Junction Box beneath suspended floor

[jonnyb1985]

Morning all,

I'm trying to move a socket in my downstairs living room and run a spur from it over to an adjacent corner where there isn't any power at present.

The ground floor is a suspended floor, with a 3-4ft crawlspace under the floor. All the various spaces are accessible from the other, as there are access gaps in the brickwork. So you can currently pull the floorboards up to access the void under the floor, or you can use an access hatch installed in the front porch.

My problem is that the length of wire currently reaching the existing socket may not be enough to get it to the new location without the wire hanging in mid air (which I obviously don't want). I won't properly know until I start to move the socket, but when I do that I wanted to be prepared with a backup plan.

I was therefore wondering about using a junction box to extend the cable and also provide a split point for the new spur. I'm happy enough doing this from a practical point of view, but I wanted to see what your thoughts are on the accessibility of this as required by the regulations. The internet seems torn on the subject - could you let me know what you think, or if there is some other point I haven't considered?

Cheers,

John

 

[alpha spark]

As long as the joint is accessible can't see a problem is this part of a ring main has it already been spurred has it can only be done once

 

[jonnyb1985]

It's definitely on the ring main - hours spent crawling under the floor boards looking at the wiring have convinced me of this (and caked me in all kinds of dust and rubbish as well!). Only two wires going in, no third connection so I reason that it hasn't been spurred.

 

[alpha spark]

I tend to keep my alterations on a ring main just what I prefer to do but if your happy doing that fine I'd also write on the floorboards where the joint box is so any one further down the line can find it easily enough

 

[steptoe]

If you are concerned about accessibility of the JB you could put some WAGOs in an enclosure.

 

[a1]

As per Steps...

These:

https://www.wagobox.com/shop/lever/

In this:

https://www.wagobox.com/shop/junction/wagobox-junction-box-6-pack.html

Then they don't need to be accessible for inspection.

 

[jonnyb1985]

Thanks for all the replies - I'm now more confident that what I'm doing is correct

 

[sellers]

If your adding a joint under the floor use wagos and write on the floor board that there's a joint underneath. Job done!

I prefer wagos because if the floor is tiled or laminated afterwards its maintenance free.

 

[alpha spark]

What's the big thing with these wagos I've not been lucky enough to use them yet has the firm I work use joint boxes and nothing else however I want to start using these for my own work how much do they cost per box including wagos I know joint boxes are only 60p-70p a box what's the pros/ cons of them cheers

 

[m4tty]

Wagos are more expensive but what you save in time is well worth it. Much quicker. Go

On their website mate and they'll send you a free box with some Wagos in. I use them all the time whereas my pal (sparks for 30 years) won't touch them lol. Stuck in his old ways

 

[alpha spark]

Will do Matty thanks

Where on the website is it please ?

 

[Apache]

Will do Matty thanksWhere on the website is it please ?

Load of kits here:

https://www.wagobox.com/shop/kits

Even vets use them......

(the red 2 way ones are some CPC were selling off cheap. They stock Wago kit now)

 

[betty swollocks]

Just to add a minor point

"Only two wires going in, no third connection so I reason that it hasn't been spurred"

Two wires going in does not always mean the two ends make up the ring

It could be that the socket in question is a spur and that socket has been spurred again I.e. two wires in

Only a meter or even a multi meter will tell you for sure

 

[a1]

Quite right Betty.

Alpha spark, forum members get a discount on Wagoboxes:

http://www.talk.electricianforum.co.uk/forum-news/17765-wagobox-10%25-discount-wagobox-wagobox-light-junction-boxes-all-talk-electricianforum-co-uk-members.html

I was looking at the Wagobox website last night and noticed that more colours have been added:

Wagobox Enclosures (Juction Boxes) in Grey - https://www.wagobox.com/shop/junction/wagobox-junction-box-6-pack.html

Wagobox Enclosures (Juction Boxes) in Black - https://www.wagobox.com/shop/junction/wagobox-black-junction-box-6-pack.html

Wagobox Enclosures (Juction Boxes) in White - https://www.wagobox.com/shop/junction/wagobox-white-junction-box-6-pack.html

Wagobox Enclosures (Juction Boxes) in Red - https://www.wagobox.com/shop/junction/wagobox-red-junction-box-6-pack.html

Wagobox Contractor Kits here: https://www.wagobox.com/shop/kits

Wagobox Enclosures (Juction Boxes) in Grey -

 

[jonnyb1985]

Just to add a minor point"Only two wires going in, no third connection so I reason that it hasn't been spurred"

Two wires going in does not always mean the two ends make up the ring

It could be that the socket in question is a spur and that socket has been spurred again I.e. two wires in

Only a meter or even a multi meter will tell you for sure

Was being a bit vague/glib there, sorry - I did indeed do a multimeter check to be sure and confirmed that it was on the ring. My main thing was that with only two wires going in *and* it being on the ring, the absence of a third wire suggested that it hadn't been spurred previously

 

[ProDave]

Just a few thoughts:

Just because there are 2 cables connected to the socket is no guarantee that it's on a ring final. It could already be a spur off a spur.

With the power off, remove the socket and then check for continuity between the two lives, the two neutrals, and the two earths.

Rather than "move" the existing socket, leave it where it is, and use it as a junction box in effect to extend the ring to the new location. You could leave an (unused) socket there, or connectors and a blanking plate. You can never have too many sockets in a room. Also saves making good and decorating the spot you were proposing to move the socket from.

Since you have such good access under the floor, run the extra socket as part of the ring as well, rather than a spur, so much better practice.

 

[lineman]

absolutely, would definitely extend the ring, particulary as you can actually crawl under the floor.