Light switch box too full!

[nero120]

Hey all, I need some advice on house electrics. Basically, I'm helping the girlfriend change her lightswitches as the ones that were there when she moved in are really old. So after taking some off the wall and having a look we have found that the boxes behind the plates are packed full off wires, some of the switches were even mounted on wooden blocks I guess so that they could get the switches on the wall given the mess behind them. So, does anyone have any advice as to how to clear these boxes up? Would it be a better idea just to leave the wires how they are and get some new mounting blocks to sit the new light switches on the wall? The other issue is that I haven't been able to find anywhere that sells these mounting blocks, so any pointers as to where I can find some would be amazing!

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[JohnD]

picture please

 

[nero120]

Pictures will take a while as Im not seeing her again for a few days. I'll try to describe it better. The metal mounting box in question has four white cables coming into it, so you can imagine how many wires are in there. Normally the main cables are connected at the ceiling rose and only the light switch cable comes down into the switch right? Well in this flat all the connections are done in the switches themselves, meaning they are full of wires. The only way they could attach the actual switch to the wall was by raising it off the wall with a wooden frame to sit the switch on. I removed the frame but simply cannot get the switch to sit flush against the wall, as there are far too many wires behind it.

So I guess we have two choices:

1.) Rewire the lighting circuits so that the junction connections are done in the celing rose (not ideal), giving more room in the light switches.

2.) Replace the wooden frames that are attached to the wall which the light switches are mounted on.

Option 2 seems to be the easiest and most ideal, but I havent been able to find any similar frames anywhere, as I suppose most light switches are mounted flush against the wall.

Any ideas?

 

[plugwash]

remove the box and fit a deeper one.

 

[Tim 77]

MK make a light switch extender (don't think that's the right term) made from white plastic but they look rather unsightly.

 

[Space cat]

You have maybe one other option but it depends upon how much spare cable length is in there. If you're really good at 3D jigsaw puzzles you might, just might, get those wires in. Wires take up so much less space when you lay them neatly side by side. You'll have to plan it carefully so that the final layout leaves room for the switch and don't forget to allow for its fixing screws.

If you've already tried this and it just can't be done then plugwash has the best answer. It will certainly be a lot less work than rewiring all the lights.

PS: Don't make the same mistake as so many others have done and fail to note what goes where. A diagram will save a thousand curses!

 

[RF Lighting]

Its perfectly normal to have the loop in ond out at the switch like you have.

 

[nero120]

Thanks for the advice guys, Ill give the jigsaw puzzle one last try!