I broke a wall socket, bought replacement. Have found although it is a single switched socket that there are three live, three neutral and three earth wires. One of each is copper, the others are twisted wires. Does anyone know why this is please? Also, how on earth am I supposed to get them all into the space obviously designed for just one wire?

Lorry, July 2009

foot - what kind of nonsense is that?

Concerned of London, August 2009

sounds like that switch has been added to the soild cooper wire is new, is a junction box, if you have space try using 30amp choc block and running a new feed from the block to the socket

foot, July 2009

In the UK the power wires to the sockets are organised in a ring - a Ring Main - so that smaller cables can be used - the power can come to the socket from 2 directions - each end of the ring joins with the distribution board.

In your socket the two original ring main cables were joined by twisting them together and tightened as one in the terminal hole. At some time later a "spur" was added with a single wire running off to a nearby socket.

If you're having trouble putting the three conductors into the terminal holes probably best to call an electrician.

If you're not in the UK - then I don't know.

Peccavi, July 2009

Like wires go into the same terminals, eg lives together, neutrals together, earths together.
I would assume 2 of the cables are legs of the ring final, and the other one spurs off to another socket.

The space should be able to accomodate all the wires - they went in there before so should do again, just make sure the screws are done up securely and none of the wires are loose.

Adam, July 2009