Hello experts,
I’m fixing up a house built in the ’40s but was renovated in the ’70s. In some (most) parts of the house, drywall was applied over the existing plaster walls but the electrical boxes weren’t moved. As a result, some are very deeply recessed in the walls, some so deep the screws aren’t long enough to keep the receptacles attached to the boxes. In boxes that have plugs and switches that can be secured to the boxes, many are too deeply set to (correctly) attach a faceplate. I think there is a code-specified depth for the boxes to be set, but since I’m not going to pull the sheetrock and the boxes are already securely set in the walls, I’d like to find another alternative to pulling all the boxes and re-setting them. I was thinking about spacers behind the receptacles with longer screws but don’t know what material to use. The boxes are a mix of plastic and metal. Thanks in advance for any advise you can provide.
Darge
Replies
Spark rings, goof rings in southern parlance, and longer mounting screws will get you there. Any good electrical supply house will sell these, try to get the plastic ones if possible, by the case at a much more reasonable price than your likely to find at the big boxes.
Also buy, these are cheapest at the big box, a box of 6-32 nuts to thread behind the mounting strap on the device so they don't slide down the longer screws and into the box. This keeps the cover plates doing what they do best, keeping fingers out of danger, and the screws doing their personal best as a solid physical support for the device.
Edited to add last block.
Edited 1/15/2004 11:02:21 PM ET by 4Lorn1
I think you're correct on the maximum gap between the box and the face of the wall. If you only have a few to buy, go to HD or Lowes and get box extensions. They are usually available in 3/4 and 1-1/2" depth, and for single and double boxes. Also for ceiling fixture boxes. Thet look just like a box, but the back is missing.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The box stores in my locale have plastic extenders in 1/4" increments, from 1/4' to I think 1".
There are also a couple of varieties of metal rings as well. They're about 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" deep and are adjustable, they slide inside the existing box as required to get the proper depth set. Top and bottom flanges rest against the show surface to the wall...the srywall, the wainscotting, the plaster, etc...to keep the extender ring from falling back into the box.
I use the metal ones, but before setting them I make sure the fixture has been wrapped with electrical tape. A few wraps of tape to cover the side terminal screws can prevent the metal sleeve from contacting and shorting against the screw.
Legal? Well, for what its worth, I've seen sparky snip the ends off wire nuts and put them behind the mickey mouse ears. Screw goes thru and the half nut backs up the tabs so it doesn't push in.
"The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters