Installing a socket in a concrete wall – installation instructions

Although it may appear difficult, installing an electrical socket in a concrete wall is completely doable with the appropriate methods and equipment. Concrete walls offer different challenges than traditional drywall, whether you’re remodeling a space or adding a new outlet. But don’t worry, you can easily achieve a professional finish because this guide will walk you through every step of the way.

You must first gather a few necessary supplies and tools. This comprises the socket itself, along with a chisel, hammer, socket box, and drill bit for masonry. Safety equipment such as gloves and goggles is also necessary for your own protection while working. Once everything is prepared, you can begin by marking the location of the socket. Here, accuracy is essential to guarantee that the outlet is installed at the proper height and spot.

Drilling and chipping into the concrete come next after marking the location. Given that concrete is far harder than drywall, this can be a bit challenging. This task will be simpler with a masonry bit on your hammer drill. After drilling a hole for the socket box, you’ll need to carve out enough room so that the box fits snugly. To prevent breaking the wall or making the hole too large, take your time doing this step.

The electrical wiring needs to be installed after the socket box’s space has been cleared. It could be a good idea to get professional advice at this point if you’re not experienced with electrical work. Fit the outlet into the socket box and fasten it to the wall once the wiring is installed and linked to the socket. Lastly, make sure everything is operating correctly by testing the socket. You will have successfully added a new outlet to your concrete wall after completing these steps.

Main types of socket boxes

Because there is a socket box, the socket is firmly fixed. However, newer models allow you to change the socket model at any time if it is damaged or you would like to switch to one that better matches the decor of the room. One term for a socket box is a box for a socket.

To select the best box for a concrete wall, you need first know what kinds of boxes are available. Different kinds of boxes work well with different kinds of walls.

There are two types of socket boxes that can be identified based on the surface type that you intend to mount it on:

  • for main structures that have a solid surface. Such as brick, reinforced concrete, concrete walls and others;
  • for certain types of finishing materials such as plasterboard, panel, plywood and others. Which can also serve as partitions in a house where the installation of socket boxes is carried out often.

When it comes to solid walls, the boxes resemble rounded cups and are fixed with a unique composition. They still have passages in them, which are used for wiring. If multiple sockets are installed side by side at the same time, there are cups with fasteners on the sides that are required to connect with other socket boxes. This component makes it simple to mount them next to one another.

When it comes to solid walls, the boxes resemble rounded cups and are fixed with a unique composition.

To guarantee fastening to finishing materials for thin structures, parts with specialized fasteners are used. These parts are then screwed; the strength of the fastener controls their evenness and direction, acting as a regulator.

Parts with specialized fasteners are used for thin structures to guarantee fastening to finishing materials.

In addition to their common round shape, which makes them easier to install, boxes also come in square and oval shapes.

Large volumes set apart the second two types, which are similar to the first in that they are meant for hidden wiring. To prevent them from being seen beneath the socket itself, they are installed inside the wall.

It should be mentioned that some socket boxes are "open" and attached straight to the baseboards.

Such boxes can only have detachable, plastic skirting boards.

The most popular are rounded, and installing them is easier.

Standard ones and deeper ones, which are used in place of the distribution box, can be distinguished by size.

Metal and plastic can be distinguished based on the material of manufacture. While metal goods were once common, non-flammable plastic products are now frequently used.

Typically, wooden houses use metal socket boxes. Soldering is required to repair a metal socket box on a wooden wall because welding is not an option.

When installing metal socket boxes in wooden houses, care must be taken to ensure that safety measures are followed.

These days, non-flammable plastic products are frequently utilized.

Systeme Electric socket ATN001045, 16 A, with a protective curtain, with grounding

Standard diameters of socket boxes are not so standard

There are diameter divisions in the standard:

  • the most popular in stores are 68mm, in fact 67-68mm (t.e. almost 7 cm)
  • and 70mm. But it is worth taking into account one point: 70 mm is the diameter at the base, but taking into account the ribs-ribs, in fact, all 75 mm. And when you need to tightly install exactly 70 diameter, all the protrusions (2.5 mm on each side) need to be cut off, and only then it fits tightly.

The two most common sizes are these two. There are fewer socket boxes available in 65 and 75 mm diameters. This relates to the diameter.

But there is also a division in depth.

Although socket boxes that are 45–46 mm (let’s assume that 4.5 cm) deep are more common, the popular size is 40 mm, or roughly 4 cm, deep (green in the picture).

Shallow ones are appropriate in through-hole installations where the wall is thin and narrow, as is frequently the case in contemporary new construction. On occasion, it is even 8 cm. Additionally, two sockets next to each other in such a wall will not fit completely in order to avoid protruding. Two of these 40mm are used as a solution; one on one side and the other on the opposite side; this precisely matches the wall’s thickness.

