Wiring a Spur From an Existing Double Socket That Already had Spur Wired in Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[Kenwood]

Okay so here is my problem. I wanted to wire up a spur from an existing double socket but when took socket off the wall it seems there is already a spur wired !! I wanted to know if the following was possible and legal in terms of the regulations:

Break the ring by fitting two single sockets and then wire the existing spur of one single socket and the "new" spur off the other single socket ?

[ericmark]

It seems daft but yes allowed. So swap the double socket for a 4 module grid switch plate and fit into it two single sockets and you can have a spur off each one.

There are two reasons for not taking two spurs from the same point.
1) Many sockets will only grip three wires in the terminals add a fourth if you can get it in and it may not be gripped well.
2) For sockets near the consumer unit it could cause an overload although seem to remember working out needs to be less than 3 meters for consumer unit before any real problems and even then unlikely unless really high powered items plugged in.

You can also get twin rather than double socket boxes and fit two standard single sockets that way the sockets can be switched. The grid switch option means you lose the socket switch but saves changing back box.