GB2394603A

GB2394603A - Electrical connector fitting for a socket box

Info

Publication number: GB2394603A
Application number: GB0224900A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Larry George Pringle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-25
Filing date: 2002-10-25
Publication date: 2004-04-28
Also published as: GB0224900D0

Abstract

An electrical connector fitting for mounting in an open-fronted socket box (not shown) has (a) socket contacts 242,244,246 for receiving corresponding plug contacts 330 of an accessory 300 to be mounted on the front of the box, and (b) means, for example screw contacts, for receiving wires to connect them electrically with corresponding socket contacts. The wires maybe received in channels (figure 2B) in a block containing the socket contacts 242,244,246: the channels may extend to opposite sides of the block. The socket box may be flush-mounted. A dummy accessory which covers the opening of the box and the socket contacts may be fitted temporarily in the socket box while the wall is being plastered: the dummy accessory is later replaced by an active accessory.

Description

If the wall surrounding the switch or socket has to be plastered, painted,

tiled or wallpapered the faceplate will typically either be loosened from the socket box, leaving the wires hanging out of the socket box but still attached to the faceplate or alternatively, the faceplate will be completely removed and the wires will be pushed 5 back into the open socket box. Since the wires are left either with their insulation-

stripped ends exposed in the socket box or hanging loose but still attached to the faceplate, it is necessary for safety reasons to turn off the electricity supply until the faceplate has been re-attached. In the case of new electrical installations or during rewiring procedures, the faceplate cannot be fixed to the wall until the wall l O surrounding the socket has been plastered. This means that an electrician must make a further visit to the site in order to "second fix" the faceplate. Furthermore, the detached or hanging loose wires make it difficult to work around the socket in this condition. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an arrangement 15 comprising an open fronted socket box and intermediate electrical connecting block mounted therein, said socket box comprising a back member and side walls extending out of said back member, said side walls defining an open front, said intermediate block being mounted inside said socket box such that it does not extend beyond said open front, said intermediate block comprising: at least two wire retainers operable to 20 receive and retain a portion of at least two wires that extend into said socket box; and two access ports associated with respective wire retainers, said access ports each being operable to receive a male-type electrical connector; wherein each of said access ports is operable to provide electrical communication between a wire retained by said wire retainer and a male-type electrical connector received by said access port and said 25 intermediate electrical connecting block is mounted inside said socket box such that said access port provides the only means of electrical communication to a wire received by said wire retainer.

By providing a socket box which contains an intermediate electrical connecting block having wire retainers and access ports, a cover such as a faceplate for a socket or 30 a light switch can be removed from the socket box without exposing loose wires. This means that someone who is not a trained electrician can remove and replace these faceplates enabling decoration of the surrounding surfaces to be performed.

Preferably, at least one of said two access ports has a cross section having a different shape to at least one other of said two access ports, said access ports being adapted to receive male type electrical connectors having similar shaped cross sections. 5 Access ports having different shaped cross sections means that they are adapted to receive correspondingly shaped male type electrical connectors. This helps prevent the faceplates being put on upside down, for example, with the wrong wires being connected together.

Advantageously, the intermediate electrical connecting block comprises three 10 wire retainers and three access ports, said three wire retainers being operable to receive and retain a live wire, a neutral wire and an earth wire respectively, and said three access ports being operable to provide access to said respective three wires.

The socket box is generally used to provide electrical connections to electrical wires comprising a live, neutral and earth wire.

15 Preferably, each of said wire retainers comprises a conduit for receiving an electrical wire and said associated access ports are operable to provide electrical communication between electrical wires received within said conduits and electrical connectors received by said access ports.

A particularly effective way of containing the wire and providing electrical 20 communication to it, is to hold it within a hollow tube or conduit, the access ports providing access for a male type electrical connector to that conduit.

In preferred embodiments said intermediate electrical connecting block comprises a back surface mounted adjacent to said back surface of said socket box, a back surface opposing said front surface and side surfaces running between said back 25 and front surfaces, wherein said conduit is adapted to receive and enclose a portion of said electrical wire and said access port comprises an opening running from said front surface of said connecting block to said conduit and preferably said conduit runs substantially parallel to said front surface comprising said access port and said conduit comprises two openings at either end, said two openings being located in opposing 30 side surfaces of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

One effectively simple arrangement of the block is to have conduits running through the block from one side to the other with wires being held in these conduits.

Access ports then provide access to the conduits.