Compared to purchasing regular deep socket boxes and then figuring out how to carefully chop off a portion of their backs, this is preferable (bottom).

Socket Legrand 672221 Etika, 16 A, with grounding

Installation

Diameter of the rosette crown

First, it is necessary to install a socket box. For this, it is best to use a hammer drill and a crown with a diameter of 6.8-7.0 cm. First, a hole is made in the center of the intended location of the socket to a depth of 5.0-6.0 cm with a concrete drill with a diameter of 8.0 mm. Then, a crown is used to drill to the required depth. The depth is determined by the type of socket box, so that after installing the entire set of the product, the entire structure is located completely in the plane of the wall on which it is mounted. Next, a hammer drill with a spatula attachment removes the remaining concrete in the hole.

Once the hole is prepared, take out the plugs from the socket box where the power cable will pass through. The wall hole is primed and dust-free after a gypsum mixture or alabaster has been prepared beforehand. The issue of how to fix the wall socket now emerges.

After inserting the wires into the socket box and preparing the wall hole with a gypsum mixture (alabaster), the socket box is pressed into the laid mixture. The extra mixtures are taken out. The socket will be permanently affixed to the wall once the solution has solidified. After that, you can complete any necessary cosmetic work around it.

The installation of a socket in a concrete wall is actually the primary task included in the aforementioned work. Now that the wall surface has been completed and the cable (wires) from the camshaft to the socket (the subject of another discussion, stroke) has been made, you can move on to the last step, which is the direct installation of the outlet in the box (socket).

Using the prepared set of tools, the socket itself is prepared. To do this, they disassemble it: remove the decorative cover and connect the device (socket) to the supply cable (wire). To do this, the electrical insulation is removed from each core for a length of 6.0 – 8.0 mm, after which each of them is connected to the corresponding terminals of the device (PE, P, L). Next, the socket is installed in the box (socket box) with its rigid fixation. There are different fixing elements on different types of sockets. As a rule, they come complete with sockets. In practice, these can be adjustable paws and devices, or simply screws (self-tapping screws) that are screwed into the mounting holes of the socket box itself.

Double socket Schneider Electric ATN000124 AtlasDesign, 16 A, with grounding, white

Preparatory work

You must get the necessary tools and supplies ready before beginning the installation process. The locations of the socket installations should be decided. Drawing a diagram that specifies where sockets, switches, and wire lines should be installed is essential.

Kindly take note! It is standard practice to install outlets in residential buildings between 30 and 40 centimeters above the ground. The level of fittings in a bathroom, toilet, hallway, or other room used for practical purposes should be selected with practical needs in mind.

Some guidelines should be adhered to when installing wires:

  1. Wiring should be located 15 – 20 centimeters from the ceiling.
  2. Wires should only diverge vertically or horizontally. Building codes prohibit diagonal wiring, creating zigzags or twists between wires.
  3. The distance between the grooves and the gas pipeline should not be less than 35 centimeters.

Necessary materials and tools

In order to swap out sockets, we’ll need:

  • New socket;
  • Socket box;
  • Indicator screwdriver – http://alii.pub/64bk4x
  • Spatulas;
  • Putty or alabaster;
  • Insulating tape;
  • Screwdrivers (Phillips and flat).

Systeme Electric ATN001043 socket, 16 A, with grounding

Why mark it up

In general, markings are not necessary when installing a single socket in a concrete wall. It doesn’t really matter if it’s within or outside of a centimeter. If there are additional outlets close by and the property owner has a "perfectionist" viewpoint, that is a different story. Some people are naturally this way inclined, and they get irritated if something sticks out from the background.

Therefore, it is preferable to take a few more minutes to figure out and mark on the wall where the future socket will be located. When installing a block of sockets that will be placed close to one another, this must be done. A level will be useful in this situation, but if the floor is uneven, you will need to consider whether to mark the floor parallel to the surface or in accordance with the level.

A properly drawn "drawing" of the marking consists of a horizontal line with the socket box centers marked on it. The marking should be marginally larger than the diameter to allow you to keep an eye on whether the crown has slipped off it. Placing the socket covers together and measuring the distance between their centers yields the most accurate result for the distance between the centers.

Removing the old socket

Using a screwdriver to loosen the center screw is required in order to extract the cover from the socket. The voltage can then be checked with an indicator screwdriver. One needs to identify or at the very least recall the wire bearing the phase. Turning off the electrical panel’s power circuit breaker is the next necessary step. Use an indicator to check the voltage at the ends of the wires once more after turning off the power.

Remove the expansion tabs after confirming that there is no current flowing through the socket.

