Tidy mains bench cabling for multiple devices? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 10:15:23 pm
content: I have put some kitchen base units around 2 walls of my in house office cum workshop. It needs to remain looking tidy and neat to keep `er indoors off my back The worktops on top of the base units are normal cheap plain kitchen worktops, again around 2 walls in an L shape. Before these are finally fitted and the worktops screwed down I need to address bringing mains cabling to the top for all the plethora of interesting electronic devices we all know and love. I would rather not have all the sockets on the walls, firstly because the internal walls are that stupidly soft thermal block that you can stick a knife in, but are a nightmare to securely screw things to, and secondly I would rather they be out of sight. To this end I was wondering if you can still get six gang mains sockets that are not "trailing" sockets with a mains lead and single UK 13 amp plug attached, but rather ones that fit conventionally to the wall? I was thinking of fixing these under the worktops, and finding some sort of neat hole liner to prettify some hole saw cut round apertures in the top surface of the worktops, big enough to feed several cables with 13 amp UK 3 pin plugs still on through, one at a time. I am thinking of something like a flanged alloy or plastic liner, top hat in shape, to cover the inevitable chipping of the worktop laminate when they are drilled, and hide the cut chipboard of the sides of the holes. I can't find anything in the UK, was thinking of maybe adapting something like the spun alloy outer shell of ceiling down-lighters? I have a good lathe, but the required 4 inch or so diameter alloy bar stock will be very expensive, and turning it very wasteful. Something moulded plastic or spun alloy is what I really want. Does anyone have any good ideas for multiple mains power sources that are neat and unobtrusive? Thanks.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 10:25:56 pm
content: Office desks often have "cable holes" cut in them with a circular plastic liner and a cap to stop things falling down them when no cables are installed. Try looking at office furniture suppliers or cabinetry/wood working suppliers. If commercial desks are made this way there are probably parts out there somewhere for the DIY'er.As for wall sockets, try looking for commercial/industrial systems. Industrial premises with brick or concrete walls will run mains cables in metal conduits screwed to the wall, and will have metal boxed surface mount mains sockets also screwed to the wall. They usually seem to be dual ganged sockets, but you can run a line of them side by side when you need more. Check your power loading because there is a limit to how many sockets you can put on a spur off the ring main.(But if you are just going to mount your mains sockets to the wooden surface inside the cabinet, regular plastic surface mounted mains sockets should do fine and be less expensive.)

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 11, 2012, 10:39:04 pm
content: What you need is industrial square trunking, you can get power points that fit straight into it get a length of trunking equal to your bench length and you could fit socket all the way along it if you want, city electrical Factors (cef.co.uk)would stock it.

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2012, 12:07:17 am
content: Thanks for the advice, found some plastic 80mm inserts that either allow the full hole size to be open, and they are big enough to pass a normal UK 13 amp mains plug through, or you can fit a cover with a crescent shaped hinged flap to pass just a few wires through. Just hole sawed the holes for 4 of these, deiced I need some more now.... Am going with 3 gang sockets in shallow surface mount boxes inside the cabinets. The mains fuse box for the house has a main RCB in it, do I need another one just for these sockets, or will the main one on its own do? Thanks!