Sockets: Always prepare sets of 5? What is the best way?

Hello everyone,

we are doing the electrical installation ourselves and I had planned to always drill 5-gang sockets and then, for example, only use 2. To cover and plaster the others. The advantage would be that if I later have too few sockets, I can break up the plaster and expand the socket.

Now I have heard that it becomes problematic to make it flush. I would have to work with compensating rings etc. In addition, the effort would not be greater to simply drill the boxes later. Ergo, the effort is greater if I drill more in advance.

What do you say?

One point that came up later: We lay one NYM 7x2.5 cable per room for the sockets. The background is that I can measure/switch 5 sockets and the rest is constant power. The problem is that clamping a 7x2.5 cable in a device box with a socket is not possible due to limited space. My idea is therefore that if I have, for example, a 2-gang socket, I at least install an additional empty box so that I can clamp the cables there.

So rather the questions:
a) Is pre-drilling worth it?
b) What do I need to consider during installation so that it is not visible later?
c) Do you have a better alternative for clamping in an empty box?

cheers

Imho a nonsensical idea. Either do it immediately or never. 5er actually only at exposed locations.

We lay one NYM 7x2.5 cable per room for the sockets. The reason is so that I can measure/switch 5 sockets and the rest is permanent power

But that would mean 4 sockets individually measurable/switchable and one phase for permanent power.

You correctly point out, 7-core and then also 2.5mm is no fun in a socket. What speaks against 2x5x1.5mm?

Besides, the effort wouldn't be greater, later just re-drill the sockets

Exactly. You have to install all sockets now through clamping. Why?!

b) What do I have to pay attention to during installation so that it is not visible later?

I don’t understand the concern. Clamp before plastering, put on plaster cover, of course unclip the flags and plaster over. And take a lot of comprehensible pictures to later search for the right place for the empty socket Tapping won’t get you far.

Making a 5er afterwards is easy and not complicated! Would leave it.

I don't understand the concern. Connect before plastering, put the plaster cover on, of course unclip the flags and plaster over. And take plenty of comprehensible pictures to later find the empty box in the right place. Knocking won't get you far.

Either I misunderstood him or you did, or I misunderstood you. As I understand him, he wants to connect the boxes sometime in 5 years.

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As I said, it was a consideration of mine and I wanted to know your assessment because I had doubts. However, I gather from your statements that one should first drill what is necessary and, if necessary, simply re-drill later if it really is necessary.

But you are right to point out that 7-core and then also 2.5mm is no fun in a box. What speaks against 2x5x1.5mm?

I have to pull more cables. Since these lie in the floor, I also have to use empty conduits. In other words, greater effort and more costs. Of course, that thought occurred to me as well, but with the 7x2.5mm I only have the problem of clamping. The alternative would also be 2x5x2.5mm and not 1.5mm. I use the 1.5mm for lighting.

I don’t understand the concern. Clamp before plastering, plaster cover on top, of course unclip the little flags and plaster over. And take plenty of comprehensible pictures so you can later look for the empty box in the right place. Knocking around won’t get you far.

I didn’t quite understand it either. At a party someone said that it wouldn’t be so easy and that a plaster cover wouldn’t be sufficient.

At the moment I would proceed like this. If I have, for example, a 2-gang box, I drill 3 holes and use one hole for clamping and plaster this over. I would solve the space problem and from the outside you wouldn’t see a difference.
Is there any other alternative besides using 5mm cables?