Electrical FAQs

You will need the following:

• 2 x 2 way switches.
• Enough 1.5mm 3 core and earth cable to run between the two switch positions.
• Trunking or conduit to cover the cable or allow it to be sunk into the wall where needed.
• Earth sleeving.

Most switches sold by large DIY stores come complete with wiring instructions. Here are the connections, once the cable is in place:

Original switch position:

1. Yellow to COM on switch.
2. 2x red to SW1 on switch.
3. Blue and black to SW2 on switch.

New switch position:

1. Yellow to COM.
2. Red to SW1.
3. Blue to SW2.

All earth wires with earth sleeve to earth point on back boxes (and switches if metal).

To supply power to a shed or detached garage you will need the following:

1. RCD protected supply at the fuse box, or as a fused and protected spur.
2. Sufficient armoured cable to reach the destination.
3. 2 way fuse box or consumer unit to mount in the shed/garage.
4. Suitable fuses or MCBs for the circuits to be installed.
5. Suitable sockets and wiring (2.5mm T&E).
6. Suitable lighting and wiring (1.5mm T&E).
7. Cable clips for the armoured cable, or bury the cable at least 600mm down in the ground.

The size of the armoured cable (2.5mm 3-core or bigger) will depend on the cable length and the load to be placed on it.

A socket adapter will enable you to change single outlet sockets to double or treble sockets. These are much safer than standard adaptors. Alternatively, you can run a spur from an existing socket to a new double socket.

It is possible to end up with 4 separate sockets (single 1 gang or double 2 gang).

The present wiring will run in a loop (ring main) from the fuse box to each socket in turn and then back to the fuse box. You may have one of these rings for the kitchen, upstairs and downstairs. You will have to find the wire that feeds into the first of your sockets, the other wire should then be fed between the two sockets you have.

This wire will need to be disconnected at one socket and diverted to the new socket site. A new wire will then run from this point to the second new socket and from there to the original socket that the wire was removed from. This will complete your ring main once more.

You should allow for ten outlets per ring main to prevent overloading. Once this number is reached a new ring should be created.