How can I turn a switch which sitches on a fridge into a plug socket?

Question

Or is this impossible

Answer 1

When you say 'a switch' do you mean a switched fused connection unit (fused spur unit), if so why is it fitted for a fridge?? IF it is wired from a power circuit, ring or radial, then yes it can be changed to a switch socket, and you ARE allowed to do this work yourself, if you are competent, (And isolate the circuit first)

Answer 2

Yes it is possible to replace the switch (Fused spur ) into a socket, this switch will switch on a single socket behind the fridge.

There are many factors to take into account here, firstly the switch could already be a spur off the ring main, if this is the case then it is not allowable to change the switch back to a socket, (Because the fridge socket will be a spur off of a spur) sorry if this seems a little strange but electricians will know what i am on about.
Secondly, as you are not doing a like for like replacement then this becomes notifiable under 'part p' of the building regulations.

You should ideally get a qualified electrician in.

Answer 3

You didn't say where the switch is located.
1- If it is in a wall box, you need to see if there is a set of wires coming into the box and a second set leaving the box.
2- If this is the case, the neutral side will come in and be connected to the neutral wire going out. (in the US this is usually a white wire). [Here in Spain, it is a blue wire].
3- The wire with the power goes to the switch and comes out of the switch to the fridge. In the US this is usually a black or red wire. [Here in Spain it can be black, brown, red some other color] but not Green, green/yellow or yellow/green.
4- If you are talking about a switch mounted in the fridge itself, I wouldn't monkey with molded in (factory installed) appliance controls, you might mess up something you don't know that is part of the normal operation of your appliance and end up needing a new one.
Good Luck ! !

Answer 4

Your best bet is to call an electrician. It may be possible, depending on how the wiring runs in your home, but even if possible it may not be advisable. An electrican will be able to tell whether or not is is possible, and whether or not you have sufficient capacity available on that circuit to add more devices/appliances without blowing breakers. Doing something like this without knowing what all of the ramifications are can be dangerous. Checking with a professional is definitely worth the relatively minor expense.

Note: I am not an electrician, but have worked around electrical wiring all of my life. You would not believe some of the really stupid things that I have seen people do to their wiring.

Answer 5

call an electrician man, i've read some of the answers here and i am suprised this country aint half on fire. no electrician worth his salt would instruct someone who isnt licensed on how to do electrical work - good way to open up a liability suit for wrongful death or voiding your fire insurance.

from your description, it sounds like your fridge is on a receptacle that is controlled by a switch - sounds like someones handywork,or that receptacle wasnt designed to be the fridge circut ( what else is on that circut and are you going to come home one day to a fridge full of rotten food because that circut also runs a bunch of other appliances or mechanical systems and one day the breaker trips)

Answer 6

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Answer 7

As you are asking if it is possible I assume you are not a qualified electrician.Sounds like you are talking about changing a fused spur into a 13 amp socket.Assuming we are talking about English wiring -yes it's a fairly straightforward job but needs a qualified electrician.

Answer 8

It depends on how the switch is wired. If there isn't a neutral wire coming into the box it is going to be much more difficult.

Answer 9

yes this is posible to do if the correct wiring is there eg. a neutral wire a qualified electrician should be able to help with this no problem

Answer 10

remove the switch and jumper the wires with a wire nut.. Complete the circuit.