Loose light switch

[mundo]

Hi,

I have a loose light switch plate. I am unable to tighten the screws because the thread is worn on the metal box which is embedded into the wall. I am unable to replace the metal box as it has been tiled over.

Any ideas what I can do here?

Happy to supply photo if that helps.

 

[chivers67]

http://www.armeg.co.uk/ReThreader-A00084.asp one of these should help

 

[mundo]

Excellent, many thanks.

 

[mundo]

Just a follow up to this. The metal box is one of those old types with the thread being a piece of plastic that is wedged into the metal box. On one side it's completely broken so I can't even re-thread it. Do you know where I could but the replacement plastic threaded bits to slot in or what their proper name is?

I've attached a photo so you can see what I mean.

Untitled

• mundo
• 17 Dec 2011
• 1

 

[riveralt]

buy an new back box.

 

[mundo]

The problem I've got is that I can't get a new back box in because the tiles have boxed it in.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Roll up a small piece of paper and put in the screw hole but make sure the screw goes down the middle.

Might do for a while.

 

[chivers67]

That's an old MK back box by the looks of it, think it's going to have to come out I'm afraid. Have you got any spare tiles?

 

[RF Lighting]

Drill through where the screws are supposed to go with a 3mm drill bit right through the back of the box

remove the plastic bits

tap the 3mm holes with an M3.5 tap

screw in a screw extender

Screw the plate screws into them

done.

By the way you have no earth to that switch, so you must NOT fit a metal switch plate there.

 

[mundo]

Thanks, I'll give that a go. Don't worry, no metal switch.

 

[flameport]

Thanks, I'll give that a go. Don't worry, no metal switch.

The box is metal, and when you fix the plastic switch to the new metal inserts, the metal screws will be electrically connected to the metal backbox.
A fault could then make the fixing screws live.
This can be solved by using plastic screws.

The lack of a cpc (earth) and the wires being red white and blue also means it should have been rewired a couple of decades ago.