Although the conduits can have any cross-section, preferably they have a 5 circular cross section.

Advantageously, said intermediate electrical connecting block is fixed to said back surface of said socket box. This is a convenient place to mount the block. This can be done by screwing the electrical connecting block to the back of the socket box; alternatively the electrical connecting block and socket box can be made as a single 1 0 unit.

In preferred embodiments, said arrangement further comprises an insulating cover, said insulating cover comprising mounting means operable to mount said cover on said open fronted socket box such that it covers at least said access ports and wire retaining screws of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

15 Providing the socket box with an insulating cover to cover the box and the intermediate electrical connecting block provides a safe way of leaving a faceplate off the socket box while such things as decoration of the surrounding surface is performed. Preferably, said insulating cover is arranged to be mounted such that it does not 20 extend beyond said side walls of said socket box and is operable to cover said intermediate electrical connecting block contained therein.

This provides effective insulation and protection of the socket box while not covering the surrounding area that may need to be accessed during, for example, decoration. 25 In preferred embodiments said arrangement further comprises an electrical faceplate, said electrical faceplate comprising a front surface and an opposing back surface, said opposing back surface comprising at least two male type electrical connector, said face plate further comprising mounting means for mounting said faceplate on said socket box, said at least two male type electrical connector being 30 arranged such that it is received by said at least two access ports when said electrical faceplate is mounted on said socket box.

The socket box and intermediate electrical connecting block can be covered by a faceplate when it is to be used. This faceplate can be simply attached by "plugging" it into the intermediate electrical block and then securing it to the socket box, electrical communication being provided by inserting male type electrical connectors on the 5 faceplate into access ports on the intermediate electrical connecting block. An advantage this faceplate is that if it becomes damaged, or unfashionable it can be replaced in a very simple manner by simply "plugging" it into the intermediate electrical connecting block.

In some embodiments said front surface of said faceplate comprises a light 10 switch, whereas in others it comprises openings to receive at least one electrical plug and in others it comprises a spur.

In preferred embodiments, said arrangement further comprising an insulating cover, said insulating cover being detachably mountable to said socket box and being interchangeable with said faceplate, the insulating cover serving to completely cover at 15 least said access ports and wire-retaining screws of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

An arrangement whereby a faceplate is interchangeable with an insulating cover makes decoration easy, the faceplate being exchanged with the cover during the decoration process and replaced by it afterwards.

20 Preferably, said insulating block is arranged to be mounted within said socket box such that it does not extend beyond said side walls of said socket box. This allows decoration to be performed simply and to a high standard.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of use of an arrangement according to a first aspect of the present invention, said method 25 comprising: mounting a socket box on a surface such that it receives at least two electrical wires; mounting an intermediate electrical connecting block within said socket box and securely fixing each of said at least two electrical wires in respective wire retainers on said intermediate electrical connecting block; covering access ports and wire-retaining screws in said intermediate electrical connecting block by mounting 30 an insulating cover on said socket box while work is done on the surface around said socket box; removing said insulating cover; mounting an electrical faceplate having male type electrical connectors operable to engage with access ports in said

intermediate electrical connecting block on said socket box such that an electrical connection is formed between said faceplate and said at least one electrical wire.

A still further aspect of the present invention provides an intermediate electrical connecting block operable to be mounted within a socket box having an open 5 front, said connecting block being formed of a nonconducting material and comprising: mounting means for mounting said block within the socket box such that it does not extend beyond the open front of said socket box; at least two wire retainers, each of which is operable to receive a portion of an electrical wire extending into the socket box; and an access port associated with each of said wire retainers, said access 10 port being operable to receive a male-type electrical connector; wherein said each of said access ports is operable to provide electrical communication between a received electrical wire and said received electrical connector and wherein said mounting means and wire retainers are arranged such that when said electrical connecting block is mounted inside the socket box said each of said access port provides the only means of 15 electrical communication to the respective wires.

A yet further aspect of the present invention provides an electrical faceplate comprising an insulating block having a front surface and an opposing back surface, and fixing means said back surface comprising at least two male type electrical connectors and, wherein said electrical faceplate is operable to be mounted on an 20 electrical arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, said at least two male type electrical

connectors being arranged to be received by the at least two access ports of the electrical arrangement and said fixing means being operable to fix said faceplate to a socket box.