After that, remove the screws from the socket’s power contacts to free the wires. The old socket can then be taken out. Electrical tape needs to be applied to exposed wires.

Systeme Electric BLNRA011211 socket, 16 A, with a protective curtain, with grounding

Replacing the wall box

Using pliers, the steel wall box needs to be disassembled.

After that, clear the hole of any leftover plaster and debris.

One side window should be broken out in the wall box. After inserting the wires through this window, place a plastic cup inside.

You now have putty to fix our box in the wall. Wet the inside of the hole with water so that the putty will stick to the concrete more easily.

Using a spatula, apply the prepared mass of putty or alabaster into the hole around its perimeter. One narrow spatula is ideal for ease of use. We apply this mixture to the outside of the plastic cup as well.

The socket box is now installed in the seat, and the wires are pushed through. No protrusion of the glass is permitted; it must sit flush with the wall in the socket.

To scrape off the remaining putty, use a spatula. The preparation is now complete.

You must wait a day for complete hardening.

Drilling a hole

There are various techniques you can use to drill holes in a concrete wall for socket boxes. Their decision will mostly be influenced by the materials used to build the walls and the availability of tools.

Concrete walls, the most challenging option, will be discussed.

Therefore, you can use the following techniques to create a hole:

  • using a concrete drilling crown, here you need to mark the central point (the center of the circle) around which the hole will be formed. If the concrete wall is particularly strong, then the drilling site must be periodically watered;
  • with a drill and a drill, this is a long process and more labor-intensive compared to the previous one. Drill holes around the circle to the desired depth with a drill, and then use a chisel and a hammer;
  • using a hammer drill, here the final design of the hole in the wall is also done with a chisel, although this part of the work can be done carefully with the hammer drill itself;
  • using a grinder, here you will not be able to make a round hole in the wall. You make cuts along a tangent to the circle, as a result you will get more of a polygon (a quadrangle in the simplest situation). This shape is not a problem, because the installation of the socket box itself can be completed with a solution. It will fill the resulting voids;
  • combinations of different tools, this will be especially relevant for those situations when sockets are installed in a particularly strong concrete wall. Here, periodic replacement of a crown, a hammer drill and even a drill will do. Thus, it is often possible to do all the work faster and easier.

Either way, the socket box needs to be inserted into the hole fairly freely after installation. After that, a solution should be used to secure it.

Legrand 672241 Etika Internet / Telephone Socket

Adjust the size to the socket box

When installing a socket, cement or gypsum mortar is used to affix the socket box to the wall. The same solution is used to fill the voids if the hole is bigger. The installed socket box’s outer edge needs to be flush with the wall.

Before fixing the mounting box with a solution in the wall hole, you must pull the wires out through the holes. These wires will then be connected to the socket’s mechanism.

Deepen the socket into the wall

It will take several hours for the solution to fully solidify, but once it does, you can begin installing the socket. Additionally, keep in mind that the mechanism itself needs to be shielded from construction dust, so the last installation should happen after the room’s facing work is finished. Stated differently, at a point when further dust is not anticipated.

The socket itself needs to be shielded from dust if you have already installed it in the wall but still need to complete facing or other tasks, such as work on the wall. It is appropriate to use specialized construction tape or a protective film to seal it for this. For these uses, regular tape works just as well, but be aware that it can permanently damage freshly applied wallpaper.

Therefore, you must bury the socket mechanism deeper into the socket box in order to install the socket itself in a concrete wall. It should then be locked down. For products in the LK60 series, this can be attached to the mounting box itself using screws or the conventional method on the spacer tabs. The second option will work in our situation. It is necessary to connect the wires to the socket mechanism’s terminals before beginning installation.

Legrand 782238 Quteo socket, 16 A, with a protective curtain, with grounding

Wiring

For those who are interested in learning how to install a flush-mounted box in concrete, this is an explanation of the task. Wires are necessary for everything.

  • Checking the insulation, cable cores for various defects.
  • Removing the cover from the distribution box.
  • The cable is brought inside the box, its different ends. They enter it from one side, and from the other – they go to the landing box. It is better to lay out the cable with an additional reserve, then it will be easier to work in the future. Usually this is 10-15 centimeters.

· A groove designated for the wire is prepared at the top. It is important to avoid creating obstacles from the wire’s side, as this allows the socket inside the niche to move freely. The device has a unique slot on the back where you insert the device to finish the installation.

  • A corrugated pipe is laid inside the sidelines, inside of which there is a cable.
  • Additional fixation is provided with a solution of alabaster. 250 millimeters – a step that is recommended to adhere.
  • Defects are easily covered with putty type solutions. How to smear the sockets in one case or another – the owner decides.

