How to remove the socket from the wall. How to remove a switch or socket before wallpapering the walls – Stroyremontiruy Blog
On the walls, it may be necessary to temporarily remove the outlet. But what if you decide to replace the outlet? In these and other cases, it is important to know how to remove the socket from the wall correctly. After all, with inaccurate dismantling, you can do it. In this article, we will discuss with you the socket device, as well as instructions on how to remove it correctly.
Knowing the device of the outlet, it is easier to cope with its dismantling and, accordingly, installation. The socket assembly consists of a terminal block, a socket box and a decorative cover, which is fixed with a screw. As for the block itself, it has the following parts:
- Mounting feet. They can be movable bursting screws or solid fixed ones.
- Contact. Zero and phase. There is also a grounding, it is usually located separately.
- Terminals for wire connection.
Note! Pads that are equipped with movable legs are more difficult to mount in the socket. However, this design allows you to adjust the position in inclination and height exactly along the wall. When buying, pay attention to the paws, they should have two teeth. A block with one tooth on the foot will quickly loosen.
As for the terminals, they can be fixed to the screw contacts or be together with the contacts. If we talk about reliability, then the latter option is better. Also, the terminals can have a different look, for example, screw or "brushes". In the latter version, the bare ends of the wire are simply inserted, it is also much more reliable.
Varieties of sockets
There is a wide variety of outlets. For example, they can be single or combined under one cover with a switch. There can also be a socket in one module two, three and four. Accordingly, all sockets are mounted on the wall in one row and combined with one module, as well as a decorative cover. Moreover, the modular socket may include signal sockets, for example:
- Internet.
- Television.
- Phone.
- timer and so on.
For such sockets, special boxes are required, the installation of which should also be carried out in accordance with all requirements.
Note! During the installation and laying of the cable in the boxes, they should not intersect, and also touch.
How to dismantle the socket
So, having considered the main technical characteristics of sockets and their types, you can proceed to the main thing, how to remove the socket from the wall. For this you will need:
- small screwdriver with plastic handle
- insulating tape,
- rubber gloves,
- tester.
Here is a step by step guide:
- The first step is to de-energize the apartment. In this case, you should check several times that the electrician is actually de-energized. You can use a tester for this.
- Depending on the type of outlet, the decorative cover is dismantled. It can be secured with screws or latches. Domestic sockets use a screw.
- Then the socket fasteners are unscrewed. If the legs are movable, then when the screw is unscrewed, it will become available for removal.
- Carefully pull out the entire socket structure and see how they are fixed
It is logical to continue this topic. I mean parsing and removing the outlet from the wall. For many "handy" readers, this information will not be interesting, but for beginners, you are welcome. I am posting detailed instructions...
The whole tool is a screwdriver. We take it with a straight spout if your outlet uses straight bolts or “cross” if it is cross-shaped (just in case, you can take both at once) We don’t need anything else.
2) Turn off the electricity
This is important, you need to turn off the "machines" for the room you need. If you do not have branching by room, then turn off completely in the entire room. Let me remind you - we pull the lever down, the “green box” indicates that it is safe to work.
3) Unscrew the plastic part
Now we need to unscrew the plastic cover. In standard sockets (I don’t take expensive options), there is only one fastening - this is the central bolt in the middle, it is he who holds the plastic part (I have a LAZARD socket, however, the process will be similar on other LEGRAND types). To do this, take a screwdriver and unscrew the screw in the middle (I have it crosswise), after that just remove it. Half the battle is done, we have practically dismantled the outlet.
4) Remove the mechanism itself
As in the switch, the sockets are attached to the sockets with two bolts, either top and bottom, or on the sides. Simply unscrew them. However, there are spacer mechanisms, they are held thanks to special ears that fit into the spacer, you need to loosen them, then the socket will simply come out of the installation site.
5) Disconnect the wires
Now we turn off the electrics - there are two wires “phase” and “zero”, as well as a “ground” wire, we just unscrew the bolts from special fasteners. Then pull the wire towards you. Now you can remove the socket.
As you can see, nothing complicated, a fairly easy procedure. Guys, however, let me remind you that all work must be carried out with the electricity turned off, otherwise you risk getting an electric shock. Also, the wires that remain bare must be insulated and hidden, otherwise short circuits are possible.
This is how the removed and disassembled socket looks like.
This concludes the instructions - I think my article was useful to you, read our construction site.
There are more and more low-voltage cables for home networking every year. This includes:
- UTP internet cables and telephone wires
- cable for the "Smart Home" system
- acoustic wires
- alarm and video surveillance
- TV cable
If earlier all this was simply thrown across the floor, behind furniture, in baseboards, today, when repairing an apartment, walls are also shredded for low current and special sockets are installed. 