A removable faceplate that is simple to remove and replace not only allows 25 decoration of the surrounding area without calling an electrician, it also allows for simple replacement of the faceplate if it becomes damaged or degraded.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures IA and 1B schematically illustrate the construction of a known 30 electrical fitting arrangement in which the electrical wires are directly attached to the rear of the faceplate;

Figure 2A schematically illustrates a front elevation of a socket box in which a non-conductive block has been fitted; Figure 2B schematically illustrates an alternative embodiment of the non conductive block of Figure 2A.

5 Figure 3 schematically illustrates a side elevation of the socket box of Figure 2; Figure 4 schematically illustrates the front view of a faceplate according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 schematically illustrates a side elevation of the faceplate of Figure 4 showing protruding pins; and 10 Figure 6 schematically illustrates a side elevation of the non-conductive block to which a temporary non-conductive cover has been fitted.

Figure 7 schematically illustrates how the connections on the back of the double socket of Figure 4 are formed.

Figures 1A and 1B schematically illustrate the construction of a known 15 electrical fitting arrangement (in this case a "double socket") in which the electrical wires are directly attached to the rear of the faceplate.

Figure IA shows a rear elevation of a known double-socket faceplate. The circuitry that supplies electrical contact to each of the six plug inlets (three per plug) is contained within an insulating housing 102 attached to the rear of the faceplate. This 20 rear elevation view of the faceplate shows the external surface of the insulating housing 102 which is fixed in place to the rear of the faceplate and to which the electrical wires are attached during installation. Electrical wires from a mains circuit cable 110 are attached to the rear of the faceplate via a first inlet 120, a second inlet 140 and a third inlet 150. The earth wires are secured in the first inlet 120 by a fixing 25 screw 122. An earth connection must be supplied to the uppermost inlet of each socket and a conductive member 130 provides electrical contact between the "earth inlet" supplied directly by the earth wires which feeds into the earth plug-inlet of the first socket and the "earth inlet" of the second socket. The neutral wires from the circuit cable 110 are secured to the faceplate via the second inlet 140 using a fixing 30 screw 142. The live wires are inserted into the third inlet 150 and secured in place via a fixing screw 152. Prior to fixing the wires in the inlets 120, 140, 150, a length of the insulating casing surrounding each wire must be stripped off at the end portion of each

wire so that electrical contact can be made. Once the wires have been fixed in their respective inlets, the protruding electrical cables are bundled into the volume of the socket box and the faceplate is engaged against the front of the socket box and screwed into place. Once the faceplate is secured in place, the electricity supply may be 5 switched on and the socket should be fully operational.

Figure 1B schematically illustrates the electrical circuit provided in the interior of the plastic casing 102 at the rear of the faceplate. The view shown represents a view of the interior of the insulating housing 102 that is mounted on the rear of the faceplate 100 i.e. it illustrates the components contained within the insulating housing.

10 This view would be obtained by detaching the insulating housing 102 from the faceplate and inspecting the interior of the housing 102. The neutral inlets for each of the two plugs are 182A and 182B; the live inlets for each of the two plugs are 184A and 184B; and the earth inlets for each of the two plugs are 186A and 186B.

Conductive members 162 and 164 provide a path connecting the neutral attachment 15 port 140 to the live plug-inlets 182A and 182B. Conductive members 166 and 174, together with the pivoting member 176 provide an electrical path connecting the live attachment port 150 to the live plug inlet 184A. Conductive members 168 and 172 together with the pivoting member 178 provide an electrical path connecting the live attachment port 150 to the live plug inlet 184B. When switches (not shown) disposed 20 on the front face of the faceplate are switched from an "off" to an "on" position, the electrical circuit is completed since activation of the switches pivots the pivoting members 176, 178 such that electrical contact is made between conductive members 166 and 174 for one socket and conductive members 168 and 172 for the other socket.

As explained above, the path connecting the earth attachment port 120 to the earth 25 plug inlets 186A and 186B is provided by the conductive member 130 attached to the rear of the faceplate (see Figure 1A).

Figure 2A schematically illustrates a front elevation of a socket box containing a non-conductive block according to an embodiment of the invention. The arrangement comprises a socket box 210, a non-conductive block 220; and three 30 access ports or ferrules 240.

