Skirting sockets: fastening features and advantages

A relatively new solution for electrical installation work was the socket on the plinth. The device allows you to avoid dirty, dusty wall chasing and simply lay the wiring into the cable channels of the wall curb.

What is a plinth socket

A plinth socket is called a multibox, which is mounted directly to the wall curb by cutting into it or placing it in the immediate vicinity. Use an electrical element to increase the power points in the house during repairs.

Externally, the electrical outlet is almost identical to the standard one. The only difference in the body of the device is that its lines exactly follow the bend of the plinth in order to perfectly cut the outlet into the curb.

Advantages and disadvantages

Skirting sockets have a number of positive aspects for the master:

• With the help of the multibox, additional power points can be placed in a compact and organic manner.
• Due to their low location relative to the floor, the sockets are not striking, they do not visually cut a solid wall, and sometimes they completely hide behind furniture.
• The rich color gamut of multiboxes gives the craftsman the opportunity to choose the product exactly to the color of the wall border.

  

• All wiring is securely hidden by the cable channel, does not lie on the floor and does not stretch along the walls.
• No risk of bumping into old cables in the wall when installing new ones - safety for the master.
• Lack of dusty work.
• The ability to install an additional outlet anywhere in the room without reference to norms and standards when wall chasing.

Skirting sockets also have some disadvantages. These include:

• Moderate impact resistance. With frequent mechanical damage, the Multibox may crack.
• Accessibility for children. In a house where there are babies, it is better not to install such sockets or mount them taking into account the arrangement of tall furniture in order to block access to the food point.
• The negative effect of moisture on all wiring in case of an accidental flood in the house or a spilled bucket of water directly on the outlet.

You can protect the feeding point from the baby or water using hard curtains.

Specifications

To mount a socket in the skirting board, you should know its technical parameters:

• Dimensions - 55 x 22 mm or 70 x 22 mm.
• Voltage - 220-250 W.
• Number of phases - single phase.
• Manufacturing material - plastic.
• Rated current - 16 A.
• Product type - single, double, triple.

Distinguish between floor and wall skirting sockets. The first ones fit tightly to the wall border and floor. The second ones grab the baseboard and the wall, but do not touch the base of the room.

Limitations for the installation of sockets on the plinth

It is forbidden to mount plinth power points in such cases:

• Wiring in wooden houses. Here, all cables are arranged only in an open way, and sockets are used only overhead (external).
• The food point must be constantly accessible.Therefore, you should not mount the outlet behind complex technical equipment (gas boilers, ovens, hobs, etc.).

The plinth socket is installed only when the object is completely de-energized.

Installation principles

To carry out the work, the master will need:

• Perforator for forming holes for dowels.
• A hacksaw or grinder for cutting skirting boards. The sander makes a smoother cut.
• A hammer equipped with a doboiner.
• Tape measure / ruler and construction pencil.
• Side cutter for removing the sheath from the cable.
• Screwdriver.

Also, for the device of hidden wiring, the master will have to prepare the following materials:

• Wall curb (aka plinth), equipped with a cable channel. Its color and height can be arbitrary.
• End caps as required.
• Cable (three-wire for grounding or two-wire - without it).
• Skirting socket (multibox).

It is advisable to take the cable and plinth with a small margin.

Multibox

This is a special skirting board that has cutouts for the profile of the wall curb. Stays close to it. There are various profile modifications on sale, so you can choose any multibox for any skirting board.

More often, the overlay is used to install a regular outlet. But it is possible to place outputs for telephone cables, Internet cables, etc. in it. The multibox is mounted as simply and quickly as possible.

Cable channel

Despite the fact that often a PVC skirting board already has a built-in channel, some craftsmen prefer to use separate plastic U-shaped boxes for laying the cable. Externally, the channels differ in depth and height, which allows laying from 2 to 5 wires in them simultaneously. The top of the box is closed with a decorative lid. The cable duct is laid under the plinth (except for wooden or frame houses).

Internal and external sockets

Built-in power points are mounted in a multibox, and external ones are used in tandem with a cable channel when laying wiring in wooden houses. While the internal power point can be used on any wall other than wood, there is no restriction on the use of an external outlet.

Features of installing plinth sockets

There are a number of rules to follow when installing food outlets on a wall curb:

• The plinth is fixed to a flat wall with a step of 0.5 m. If the panel has bends, the step of fastening is reduced in order to exclude the appearance of gaps between the curb and the wall.
• It is better to work with a puncher and install dowel-nails directly through the plinth attached to the panel. This saves time.
• It is better to fill the cable channel with wires by 40%, but no more. Otherwise, overheating of the electrical wires will occur.
• It is advisable to lay the cable loosely, without tension. Sometimes, if the channel cross-section allows, even a small margin is made.
• If the master puts the usual overhead sockets close to the plinth, a cutout is made in it with a grinder up to the very box with the wires. This will make it easier to route the cable to the power point. And the connection of the outlet to the curb will be neat.

Noisy work with a puncher is best done on a weekday from 10:00 to 17:00 in order to minimize the level of discomfort for neighbors.

Installation of sockets

Depending on which power points will be used, the installation technique changes in some places.

Installation of skirting sockets

To attach a skirting board with a cable channel to the wall, you need to do the work in stages in the following sequence:

• A protective narrow cover covering the box is removed from the top panel of the curb. Pry it off with a screwdriver from the edge.
• Apply the plinth to the wall and, in accordance with the markings (the future location of the outlet), form a tie-in for the socket.
• The plinth is fastened with dowel-nails to the wall.
• Mount the multibox.
• Lay the cable and lead the wires to the outlet.
• It remains to connect them to the terminals.

The last to be installed is the top cover of the socket, the decorative protective strip and the end caps.

Wall Mount Power Point

In this case, the wires are laid in the cable channels according to the instructions above. But in the intended place of installation of the outlet, a small cutout is made on the back of the plinth to bring out the cable.

The cover panel (multibox) is fixed to the wall and the conductors are brought to its terminals.

It remains to fix the upper decorative cover of the supply point and put the plugs on the plinth.

Cable channel over the skirting board

If you don't want to lay the wires under the wall curb, or if the wiring is mounted in a wooden house, it is better to just use a cable channel. The box is fixed parallel to the plinth on the dowel-nails. Previously, the top cover is removed from the channel. After fixing the box, wiring is laid in it and a protective panel is put on top.

The tails of the cable are connected to a wall outlet.

Tips and tricks for DIYers

Professionals recommend that you de-energize the premises before starting work. This minimizes the risk of accidents.

When installing skirting sockets, it is important to remember that they quickly accumulate dust and dirt. Therefore, you need to regularly clean the feeding points with a dry cloth or brush.

Before installing the power point on the plinth, it is worth considering that the furniture in this place will not be close to the wall.