Replacing a Power Socket

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networkn

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#153907 12-Oct-2014 13:11

Hi There!

We have a faulty AC Wall socket (USB Doesn't charge any more), I have a replacement, which I was intending to replace myself and just wanted to check two things:

I have a light plugged into it, and I'll switch the power off at the mains board, presumably if the lights out, there is no longer power to it. I saw someone recommending sticking a multimeter into the angled slots to check it reads 0, is that sensible?

Secondly, it's just a case of replacing the three wires to the same place on the new plug (Which is identical), are there any safety checks to perform before switching the power back on?

Cheers

Bung

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#1152185 12-Oct-2014 13:35

Search for a PDF copy of ECP51:2004. That will give you the official homeowner rights and responsibilities re minor electrical work.

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gzt

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#1152191 12-Oct-2014 13:59

Imho if the house is correctly wired then a simple power check on the socket is fine.

Because physical layout may differ slightly it is better to follow the indications on the new socket with understanding and doublechecking. Marks are usually
p = phase = red,
n = neutral = black,
e = earth = green

networkn

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#1152203 12-Oct-2014 14:31

gzt: Imho if the house is correctly wired then a simple power check on the socket is fine.

Because physical layout may differ slightly it is better to follow the indications on the new socket with understanding and doublechecking. Marks are usually
p = phase = red,
n = neutral = black,
e = earth = green

Thanks. Done it and everything is working and still alive to tell the story. Electrician who did it left quite a lot of exposed copper (2-3mm) hanging out of the securing screw section, it isn't touching anything, but I would normally have trimmed it. I didn't because I didn't have a suitable tool handy and wasn't 100% sure.

richms

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#1157340 18-Oct-2014 09:53

Just be aware the depending on your rcd wiring that if you connect the neutral and earth while working on it the rcd may trip killing the lights you are using to see by to do the wiring by. Stupid shared rcd budget installs.

Richard rich.ms