The socket box 210 is of a known type and is essentially a metal or plastic housing. The socket box will typically be fitted into a recess in a wall although a

"surface box" could alternatively be used. Electrical cables are fed in from a fuseboard through one or more apertures in the body of the socket box so that the ends of the cables are accommodated within the volume of the socket box. The socket box will typically be supplied with a plurality of pre-stamped circular markings at which 5 the metal body has been weakened and these are located both on the edges and the back wall of the socket box. One or more of these pre-stamped circular markings can be punched through with a hammer to create the apertures via which wires enter the socket box from the fuse board. Typically the apertures will be punched out on the bottom edge-face of the socket box. The non-conductive block 220 is secured to the 10 back face of the socket box by screws or rivets through the rear of the box into the block 220. Alternatively, a socket box containing an integrally formed non-conductive block may be used. The non-conductive block has three rigid tubes (or conduits) that run horizontally along the length of the non-conductive block and the three electrical cables i.e. earth, live and neutral are fed through these conduits. The conduits are 15 illustrated by the dashed lines in Figure 2A. When in place within the conduits the electrical cables are secured by retaining screws 230 which pass through a hole in the non- conductive block 220 into a threaded hole in the conduit. In this embodiment the three access ports or ferrules 240 are arranged in a vertical column down the centre of the non-conductive block 220. These three access ports are the means by which an 20 electrical connection is formed between the non-conductive block and the faceplate.

To form the electrical connection the faceplate must be fitted with electrically conducting protrusions or pins, such as pins which are inserted into the access ports 240. Figure 2B shows a preferred embodiment of the intermediate electrical 25 connecting block of Figure 2A. In this preferred embodiment one of the three access ports 242 is shaped differently from the other two access ports 244, 246. This arrangement ensures that the faceplate is fixed to the intermediate connecting block in an appropriate orientation and avoids the faceplate being fitted upside down which would cause the live, neutral and earth to be connected to the wrong terminals.

30 In some embodiments the non-conductive block is adapted to fit into an existing socket box. In such cases the access ports will not be arranged in a straight

line, but will be located in a position that is suitable for connection to the existing wire arrangement. Figure 3 schematically illustrates a side elevation of the socket box of Figure 2A representing a cross- section along the line AA (see Figure 2A). This Figure shows 5 the non- conductive block which has been fixed against the rear wall of the socket box.

As can be seen it sits within the socket box and does not extend beyond the open front 252. The channels 250 formed by the conduits are clearly visible in this elevation. It is these conduits that contain the electrical wires when the block 220 has been electrically installed.

10 Figure 4 schematically illustrates the front view of a faceplate according to an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the faceplate comprises two electrical sockets. Alternatively the faceplate could be a switch such as a light switch.

The front of the faceplate is identical to standard faceplates in common use. However the rear of the faceplate is specially adapted to deliver the appropriate electrical contact 15 from each of the conductive projections to the appropriate point on the block 220, e.g. in the case of a socket faceplate to provide a live, a neutral and an earth connection to each of three respective plug inlet-holes.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a side elevation of the faceplate of Figure 4 showing protruding pins. This elevation represents a crosssection taken along the line 20 B-B of Figure 4 and illustrates the feature of embodiments of the invention whereby three electrically conductive pins 330 protrude from the rear of the faceplate. The pins are securely attached to the rear of the faceplate 300. The shape and dimensions of the pins are such that they are complementary to the shape and dimensions of the ferules 240. The complementary geometry of the ferrules and conductive projections ensures 25 that an effective electrical connection is made when the pins are engaged with the ferrules. Electrical circuitry on the back of the faceplate is suitably arranged to deliver the earth, live and neutral connections to the appropriate socket inlets or switch terminals. Figure 6 schematically illustrates a side elevation of a socket box and non 30 conductive block to which a temporary isolating cover has been fitted. This figure shows the socket box 210 containing a non-conductive block 220. The three wire retaining conduits are clearly visible in this side elevation. In use the live, neutral and

earth electrical cables (not shown) would be fixed within these conduits 250. The faceplate 300 has been removed from the socket box and replaced by a temporary isolating cover 400 fabricated from a non-conductive material. In the embodiment of Figure 6 the isolating cover fits snugly over the non-conductive block and thus covers 5 the access ports via which electrical contact is made. As can be seen it does not extend beyond the open front 252. In alternative embodiments the isolating cover 400 may engage with and entirely cover the entire front of the socket box, rather than just the non-conductive block. The isolating cover may be clipped over the non-conductive block while work such as plastering or wallpapering is being carried out on the 10 surrounding wall. The isolating cover serves to isolate the access ports and hence protects the person carrying out the work from the danger of electrocution from exposure to the electricity supply. The isolating cover also protects the electrical cables and the non-conductive block itself from exposure to decorating materials such as wallpaper paste, plaster or water. With the isolating cover fitted, redecorating work 15 can be safely carried out with the faceplates detached and without the need to switch off the mains electricity supply. Furthermore the faceplate can be easily and safely refitted without the need to call in a qualified electrician.

