Plug socket or light switch is connected with wires to the main source to function. We have the 2-cabled wire as well as 3-cabled wire. These wires are 3 and are colour-coded: Red/Brown- Life, Black – Neutral and Yellow – Extra. At least two of these wires (life and neutral) must be connected to either the plug socket or light switch to function.
As with other appliances, Plug socket or light switch also develops a fault. In the grand scheme of things, changing a plug socket/ light switch is a minor task.
However, this minor task may become a significant catastrophe if it is not done properly because experimenting with electricity can be awfully dangerous. The ideal procedure to get it fixed properly is to hire an electrician who can carry out the job for you.
However, for individuals who don’t plan to pay anybody else for the task, you may change it yourself.
Here are the basic strategies that you may follow to change carefully an electrical plug socket (the same goes with a light switch):
• Ensure you switch off the power for the socket that you want to conduct the change.
• Go to the main circuit breaker box and trip the breaker, which gives power to that exact socket. You can simply do that and select the suitable breaker if your primary breaker box is appropriately labeled , otherwise if you do not want to test each breaker before you uncover the right one, you will have to switch off all the breakers to be sure.
• Now check out the socket involved and check for power. Just connect an electrical appliance, for instance, a vacuum cleaner to verify if the supply remains to be on or use a multi-tester if you have one.
• Proceed only after you’re 100 % sure that there’s no power to the socket that you’re planning to work on.
• Now, use a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the face plate and next, remove the face plate.
• Pull out screws holding the socket to your receptacle box.
• Drag the socket as far out as it will move out of your receptacle box, taken caution not to touch any wires.
• Note down precisely where the wires are connected to the socket since you’ll need to reconnect them later on in the fresh socket likewise. You should see two or three wires connected to the socket. They are usually colour coded. While you wire them up exactly the same way they were (which is very important), then you need not worry about the colours. A multi-tester will be very helpful here should you get stuck.
• Undo the wires from the old socket. Examine your notes and reconnect the wires into the new socket’s terminals.
• Tighten each of the screws making sure that no wires with another colour are in contact with each other. When all the wires are properly fastened into place, push the socket back into the receptacle box and secure it using the screws you had removed earlier.
• Then replace the faceplate.
• Switch on all the breakers inside your main breaker box and plug an electrical device into your new socket to confirm if it is functioning.
All fittings are the same with maybe more installation bolts or screws, and many have lots of parts to construct, but the wiring part is the same. Article linked with Big Fish Social Media