Moving a light switch.
Moderator: Moderators
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
I need to move a (double) switch about 8" to the side of it's current location so I can put in a bookcase. What is going to be the best/easiest way to do this? The wires are buried in a solid concrete wall so I do have the option of moving behind plasterboard etc.
I don't mind making it a temporary solution that can be reinstated back to original if/when I move.
I don't mind making it a temporary solution that can be reinstated back to original if/when I move.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1301
- Joined: Mon May 03, 2021 1:36 pm
- Has thanked: 117 times
- Been thanked: 212 times
Moving a light switch.
Chase the wall for the cable to run horizontally from the existing position. Use Wagos to connect the new cable to the old cable. Use a 1G blank to cover the existing back box and connections.
Fit the switch in the new position
Fit the switch in the new position
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
I think the edge of the bookcase is going to fall right on the where the switch currently is. Do they made 1G covers that will fit flush to a wall? I had thought about putting a piece of thin board and then a light skim of filler so it would be easy to knock out in the future.
- Someone-Else
- Senior Member
- Posts: 14572
- Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:03 pm
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 2556 times
Moving a light switch.
Not that I am aware of. The idea of a flush faceplate is not only to cover the hole/stop the wires being poked, but to indicate that there is a cable behind it. If you put something else over and decorate it, today you know it's there, "next month" you will forget and...........
Above are my opinions Below is my signature.
Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.
If gloom had a voice, it would be me.
Click Here for a video how to add/change pictures
Inept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section
Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.
If gloom had a voice, it would be me.
Click Here for a video how to add/change pictures
Inept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1301
- Joined: Mon May 03, 2021 1:36 pm
- Has thanked: 117 times
- Been thanked: 212 times
Moving a light switch.
The blank plate is thinner that the skirting board, so it shouldn’t be an issueRorschach wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 6:48 am I think the edge of the bookcase is going to fall right on the where the switch currently is. Do they made 1G covers that will fit flush to a wall? I had thought about putting a piece of thin board and then a light skim of filler so it would be easy to knock out in the future.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
The bookcase will be mounted to the wall.Neelix wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 8:25 amThe blank plate is thinner that the skirting board, so it shouldn’t be an issueRorschach wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 6:48 am I think the edge of the bookcase is going to fall right on the where the switch currently is. Do they made 1G covers that will fit flush to a wall? I had thought about putting a piece of thin board and then a light skim of filler so it would be easy to knock out in the future.
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
Don't worry, I won't forget.Someone-Else wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 7:16 amNot that I am aware of. The idea of a flush faceplate is not only to cover the hole/stop the wires being poked, but to indicate that there is a cable behind it. If you put something else over and decorate it, today you know it's there, "next month" you will forget and...........
- Someone-Else
- Senior Member
- Posts: 14572
- Joined: Sat Sep 01, 2012 6:03 pm
- Has thanked: 47 times
- Been thanked: 2556 times
Moving a light switch.
It's not you I am worried about.
Above are my opinions Below is my signature.
Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.
If gloom had a voice, it would be me.
Click Here for a video how to add/change pictures
Inept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section
Would you hit a nail with a shoe because you don't have a hammer? of course not, then why work on anything electrical without a means of testing Click Here to buy a "tester" just because it works, does NOT mean it is safe.
If gloom had a voice, it would be me.
Click Here for a video how to add/change pictures
Inept people use the QUOTE BUTTON instead of the QUICK REPLY section
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 649
- Joined: Thu Mar 26, 2009 8:20 am
- Has thanked: 86 times
- Been thanked: 116 times
Moving a light switch.
What about one of these https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-1-gang-b ... lsrc=aw.ds
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
Hmm, yes maybe!stevei wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 1:28 pm What about one of these <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https://www.screwfix.com/p/lap-1-gang-b ... w.ds</span>
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 685
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2012 2:40 pm
- Has thanked: 26 times
- Been thanked: 173 times
Moving a light switch.
Anyone in the future
(your family members, new owners)
that may try to put something in to the wall in that location (backbox across to the new switch)
they won't be expecting that kind of cable route.
They may get a little shock (physically and mentally)
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
I would be reinstating the original switch position before I sell the property. There are several (perfectly safe) electrical installations that will be removed before selling.
- ericmark
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4260
- Joined: Tue May 10, 2011 2:43 am
- Location: Mid Wales
- Has thanked: 116 times
- Been thanked: 782 times
-
- Senior Member
- Posts: 5375
- Joined: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:35 pm
- Has thanked: 107 times
- Been thanked: 1038 times
Moving a light switch.
I'll be sure to add a note to my will.