Consider in more detail the installation of TV sockets from companies such as Schneider Electric (Unica series) and Legrand.
Connecting a Schneider Electric Unica TV outlet
Specifications for television connectors from Schneider Electric:
The decibel value indicates the attenuation or attenuation of the signal.
Installation of all sockets must begin with cutting the coaxial cable. Leave a margin of 10-15 cm in length in the socket, cut the rest. 
Now the most important thing is to decide how much insulation needs to be removed. To what depth and how many centimeters.
It is best to take measurements directly on the outlet itself. To do this, pick it up, apply the wire just below the viewing hole and mark with a marker or knife, the cut line at the level of the plastic central insert. 
You can cut off the top layer of insulation as a specially designed tool 
as well as a simple knife. 
You can pick up an inexpensive stripper for a coaxial cable on ali-express. 
The screen under insulation in television cables is found in different versions:
- only aluminum foil
- copper braided foil
- one braid in the form of thin wires
If the overall wire diameter is less than 7mm, then the screen is often turned outward to ensure sufficient contact with the metal socket cover.
Just keep in mind that from the inside of the shell, the foil does not conduct current.
This is where the main mistake of many electricians and television people when connecting a coaxial cable comes from - they hide all the veins of the screen behind this foil.
Therefore, at least half of its layer should be turned upside down. Otherwise, you simply will not have contact and a TV signal.
Types of TV sockets
Also pay attention to the icons and inscriptions on the case. There should be a symbol in the form of an arrow facing inward. 
There is another arrow pointing up.
If your model has 2 arrows looking in different directions, then this is a pass-through TV outlet. That is, you put one cable from the antenna into the connector with an arrow down, and release the cable with the other or continue to pull the line to another connector, to another TV. 
In general, there are 3 types of television outlets:
- single
- terminal - they have an additional resistor with a resistance of 75 Ohm (terminator)
- walk-through
Single and terminal ones will transmit a signal of the same quality, provided that a TV is connected to them. 
If you do not connect a TV to a single outlet without resistance, then there will be interference and signal distortion on other TVs. Endpoints don't have this problem.
True, keep in mind that all this applies primarily to the analog signal. If you have a digital TV, or you are going to switch to it, then this resistor may cause problems. 
You will either have to throw out this outlet and change it to another one, or connect it directly. These resistors dampen the signal a lot. Some channels will show poorly, or there will be no image at all.
All walk-through television outlets have an inlet and an outlet. An outgoing wire is connected to the output to another outlet or directly to the TV. Their main disadvantage is the degradation of the output signal by 4 dB.
Scheme for connecting multiple TVs through pass-through sockets: 
You should also initially pay attention to the frequency of the socket signal. Models with a frequency of up to 1000 MHz are designed to work in networks with cable or terrestrial television. Instances with a frequency of over 1000 MHz are used for satellite television.
Cable connection
To connect the cable, remove the insulation from the central core by 6-8mm. At the same time, a couple more millimeters must be retreated from the edge of the outer shell to the place where the stripping begins. 
Next, insert the TV wire into the socket and through the viewing window, control that the central core fully enters the socket. 
In the Unica series, it is self-clamping, there is no need to tighten anything here. In other brands, there may be a clamping screw, which will need to be loosened first and then tightened with a screwdriver.
Pay special attention so that the “hairs” of the screen do not come into contact with the central core anywhere.
It remains to tighten the cable itself with the central screw and put the outer cover in place. 
If something is not clear and does not work, you can always refer to the instructions.
Connecting a TV outlet Legrand Valena
Installation of the outlet, as usual, begins with its disassembly. The outer frame is attached to the latches. On the reverse side, press on them with your fingers and remove the frame. 
Next, you need to get to the inside of the outlet. Insert a screwdriver into the slot and move upwards to open the protective cover. 
Inside there is a seat under the central core. In front of it is a wedge-shaped pin, which is driven under the top layer of insulation. 
Strip the coaxial cable and expose the central core by 8mm. In this case, the outer screen remains completely under the insulation layer. There is no need to expose wires and foil. 
Insert the cable into the socket so that the wedge penetrates under the outer sheath of the insulating layer. In this case, the central core should go into its seat. 
- central vein in the seat
- wedge under insulation
- the wire is tightly pressed to the side frame
After that, close the lid with a simple movement. Further, the frame together with the cable can be easily rotated in different directions and mounted on the socket. 
- no need to install a separate piece of cable to connect the TV connector to the outlet
- no signal degradation. On the F connectors of the UHF range, the signal attenuates only from 0.1 to 0.3 dB.
