How do I change an electric socket cover when the wiring behind is too short

[osterley]

I recently purchased some electric socket covers in stainless steel to replace the white plastic ones in my kitchen. When the electrician went to change them over he said he couldnt do it because of the way the exsisting wiring was. ie; the live wire was too short too fit into the live connection at the back of the new socket. In the exsisting ones the live and the neutral connection points were to the left and right respectively, on the new ones they were the other way round, and the live wire wasnt long enough. He said he couldnt join the wires behind the wall soket because it was illegal. I have tried to buy different silver/stainless/brushed steel covers but they all seem to be the same. Does anyone have any ideas how to get round this problem ?

[AlBags]

Is moving (chopping in) the box up or down as required, a possibility?
It "may" be possible to pull cable through a bit more with old socket removed and power off.

[cherrychapstick]

aibags can you turn them upside down means the plugs will go in upside down but at least if you can it will be a talking point just say you wanted them like that

[The Builder]

Oster .......... wires are joined and terminated in socket enclosures all the time. Use small plastic terminal blocks....................... and perhaps use a different electrician

[AlBags]

If a spur, then maybe use a connector inside the box .. but there is very little room to do this.
If a ring main (2x sets) no way.
Upside down Cherry? lol
Bit awkward .. and fluids can run into cable entry hole.

[cherrychapstick]

oh yes that makes sense ...sorry i really never thought of that! i changed my own light switches from pastic to steel and the wires seemed to be to small but there is usually some give-way in them so as the builder has suggested change your electrician

[osterley]

thanks for your replies. I am thinking of changing the electrician. Albags, what do you mean by a ring main ? It is a double socket cover which I assume is part of the ring main because I plug things like the kettle and toaster into it.

[AlBags]

The whole house should originally be wired as a ring main. So each socket forms a loop between two identically connected cable ends, that form a ring around the upper or lower floor sockets.
Sockets on the ring main have two cables connected, unless it is a spur (a cable off of a ring main, or a separate wired supply from fuse/breaker board) is connecting to another spur.

[crapmemory]

I had exactly the same problem. My electrician just changed the box as he said the one that was there was too deep.(I also changed my white plastic sockets in my kitchen to brushed aluminium...hence I know what to do!)