Mounting box

[j03]

I have a mounting box like this one:

along with a dimmer switch, the dimmer sitch has a bit on the back that the wires go into that is almost the length of the mounting box. My problem is the four bits that stick out into the middle of the box on each side. They get in the way of this bit on the back of the switch! Has anyone else come across something like this and figured out a way of fixing? Can the bits just be forced back, or off?

Any help greatly appreciated

 

[Spark123]

If the spare ones are adjustable remove them or if they are fixed flatten them back.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

How can all 4 be in the way?

Two will be needed for the screws that hold the switch in...

 

[j03]

yeah you know what I mean, two are in the way!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

+

 

[Steve]

a pair of pliers should bend the lugs back against the box.

 

[fr1day]

b-a-s> As they say - 'a picture paints a thousand words'! LMAO

 

[j03]

Cheers guys, mainly crafty I got them off with pliers last night and all works fine now ....

Adding to this, on the other side of the dimmer I fitted is another switch that I want to replace, the switches I want to use, as mentioned above have quite larger bits on the back so they need a 35mm mounting box. The one that I want to replace now has a wall mounted box and behind that a quite ancient looking wooden one that is attached to the wall in some way....no idea how! Is cold chisel and hammering it to bits the best thing to do or are they normally trivially attached and I'm totally missing it? Cant see any screws anywhere but plasterwork been patched up all around it so could be something in there!

Also, sorry, I will stop in a min... Does having two deepish (35mm) mount boxes back to back pretty much on a wall cause any probs...its a supporting wall between living and dining rooms if you can imagine and both light switches are back to back currently. Phew!

 

[Steve]

Cheers guys, mainly crafty I got them off with pliers last night and all works fine now ....

Adding to this, on the other side of the dimmer I fitted is another switch that I want to replace, the switches I want to use, as mentioned above have quite larger bits on the back so they need a 35mm mounting box. The one that I want to replace now has a wall mounted box and behind that a quite ancient looking wooden one that is attached to the wall in some way....no idea how! Is cold chisel and hammering it to bits the best thing to do or are they normally trivially attached and I'm totally missing it? Cant see any screws anywhere but plasterwork been patched up all around it so could be something in there!

Also, sorry, I will stop in a min... Does having two deepish (35mm) mount boxes back to back pretty much on a wall cause any probs...its a supporting wall between living and dining rooms if you can imagine and both light switches are back to back currently. Phew!

Haven't heard about the wooden back you describe - but go at it with a drill with an all purpose bit to deepen the hole. But make sure there aren't any hidden wires there - turn the electric off at the mains before you start if you can, run an extension from your kind neighbours or use a cordless drill.

And for a supporting wall, you need load bearing backboxes - usually cast iron . . .













ONLY JOKING!!! It will be fine. the effect of the holes you are making are practically zero - think about your boiler / tumble dryer vents and the toilet pipe.

 

[j03]

Oh yeah....duh!

[Edit:]

Saying that, if there's a hole in the wall from one end to the other, with the mounting boxes back to back then there won't be anything for them to attach to meaning when the switches are screwed onto the mounts then they could just move in and out of the wall like a ... hmmm, can't think of an example! Like this I guess:

[code:1] | | |
--- --- ---
| | | [/code:1]

 

[Steve]

ohhh!!!! the wood is seperating 2 switches mounted on opposite sides of the same wall??

i understand now . . . . I think the only way around it is to use a builders adhesive or epoxy resin of some sort on the edges of the boxes and bolt the 2 boxes back to back.

 

[j03]

Great....thanks, I'll have a go at hacking the wooden one out tomorrow