All this is achieved by using ordinary plugs. Initially, lay a sufficient supply of cable in the wall so that it is enough for a direct connection to the TV (1-1.5 meters).
In the plug, drill a hole according to the diameter of the cable and lead the conductor through it. 
It all looks as beautiful as on an ordinary outlet. 
The only negative is that not all manufacturers have such plugs and may not be available on certain series.
Connection errors
The three most common mistakes that are made when connecting TV outlets:
1 Using sockets with 75 ohm resistors for digital television cable.The result is the complete absence of a signal, or its poor quality.
If you have an analog signal, and several TVs are connected in series through a special splitter, then the resistance here will also be superfluous and it is better to get rid of it. 
If no equipment is connected to these connectors (sockets), on other TVs, some of the channels will again show poorly and interference will be observed. 
As a result, only the inner part of the foil remains outside, which is not conductive. Accordingly, there will be no contact between the screen and the socket connectors.
There are sockets in every apartment, and they use them many times a day, connect electrical appliances. Sometimes there are situations when you need to replace the outlet, move it or simply remove it for the period of repair and wallpapering. Although this is not difficult to do, you must follow safety precautions to avoid electric shock. In this article, we will look at how to remove the outlet from the wall and disassemble it.
Socket device
To carefully dismantle the outlet, you need to know its device. It differs depending on the specific model and manufacturer, but, in general, the design is the same.
There are sockets. Built-in, as the name implies, are located inside the wall in a recess, and overheads are fixed outside. Often, overhead sockets are used if external wiring is laid or on thin walls, partitions, on furniture elements.
The device of the built-in socket is shown in the picture below.
The socket consists of four main parts:
1. Socket cover.
2. Fastening to the wall - unclenching legs.
3. Caliper - a metal frame part of the body mount.
4. Core - an insulator with contacts and terminals for connecting wires.
In the wall or in the socket, it is attached due to the paws. They are attached to the core with screws, when you tighten them - the foot screws open and rest against the seat (socket or wall).
How to remove the socket
First of all, before doing anything with the socket, we take and check its performance on known good sockets or other voltage sources (lamp socket, circuit breaker screws, etc.). The indicator in it should glow when you touch the phase wire with a sting, and with your finger on the contact pad on the end of the screwdriver, as shown below.
When you are convinced that the screwdriver is working, you need to turn off the voltage in the apartment or. To do this, you need to find machines or fuses that are in the electrical panel of the apartment or in the entrance to the site.
If you have plugs with fuses installed, they are unscrewed. Automatic traffic jams - press the red button. If there are circuit breakers, the flag is lowered down, after which you will see the “O” mark, as in the photo below.
Now you need to re-check the presence of voltage in the socket with an indicator screwdriver - if it does not glow when you touch both wires - you can start working.
To dismantle the socket, first remove the front cover, for this you need to unscrew 1 or 2 screws.
After removing the cover, you will see the following picture:
It is necessary to loosen the fastening tabs, for this, the wines circled in red square are weakened. After that, the fastening will loosen, and you can remove the socket.
Now you need to pull the wires out of the terminals, screw terminals are usually used, so we loosen the screws.
A rubber band can be put on the socket - this is normal, it holds the mounting paws so that they do not hang out and fall out.
2 or 3 wires are connected to the socket:
Earth (not always).
If you want to replace an outlet, don't make a stupid mistake and connect it correctly.
Legrand's products are very popular, but their design often differs from common cheap sockets. The procedure for removing Legrand products is shown in the picture below:
Below is the design of the sockets of this manufacturer, the Valena series.
And the design of the Celiane series:
In both cases, first unscrew the screw holding the front panel, then remove the frame. The front panel can be additionally fixed with a latch, and most of the structural elements are fastened with latches, so carefully examine it and remove it with an awl or a thin screwdriver.
Products of another well-known brand Schneider Electric are disassembled in a similar way, but it is worth noting that on some models the front panel can be fastened without a screw, but with latches, as shown in the figure below:
They sit tight, but are removed if they are pulled towards you.
From above, they are covered with frames and there is nothing to grab, to remove. Therefore, to dismantle the outlet, you need to remove the frame. On the side of the frame, they have a special groove for this, where you can insert a slotted screwdriver.
Conclusion
To remove the socket in most cases, a slotted and Phillips screwdriver is enough. The main thing is to de-energize the network before you do this and do not pull too hard on the wires to avoid breaking them, otherwise you will have to open the wall and lengthen it. In principle, all sockets are disassembled similarly to each other, there are some nuances from individual manufacturers, such as latches or other design features.
