back box not straight for plug socket - any ideas?

dbaplaya · 27 Sep 2010

the electrician has put a few ney plug sockets in the extended kitchen. thought today i would put the new BG Nexus sockets in and they are quite a tight fit - seem to have a bit more on the bacl of them than the normal white sockets. anyway one of the backboxes isnt very straight, when i put the socket in and tried to adjust it it's not enough to straighten the plug up. any tricks of the trade to sorting this out?

thanks

sparkwright · 27 Sep 2010

Has the box gone one adjustable screw lug?
If so, that will help for a start.

I assume we are talking about a metal box in a solid wall.
Is the wall tiled?
If not, you may be able to cut a small slot between the plaster and the edge of the box where the the box should go. Loosen or remove the screws or fixing that holds the box to the wall. Get a hammer and screwdriver and knock the box into position. Re-fix box. Any damage around the box will hopefully get covered with the faceplate.

If we are talking about a dry-line plastic flush box in a hollow wall you may be able to remove the box, cut the hole to allow the box to fit level, and pack any gaps with strips or wedges or something. Put box back, flanges should hold everything together.

If the walls are tiled, then you are going to have problems.

The obvious answer would be to get a range of sockets that have enough space at the back to allow for this issue. The 'flat' range of sockets generally have this problem, so try and go for something that's a more ordinary design.

1john · 27 Sep 2010

remove the lug and drill and tap the back box with a 3mm/3.2mm drill bit and a 3.5mm tap. Check that there isnt a hole behind the lug 1st as some back boxes have them and then this method cant be used.

sparkwright · 27 Sep 2010

1john said:
remove the lug and drill and tap the back box with a 3mm/3.2mm drill bit and a 3.5mm tap. Check that there isnt a hole behind the lug 1st as some back boxes have them and then this method cant be used.

Before you do any of that, offer the socket up to the box, and check first that the socket will fit in the box level.

dbaplaya · 27 Sep 2010

sparkwright : its a metal 35mm box in a solid wall - no tiles etc just painted white wall.

i have already brought and installed 8 of these in the kitchen so cant take them back lol!

thanks both for your replies, i shall try you advice.

sparkwright · 27 Sep 2010

You can use a Dremel-type cutter to get a neat, crisp cut round the edge of the box. Perhaps you have one, or can borrow one.

ban-all-sheds · 28 Sep 2010

dbaplaya said:
the electrician has put a few ney plug sockets in the extended kitchen. thought today i would put the new BG Nexus sockets in and they are quite a tight fit - seem to have a bit more on the bacl of them than the normal white sockets.

According to the manufacturers technical specs the minimum box depth you need for those sockets is 25mm. Yours are 35mm. You just need to improve your cable dressing skills.

anyway one of the backboxes isnt very straight, when i put the socket in and tried to adjust it it's not enough to straighten the plug up. any tricks of the trade to sorting this out?

Yes - get the guy who did it wrong to come back and put it right. You paid him to do it - it's not down to you to rectify his cock-ups.

mikhailfaradayski · 28 Sep 2010

ban-all-sheds said:
dbaplaya said:

the electrician has put a few ney plug sockets in the extended kitchen. thought today i would put the new BG Nexus sockets in and they are quite a tight fit - seem to have a bit more on the bacl of them than the normal white sockets.

Click to expand...

According to the manufacturers technical specs the minimum box depth you need for those sockets is 25mm. Yours are 35mm. You just need to improve your cable dressing skills.

anyway one of the backboxes isnt very straight, when i put the socket in and tried to adjust it it's not enough to straighten the plug up. any tricks of the trade to sorting this out?

Click to expand...

Yes - get the guy who did it wrong to come back and put it right. You paid him to do it - it's not down to you to rectify his cock-ups.

From reading this thread, do you think the electrician actually exists?

sparkwright · 28 Sep 2010

ban-all-sheds";p="1749505 said:
dbaplaya said:

the electrician has put a few ney plug sockets in the extended kitchen. thought today i would put the new BG Nexus sockets in and they are quite a tight fit - seem to have a bit more on the bacl of them than the normal white sockets.

Click to expand...

I think the problem here with a tight fit is not to do with the cables and depth of the box,
but the fact once the socket faceplate fits against the box it is such as tight fit there is no room to tilt it.
In other words there is little space round the edges of the faceplate at the back to allow for any adjustment.

dbaplaya · 28 Sep 2010

the sparky cant come back for 2 weeks as he is on holiday but I will leave him to do it as i cant be bothered and he was paid to do it in the first place.

I was looking at doing it myself as his been back 3 times now to move sockets that his installed too low and are hitting the skirting board.

WabbitPoo · 29 Sep 2010

dbaplaya said:
I was looking at doing it myself as his been back 3 times now to move sockets that his installed too low and are hitting the skirting board.

ColJack · 29 Sep 2010

forgive us if we don't believe you that the electrician exists at all.
we get the same "the sparky did a runner / is on holiday / broke his leg" etc etc, excuse on here at least once a week.
the sheer number of sparkies on holiday at any given time beggars belief..

sparkwright · 29 Sep 2010

I believe he exists. There are loads of electricians about causing this kind of mayhem, where an ordinary DIYer can clearly see the obvious faults.

Probably done by some young chap.

Or an old chap.

Is the problem with the skirting board because the new socket has a larger than average faceplate?

1john · 29 Sep 2010

sparkwright said:
I believe he exists. There are loads of electricians about causing this kind of mayhem, where an ordinary DIYer can clearly see the obvious faults.

Probably done by some young chap.

Or an old chap.

Is the problem with the skirting board because the new socket has a larger than average faceplate?

Are middle aged chaps flawless, i look forward to being middle age in that case

sparkwright · 29 Sep 2010

Young people don't seem to know what they're doing.

Old people lose interest, have done it all before, and think because they've done it so many times they don't need to put the effort in.

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back box not straight for plug socket - any ideas?

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