DIY question

[Pubey]

Doing up a bedroom in our house. The chimney breast from the dining room comes up through this room. There are two sockets on the chimney breast, attached outside the wall using mounting boxes like this...

We're getting the walls skimmed and so I thought I could set the sockets into the wall to make it more tidy (and extend the ring to allow a couple of sockets in the room).

Is there any reason why you shouldn't set the back box into the chimney breast? Did they just use the mounting box out of laziness? The fireplace isn't used in the dining room, and I doubt we would use it in the future (it's our wine rack!) but don't want to do anything dangerous.

Cheers

Pubezzzz

 

[MK Shrimper]

I would have thought if the fire CAN be used then you definitely shouldn't have sockets there at all, regardless of the fact that you'd don't use it. Other than that, I can't see a reason why not but you need something to screw the box onto - otherwise put a bit of force onto it and the socket will just collapse.

Watch the ring main too - these days they are supposedly only to be installed by professionals. If you overload the circuit the breaker will continually trip.

 

[Mad Cyril]

If you are plastering the walls chase out some ducts and mount the sockets somewhere sensible.

 

[Pubey]

If you are plastering the walls chase out some ducts and mount the sockets somewhere sensible.

Yeah this is the alternative really. Might just take them off the chimney all together.

As it's a spare bedroom I doubt it'll overload the ring.

Cheers both.

 

[Jam_Man]

I would have thought if the fire CAN be used then you definitely shouldn't have sockets there at all, regardless of the fact that you'd don't use it. Other than that, I can't see a reason why not but you need something to screw the box onto - otherwise put a bit of force onto it and the socket will just collapse.

Watch the ring main too - these days they are supposedly only to be installed by professionals. If you overload the circuit the breaker will continually trip.

You have to use a back box which means taking a chunk out of the wall.

Certainly would avoid putting sockets on the fire breast anyway.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

And don't let any cowboy tell you to take the chimney out; if it is done it needs to be properly supported or here can be big problems.
With the wiring it might be that he sockets you describe are spirs and not "ringed", earthed or use correct strength/type of wire.
It is worth a drink to get a professional in to give you a true pointer.

 

[MK Shrimper]

And don't let any cowboy tell you to take the chimney out; if it is done it needs to be properly supported or here can be big problems.
With the wiring it might be that he sockets you describe are spirs and not "ringed", earthed or use correct strength/type of wire.
It is worth a drink to get a professional in to give you a true pointer.

2.5mm twin & earth will suffice if it's just in a room and it's a standard 13A socket.

 

[Pubey]

And don't let any cowboy tell you to take the chimney out; if it is done it needs to be properly supported or here can be big problems.
With the wiring it might be that he sockets you describe are spirs and not "ringed", earthed or use correct strength/type of wire.
It is worth a drink to get a professional in to give you a true pointer.

I'm taking up the flooring tonight so will know a bit more soon.

Thanks for the help guys.