong!
Click to expand...
I'd be interested to know if these sockets do have a fused link or fuse.

But really I'm only referring to Rings etc Even if you took a selv spur of a Ring you have to fuse it.
 
Mark Wright said:
Fused plugs are only required in the UK where we use Rings.

the flex is protected by the Fuse/MCB at the DB on a radial.
Click to expand...
Only in specific cases where MCB and cable are specified together to meet adiabatic limit, etc.

That is why they often have thicker cables and limits on MCB for non-UK systems. We now also have thicker more expensive cables on most equipment because no one makes just for the UK market any more!
 
The collar/spacer thing worked great. This forum always has the best advice.

The only thing, I bought some longer screws from a well know distributors and they basically stripped the thread of the backbox. Where do you buy 3.5 screws?
 

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