Swapping plastic faceplates to metal

[ilovelamp888]

I’m looking to swap the plastic switches & sockets in our house to metal.

Ive removed the plastic faceplate, and can see that there are a couple of earth wires in the back box, which terminate into a choc box. I assume the builders left them like this in the event people swapped to metal like I’m doing.

The back box on the light switches is plastic and the earths are just sitting in the choc box.

For the wall sockets the back box is metal and a single earth runs straight to the existing plastic faceplate.

when I connect the new metal faceplate for the switches, is it ok to run an earth from the faceplate into the choc box to meet the existing cables, or do I need to remove the choc box entirely and run all the earth cables straight into the new metal faceplate?

One of the faceplates is a light switch/extractor fan so a very busy looking back box with 4 earth cables in the choc box.

cheers

 

[Wilko]

when I connect the new metal faceplate for the switches, is it ok to run an earth from the faceplate into the choc box to meet the existing cables ... ?

Hi - yes it’s ok. Get some green and yellow spaghetti tubing to cover it. The challenge is to be sure that all the conductors are properly gripped and connected together.

 

[Zerax]

If it was me... I'd be doing some testing afterwards too...

 

[static zap]

Get some green and yellow spaghetti tubing to cover it.

I'd be doing some testing afterwards too...

Sadly sometimes it's as usefull as spaghetti - as we need to confirm the other end is attached /doing its job--- Hence testing comments !

 

[MJPD29]

Connect them to your faceplate there should be an earth terminal on the metal ones for them. Great username also gave me a laugh.

 

[ilovelamp888]

Hi - yes it’s ok. Get some green and yellow spaghetti tubing to cover it. The challenge is to be sure that all the conductors are properly gripped and connected together.

Thanks, yes, I need to have a good look @ the connections!
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Connect them to your faceplate there should be an earth terminal on the metal ones for them. Great username also gave me a laugh.

Ha, cheers. So get rid of the choc box entirely and run the straight to the faceplate?
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If it was me... I'd be doing some testing afterwards too...

Yeah; that’s definitely on the cards before switching on!
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Sadly sometimes it's as usefull as spaghetti - as we need to confirm the other end is attached /doing its job--- Hence testing comments !

That’s the concern here, the wires are there but where do they go ?

 

[telectrix]

those earth wires should go back to the consumer unit earth bar via whatever accessories are in between. as it's a series circuit, a break anywhere would remove the earthing from anywhere downstream. the only way to be sure is to do a continuity test from the CU to the last point on the circuit.

 

[ilovelamp888]

those earth wires should go back to the consumer unit earth bar via whatever accessories are in between. as it's a series circuit, a break anywhere would remove the earthing from anywhere downstream. the only way to be sure is to do a continuity test from the CU to the last point on the circuit.

Thanks. Yes, agree this needs serious testing, especially considering first lot of face plates are in kids bedroom.
I have a multimeter, but not familiar with how to test this robustly- any tips, or do I just bite the bullet, and get a pro in to sort it all out?