"John Grabowski" wrote in message
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"RBM" wrote in message
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"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
. ..
RBM wrote:
"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
news
wrote:
I'm swapping an electrical outlet for one of a different color. It
turned out that the old metal box is missing one of the tabs that an
outlet screws into. It's behind tile, so I really can't replace the
box.
That end of the old outlet had been wire-tied in -- wire through two
holes in the top of the outlet box, out around the outlet mounting
tab, twist tight. The old wire came apart when I untwisted it to
remove the outlet.
I've tried to replicate this with various types of wire. Most were
too soft and broke as I twisted it down. The only one that didn't was
16 gauge baling wire, but that left a big fat twist of wire above the
outlet that kept the cover from mounting nicely. I also tried zip
ties, but had issues getting them tight while keeping the fat part off
the front.
Any bright ideas? Keep looking for a stronger small gauge wire?
-troy
If you completely remove the outlet from the box you should have plenty
of room to drill a hole into the side wall of the box onto which you
could then fasten a tiny homemade angle bracket with a self tapping
screw driven into that hole.
Drill a hole in the exposed end of the newly fastened bracket and use
another self tapping screw to fasten the outlet's end onto it.
QED
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.
The tab with the 6/32" tapped threads is above the box opening on a
typical 2x3 steel box
This may well be a situation where "You are right from your side and I
am right from mine."
When I read your reponse I thought that my age related CRS* had kicked
in and caused me to write something totally useless.
So, out came the kitchen drawer screwdriver and I popped off two single
outlet cover plates and one single switch plate. (On boxes installed
when we had our home built23 years ago.)
Those boxes all that their tabs pointing inward.
Then I looked in my hell box of electrical junk and found three
different style metal boxes all with the tabs pointing inward, and none
pointing outward.
Checking a few web pages with lots of different electrical boxes
pictured on them didn't pull up any with the tabs "outside" the boxes,
but maybe some of the metal "old work" boxes had 'em there.
Peace,
Jeff
* CRS: Can't remember ****e.
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.98*10^14 fathoms per fortnight.
Typical steel new construction (bang on) 2x3 switch box has the tab
outside the box. Reducing covers and surface mounted boxes have the tabs
on the inside, as do steel concrete tight boxes. See link for typical
switch box:
https://www.hardwareworld.com/25in-D...a-pGJXLRX.aspx
I assumed that it was a gem box also Roy. I guess it could be a square
box, but I would think that you could drill a hole in the back and tap it
and then use a long screw to fasten the receptacle.
My thoughts exactly, also the likelyhood of a gem box tab breaking off is
way greater than breaking the tab off a 1900 to single gang reducing cover