Figure 7 schematically illustrates how the connections on the back of the double socket of Figure 4 are formed according to embodiments of the present 20 invention. The neutral inlets for each of the two plugs are 482A and 482B; the live inlets for each of the two plugs are 484A and 484B; and the earth inlets for each of the two plugs are 486A and 486B. Conductive members 462 and 464 provide a path connecting the neutral attachment port 246 to the neutral plug-inlets 482A and 482B.

25 Conductive members 466 and 474, together with the pivoting member 476 provide an electrical path connecting the live attachment port 244 to the live plug inlet 484A.

Conductive members 468 and 472 together with the pivoting member 478 provide an electrical path connecting the live attachment port 244 to the live plug inlet 484B.

When switches (not shown) disposed on the front face of the faceplate are switched 30 from an "off" to an "on" position, the electrical circuit is completed since activation of the switches pivots the pivoting members 476, 478 such that electrical contact is made

between conductive members 466 and 474 for one socket and conductive members 468 and 472 for the other socket.

Although the embodiment of the invention described above relates to switched sockets, alternative embodiments could relate to unswitched sockets, light switches or 5 spurs. Spurs are a type of switch used to isolate fixed electrical appliances such as fittings, immersion heaters and built in fans. Spurs are often described Double Pole, which means that the neutral and live connections are broken when the spur is switched off.

Although the embodiment of the invention described above involves a non 10 conductive block having three wire-retaining conduits, alternative embodiments could have any number of conduits, for example two conduits could be provided corresponding to a live connection and a neutral connection, the earth connection being supplied by separate means. Furthermore the faceplate need not be adapted to receive a three-pin plug but could be adapted to receive other connectors such as a 15 two-pin plug. In this case a transformer might be fitted as an integral part in the rear of the faceplate to provide a different voltage. Adaptability to different plug types may be accommodated by substituting the faceplates e. g. exchanging a three-inlet faceplate for a two-inlet faceplate in a modular manner. The principal constraint is that the conductive protrusions on the alternative faceplates must be engageable with the 20 particular arrangement of inlet ports on the non-conductive block.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising an open fronted socket box and intermediate electrical connecting block mounted therein, said socket box comprising a back 5 member and side walls extending out of said back member, said side walls den ning an open front, said intermediate block being mounted inside said socket box such that it does not extend beyond said open front, said intermediate block comprising: at least two wire retainers operable to receive and retain a portion of at least two wires that extend into said socket box; and 10 two access ports associated with respective wire retainers, said access ports each being operable to receive a male-type electrical connector; wherein each of said access ports is operable to provide electrical communication between a wire retained by said wire retainer and a male-type electrical connector received by said access port and said intermediate electrical connecting block is mounted inside 15 said socket box such that said access port provides the only means of electrical communication to a wire received by said wire retainer.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two access ports has a cross section having a different shape to at least one other of said two 20 access ports, said access ports being adapted to receive male type electrical connectors having similar shaped cross sections.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, in which said intermediate electrical connecting block comprises three wire retainers and three access ports, said three wire 25 retainers being operable to receive and retain a live wire, a neutral wire and an earth wire respectively, and said three access ports being operable to provide access to said respective three wires.

4. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said 30 wire retainers comprises a conduit for receiving an electrical wire and said associated access ports are operable to provide electrical communication between electrical wires received within said conduits and electrical connectors received by said access ports.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said intermediate electrical connecting block comprises a back surface mounted adjacent to said back surface of said socket box, a front surface opposing said back surface and side surfaces running 5 between said front and back surfaces, wherein said conduit is adapted to receive and enclose a portion of said electrical wire and said access port comprises an opening running from said front surface of said connecting block to said conduit.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said conduit runs substantially l O parallel to said front surface comprising said access port.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, where said conduit comprises two openings at either end of said conduit, said two openings being located in opposing side surfaces of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

8. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said conduits have a circular cross-section 9. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said 20 intermediate electrical connecting block is mounted on said back surface of said socket box. 10. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, said arrangement further comprising an insulating cover, said insulating cover comprising 25 mounting means operable to mount said cover on said open fronted socket box such that it covers at least said access ports and wire retaining screws of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

l 1. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein said insulating cover is 30 arranged to be mounted such that it does not extend beyond said side walls of said socket box and is operable to cover said intermediate electrical connecting block contained therein.

