UK Wiring advice for a novice

[yorkieone]

Are you in the UK?



The first thing is to look at it, the location of it, the size of the cable and the depth of the box will all give clues as to what this was originally for.

Looking at the picture I see things which suggest it is likely to have been a lightswitch.


Then after that use a voltage tester (not a neon screwdriver or anything like that, they are not safe to be poking in mains wiring) and operate circuit breakers one at a time to establish which circuit it is connected to.

its a shallow box but set in deep remove them connectors loads of depth to fit a single socket

 

[nicebutdim]

it looks like a single socket on a ring was removed so adding it back is easy but, find the fuse circuit its on guessing its a 32 amp ring or 16/20 amp radial

Looking like something and actually being that thing are very different propositions.

If we set apparent conductor size to one side, as images can be misleading, and also the red tape, which may not have been placed there to indicate a switched live, we still can not be certain that it isn't a redundant light switch. What can not be set to one side is the 16mm box and I can not conceive that this was ever likely to have been placed behind anything other than a light switch.

 

[yorkieone]

As already said, its a shallow box. You can see the oval knock outs on the back and the fact the cable going up in the middle of the box.
Almost definitely an old lightswitch so again as said, no neutral.
Its not a brown, its black with dust on.

wrong back box in a deep hole not a light switch

 

[yorkieone]

Looking like something and actually being that thing are very different propositions.

If we set apparent conductor size to one side, as images can be misleading, and also the red tape, which may not have been placed there to indicate a switched live, we still can not be certain that it isn't a redundant light switch. What can not be set to one side is the 16mm box and I can not conceive that this was ever likely to have been placed behind anything other than a light switch.

wrong back box fitted my guess it a deep hole

 

[yorkieone]

Might be the angle of the photo, but it looks like a 12mm deep box. Only really used for light switches as anything else is too deep behind the plate to fit in.

Is there a light in this pantry? Switch outside the door roughly in line with this box?
I think original switch was here, inside… but it was awkward to use when shelves were full.
Someone in the past jointed through the cables and ran to a new switch position.

I also think the red is live. The black is switchwire up to the light. There is no neutral here.

wrong back box fitted might be what your seeing

 

[nicebutdim]

wrong back box fitted my guess it a deep hole

This isn't a guessing game. Read the OP.

 

[yorkieone]

This isn't a guessing game. Read the OP.

This isn't a guessing game. Read the OP.

my belief is its a wrong box in a deep hole

 

[yorkieone]

first do you know the difference between 2.5 and 1.5 cable if 2.5 then its power and I have seen 16 amp radials in 1.5 if you have a volt meter tester find the fuse that turns the power off to that circuit to me it looks like 2.5 but photos can mislead

 

[yorkieone]

This isn't a guessing game. Read the OP.

OP?

 

[yorkieone]

Are you in the UK?



The first thing is to look at it, the location of it, the size of the cable and the depth of the box will all give clues as to what this was originally for.

Looking at the picture I see things which suggest it is likely to have been a lightswitch.


Then after that use a voltage tester (not a neon screwdriver or anything like that, they are not safe to be poking in mains wiring) and operate circuit breakers one at a time to establish which circuit it is connected to.

it may just being used to extend the cable and nothing was ever fitted on that back box

 

[littlespark]

OP means “original post” or “original poster”

The evidence we have is a single box. We think it’s shallow, so suggests a switch, rather than a socket. But photo can be deceiving.
It also shows 1.5mm cable. Again, not conclusive.
Red tape on black conductor. This also suggests a light switch. Red for feed, identified black for switch wire.

I’d say discarded lightswitch 99% sure.


The 100% confirmation is by testing between that red and black. Which none of us can do over the internet.

The OP has already said he will get an electrician in. Best course of action.

 

[davesparks]

thats a a single socket on a ring main no reason why a new socket could not be added just find which circuit its part of live and neutral into the socket plus the earth a simple job

The OP has already told us that it has been confirmed to be an old light switch.

So maybe it's time to give up flogging this rather dead horse!

 

[yorkieone]

it looks like a single socket on a ring was removed so adding it back is easy but, find the fuse circuit its on guessing its a 32 amp ring or 16/20 amp radial

me bad i have just re-looked at the photo it was a light switch red tape on switch line doh

 

[littlespark]

Is this a new thing?
#1 post at the top of every page.

I thought there had been a cull of overnight messages.

 

[yorkieone]

it looks like a single socket on a ring was removed so adding it back is easy but, find the fuse circuit its on guessing its a 32 amp ring or 16/20 amp radial

i need new glasses its a switch back box black marked red switch line Doh