Facebook Posts 29/10/2019 No Comments

Replacing an Electrical Socket

Tradeworkz is your one-stop shop for finding qualified tradesmen to complete jobs around your home. Not only that, but it is or mission to help educate you on simple DIY jobs that you can do around the house. The first being how to change an electrical socket.

[Disclaimer: This content is purely for informational purposes. If you are unsure about how to do this, please consult a qualified electrician].

1. Switch off the electricity at the fuse box
2. Remove the socket faceplate.
3. Take a picture of which wire goes into which terminal.
4. Remove the wires from the terminals of the old socket.
5. Attach the wires to the terminals on the new faceplate.
6. Secure the new faceplate.
7. Turn on the power and test the socket.

1. Switch off the Electricity at the Fuse Box

Open up the fuse box and switch off the power in the area of the house that you are replacing the socket.

2. Remove the Socket Faceplate

Using a screwdriver, remove the screws that hold the faceplate in place. Safety note: When dealing with a white Dry Lining Box in a wall as here, the earth cable is only connected to a terminal on the socket itself. Whereas if you have a metal box in a wall, the earth connection will be connected to the metal box and then onto the socket.

3. Take a Picture of Which Wire Goes into Which Terminal

Take a picture of which wire goes into which terminal. The wires will typically be labeled as follows:

• Green or Yellow – Earth
• Brown – Live
• Blue – Neutral

The newer sockets will be labelled to indicate where to insert each wire.

In older houses, the wires could be different colours:

• Red – Live
• Black – Neutral
• Green – Earth

4. Remove the Wires from the Terminal of the Old Socket

Remove the wires from the old outlet by slightly unscrewing the screws holding the wires in place.

5. Attach the Wires to the New Faceplate

Attach the wires to the new faceplate. If the copper wire is worn, then you can cut it off with a wire cutter and strip back a small section of insulation off the wires. 

You can use the picture you took in step 3, or you can follow the labels on newer sockets:

• L – Live
• N – Neutral
• E – Earth

When placing the wires into the terminals, make sure that no copper wire is exposed.

6. Secure the New Faceplate

Secure the new Faceplate into the wall.

7. Turn on the Power and Test the Socket

Turn the power on and test the socket at the fuse box.

For more practical tips on DIY, or to find qualified tradesmen, head over to Tradeworkz.ie. Connecting home and business owners with qualified tradesmen. Saving you time and increasing trust.