Additionally, gypsum can be a useful composition for fixing. Employ both the medical and construction varieties. When the solution is just beginning to cook, the basis is poured into a container. Add a small amount of water after that. The solution should have a medium density.

It becomes difficult to work with the composition after a few minutes, so you have to use it quickly. The compositions are completely useless after five minutes. Let’s see how to install a wall box in a wall made of concrete.

Completion of work

The socket is placed into the wall box once the wiring has been firmly positioned in the contacts and screwed in. The entire structure is then pushed into the hole once the wires are aligned parallel to the back wall.

The spacer tabs have fixed the internal mechanism. Tighten the bolts on the front section in a clockwise manner to cause them to separate to the sides and secure the entire structure. The mechanism fasteners can be loosened by rotating the bolts counterclockwise. A regular rubber band or thread can be used to gently pull the tabs together if they get in the way of the structure being installed.

Installing the socket’s front component is the last step. Their appearances can vary greatly, but they are all centrally located fastening holes. Simply assemble the outer frame and tighten one or two bolts. After completing all of the aforementioned procedures, turn on the electricity at the location and confirm that the socket is operating correctly.

It is possible to install sockets in concrete on your own, but you will need to follow safety procedures and have a minimum of basic skills.

Legrand 753421 Valena Life socket, 16 A, with grounding

Features of installing a double socket box

Socket boxes are attached to concrete walls using special connectors. These patterns are also known as butterflies. On the sides, connectors are positioned to join the butterflies. This allows you to connect two socket boxes in addition to a much greater number.

The work is carried out in the following order:

  • First, markup is made. It is necessary to count the distance from the floor to this or that element. The strip is strictly horizontal, with a certain height. Then installing a socket box in a concrete wall will not be difficult.
  • The wall boxes are applied to the strip, already connected with a butterfly. On the strip, it is necessary to mark the central parts of each of the devices.
  • Create holes in one of the ways, which was described earlier.
  • Create connecting grooves between the holes. A suitable tool for this is a grinder.
  • Immersion of the wire into one of the holes.
  • After this, the work proceeds as standard. It is easy to understand how to install a wall box in a concrete structure.
Step Instructions
1. Mark the Location Choose where you want to install the socket and mark the outline on the wall. Use a level to ensure it"s straight.
2. Drill the Hole Use a hammer drill with a masonry bit to drill a hole in the concrete wall where you marked. Make sure the hole is deep enough for the socket box.
3. Insert the Socket Box Place the socket box into the hole and adjust it so it"s level. You may need to use a chisel to widen the hole slightly if the box doesn’t fit perfectly.
4. Wire the Socket Run the electrical wires through the box. Connect the wires to the socket according to the color codes: live, neutral, and earth. Secure the connections tightly.
5. Secure the Socket Fix the socket box in place with screws or anchors, ensuring it"s flush with the wall. Attach the socket faceplate over the box and screw it in place.
6. Test the Installation Turn the power back on and test the socket with a device to ensure it"s working correctly. If there are any issues, double-check your wiring connections.

Although installing a socket in a concrete wall may seem difficult, it can be simple and satisfying if done correctly. To begin, assemble all required equipment and supplies, such as a socket box, a chisel, a rotary hammer drill, and the right screws and anchors. Having everything you need on hand will expedite and reduce the stress of the process.

Mark the location of the socket with great care to get started. To make sure it’s straight, use a level. For some wiggle room, slightly enlarge the hole that you drill for the socket box. Be ready for a little more work if your wall has obstacles like reinforcing bars, but don’t let that stop you.

When the hole is prepared, place the socket box inside and tighten the lid. To make sure it stays in place, apply a little concrete adhesive if necessary. Following standard safety procedures, run the electrical wiring through the wall and connect it to the socket once the box has been fixed. To prevent mishaps, always make sure to turn off the power before handling any wiring.

To complete the task, carefully insert the socket into the box and fasten it firmly using screws. Verify that the installation is tidy and clean, and that it is securely in place. You can have a functional, long-lasting installation that looks professional by following these steps.

You can complete this task successfully if you are patient and pay attention to the details. Keep in mind that practice makes perfect and that your confidence and skill set will grow with each project. Reap the rewards of a job well done and the convenience of a new socket placed precisely where you need it!

Although installing a socket in a concrete wall can seem difficult, it’s a simple do-it-yourself project if you have the right equipment and strategy. From drilling the required holes and assembling the box to wiring the socket and fastening everything in place, this article will walk you through every step of the procedure. You can improve the functionality of your space by safely and effectively adding a new socket to your concrete wall by following these simple instructions.

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Marina Petrova

Candidate of Technical Sciences and teacher of the Faculty of Construction. In my articles, I talk about the latest scientific discoveries and innovations in the field of cement and concrete technologies.

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