Adding an extra socket: prepare a useful plan

You can prepare the layout, appliance list and preferred finish yourself. Extending the wiring, assessing the existing circuit and verifying the completed work require a competent installer. Adding a socket does not increase the circuit's available capacity.

Start with the appliances

Record each appliance's input power from its label or instructions. Note which appliances operate together and which run for long periods. A desk with a monitor presents different questions from a kitchen point serving several heating appliances.

Use the appliance inventory to organise quantities, wattages and use. It is a record for planning; it does not approve a circuit or choose a conductor size. Prysmian's cable-selection guidance includes load, installation method and length among the inputs. A total wattage alone does not describe those conditions.

Leave an unknown rating marked as unknown. An invented low figure makes the list less useful than an honest gap. Include appliances you expect to add after the room has been completed.

Position the outlet around everyday use

Draw the wall with furniture, doors and appliances. Measure from clear fixed points. Consider whether you can unplug equipment without moving a heavy cabinet.

Check that future shelving or a bed panel will not obstruct the socket. A television position may need power, network and aerial connections, each with a suitable installation arrangement. Kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor locations and vehicle charging points require additional decisions beyond an ordinary room layout.

For rented homes or shared buildings, establish who must authorise the alteration before making physical changes. Keep the agreed scope with your other property records.

Discuss the route and wall finish

Surface-mounted and recessed routes involve different building work. Tell the electrician whether the wall will be plastered, tiled or redecorated so the installation and finishing work can be coordinated.

Measure a possible route without drilling or opening electrical boxes. Include the vertical sections as well as the distance along the wall. Have its suitability, concealed services and any structural restrictions assessed before chasing or cutting.

An existing box is not automatically a suitable branching point. Space, connections, accessibility and protective measures all need assessment. Attema publishes dimensions and conduit interfaces for individual box models; these need to match the selected system.

Prepare the job in five steps

1. Mark the desired outlet positions on a simple room plan.
2. Add the appliances and expected simultaneous use at each position.
3. Record the design range, colour and surface or recessed finish.
4. Have the electrician assess the circuit, protection, route and installation method.
5. Confirm the final materials and work schedule, including verification and wall repairs.

Agree who will close the chases and complete plastering, painting or tiling. These tasks affect the finished room even when they are not part of the electrician's work. Record them before comparing quotations.

Materials to include after the design is confirmed

For an initial comparison, KARWEI lists conduit systems and Elektramat lists cable categories. Wait for the confirmed specification before ordering the electrical materials.

Frequently asked questions

Can the new socket always connect to the nearest one?

No. The existing installation, protection and load determine whether that arrangement is suitable. The shortest visible route may not be usable.

Can I do some preparation first?

Prepare the room plan, appliance list and photographs of visible parts. Agree drilling, chasing and demolition beforehand because they can affect hidden services and building structure.

What needs checking when the work is finished?

The alteration needs appropriate verification before use. NEN includes additions, alterations and initial verification within NEN 1010's scope. The required checks depend on the work.

Planning more sockets? Share your room layout and appliance list with CAS. Include the decorating schedule and any preparation you would like to carry out yourself.