12. An arrangement according to any one of claims I to 9 said arrangement further comprising an electrical faceplate, said electrical faceplate comprising a front surface and an opposing back surface, said opposing back surface comprising at least two male 5 type electrical connectors, said face plate further comprising mounting means for mounting said faceplate on said socket box, said at least two male type electrical connector being arranged such that it is received by said at least two access ports when said electrical faceplate is mounted on said socket box.

10 13. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said front surface of said faceplate comprises a light switch.

14. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said front surface of said faceplate comprises openings to receive at least one electrical plug.

15. An arrangement according to claim 12, wherein said front surface of said faceplate is a spur.

16. An arrangement according to any one of claims 12 to 15, said arrangement 20 further comprising an insulating cover, said insulating cover being detachably mountable to said socket box and being interchangeable with said faceplate, the insulating cover serving to completely cover at least said access ports and wire retaining screws of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

25 17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein said insulating block is arranged to be mounted within said socket box such that it does not extend beyond said side walls of said socket box.

18. A method of use of an arrangement according to claim 16 or 17, said method 30 comprising: mounting a socket box on a surface such that it receives at least two electrical wires;

mounting an intermediate electrical connecting block within said socket box and securely fixing each of said two electrical wires in respective wire retainers on said intermediate electrical connecting block; covering access ports and wire-retaining screws in said intermediate electrical 5 connecting block by mounting an insulating cover on said socket box while work is done on the surface around said socket box; removing said insulating cover; mounting an electrical faceplate having male type electrical connectors operable to engage with access ports in said intermediate electrical connecting block on said 10 socket box such that an electrical connection is formed between said faceplate and said at least one electrical wire.

19. An intermediate electrical connecting block operable to be mounted within a socket box having an open front, said connecting block being formed of a non 15 conducting material and comprising: mounting means for mounting said block within the socket box such that it does not extend beyond the open front of said socket box; at least two wire retainers, each of which is operable to receive a portion of an electrical wire extending into the socket box; and 20 an access port associated with each of said wire retainers, said access port being operable to receive a maletype electrical connector; wherein said each of said access ports is operable to provide electrical communication between a received electrical wire and said received electrical connector and wherein said mounting means and wire retainers are arranged such that when said electrical 25 connecting block is mounted inside the socket box said each of said access port provides the only means of electrical communication to the respective wires.

20. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to claim 19 comprising a plurality of wire retainers and a plurality of access ports.

21. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to claim 20 comprising three wire retainers and three access ports, said three wire retainers being operable to

receive and retain a live wire, a neutral wire and an earth wire respectively, and said three access ports being operable to provide access to said respective three wires.

22. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to any one of claims 19 5 to 21, wherein each of said wire retainers comprises a conduit for receiving an electrical wire and said access ports associated with said wire retainers are each operable to provide electrical communication between said electrical wires received within respective conduits and electrical connectors received by respective access ports. 23. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to claim 22 wherein said intermediate electrical connecting block comprises a back surface mounted adjacent to said back surface of said socket box, a front surface opposing said back surface and side surfaces running between said back and front surfaces, wherein said conduits are 15 each adapted to receive and enclose respective portions of said electrical wires and each access port comprises an opening running from said front surface of said connecting block to a respective conduit.

24. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to claim 23 wherein said 20 conduits run substantially parallel to said front surface comprising said access port.

25. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to claim 24, wherein said conduit comprises two openings at either end, said openings being located in opposing side surfaces of said intermediate electrical connecting block.

26. An intermediate electrical connecting block according to any one of claims 19 to 25 wherein said mounting means are operable to mount said intermediate electrical connecting block on a back surface of a socket box.

30 27. An electrical faceplate comprising an insulating block having a front surface, an opposing back surface, and fixing means said back surface comprising at least two male type electrical connectors; wherein

said electrical faceplate is operable to be mounted on an electrical arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, said at least two male type electrical connectors being arranged to be received by the at least two access ports of the electrical arrangement and said fixing means being operable to fix said faceplate to a socket box.

28. An electrical faceplate as claimed in Claim 27 wherein said front surface comprises a light switch.

29. An electrical faceplate as claimed in Claim 28, wherein said faceplate 10 comprises openings to receive at least one electrical plug.

30. An electrical faceplate as claimed in Claim 28 wherein said faceplate comprises a spur.