Fitting Sockets.

[Ray Pooley]

I guess you could file this under hints and tips.

When you're installing a socket the worst part, for me at least, is pushing it into place
and keeping it there while you tighten the screws. That means bending the cables,
however many there are. It can be quite a feat of strength and and a bit nerve racking.
I have actually cracked a few new sockets in the past and had to replace again.
I use pointed nose pliars to bend them but it's still a pain and a struggle.

What do you guys do? Is there a special pair of pliars available for this purpose?
Bending the cables? I did see something on the net a while ago but can't find it now.
Should have bought one when I saw it I suppose.

Any suggestions?

Cheers

 

[Taylortwocities]

Unless you use an impact driver ?

Quite. How are you going to ensure that the screw slots are vertical if you use one of those things?
No pride in their work, some people!

 

[Mike Johnson]

I agree about the impact driver, but screw slots should be horizontal.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Screws should always be at the diagonal & always like this /

(I was joking about the impact driver , they Should only be for consumer units

 

[littlespark]

No no no.... you use the smallest screwdriver you’ve got to screw back plates.... ones that dig into the slot when tight and leave it all chewed up.....
If you’re really good, you can mis-thread the screw, so you really have to force it.... it’ll never come out after that.

???

 

[loz2754]

No no no.... you use the smallest screwdriver you’ve got to screw back plates.... ones that dig into the slot when tight and leave it all chewed up.....
If you’re really good, you can mis-thread the screw, so you really have to force it.... it’ll never come out after that.

???

I personally prefer to use screws that are too long, and force them to bend over at the end when they hit the metal back box....

 

[Dustydazzler]

No No NO, your doing it all wrong...

2 inch #8 wood screw for face plates , that sucker will be nice and tight

 

[Dustydazzler]

Anyone tried one of these 'spinner' screwdrivers for face plate screws ...

they are all the rage in America/Canada

 

[Pete999]

Anyone tried one of these 'spinner' screwdrivers for face plate screws ...

they are all the rage in America/Canada

CAN'T FIT THAT INTO AN IMPACT DRIVER CAN YOU Dustydazzler

 

[nicebutdim]

No No NO, your doing it all wrong...

2 inch #8 wood screw for face plates , that sucker will be nice and tight

Recently removed BT master socket, when painting a wall, and found it was secured with wood screws. They probably come in sealed packaging with 3.5mm screws and this in a house less than 4 years old.

 

[Mike Johnson]

I usually crimp the screw thread with a pair of side cutters, so it ruins the back box thread and makes the face plate easy to remove with a pair of pliers, just give the faceplate a pull.

 

[Dartlec]

No No NO, your doing it all wrong...

2 inch #8 wood screw for face plates , that sucker will be nice and tight

Had to replace a single socket in a tiled kitchen where they'd done this

Lugs both bent and holes way to big for rethreading - No way to replace the back box without removing tiles.

Used one of these things - Fix a broken screw thread in your metal back box. Raise, tilt or lower a socket faceplate - https://backboxsaver.com - which did work, though only after a lot of fiddling and swearing and it was still only being held firm properly by one of the screws....

 

[littlespark]

We’re all laughing at this, but really? You screw back until it’s tight. A quarter turn to get the slot horizontal or vertical is the difference between the plate moving or not.

I wouldn’t be surprised if a customer found a loose socket when using it, and gave the screw a quarter or so turn to tighten it, and calling you all sorts for leaving it loose.

using any mechanical means to screw back a faceplate screw is a recipe for cracking the plastic.

 

[brianmoooore]

A bodge I've used, on a couple of occasions, to deal with a stripped or missing lug, is to drill a 6mm hole in the back of the box, directly behind the lug, then to use a masonry drill to drill out the mortar for a red or yellow plug, then to fit the plate with a very long #6 woodscrew.

 

[Timbo]

Used one of these things - Fix a broken screw thread in your metal back box. Raise, tilt or lower a socket faceplate - https://backboxsaver.com

But what a price! £5.99 for one ?

 

[Dartlec]

But what a price! £5.99 for one ?

Yep - expensive for what they are (presumably because they are made in low volume). And not perfect by any means - could only get one to stay in place in a single socket, though probably would more successful in a double socket where there is more space to get a finger in at one end while the other is connected....

Worth the cost for that job to avoid the hassle of getting a new back box in there though!

 

[Mike Johnson]

They look strangely like the captive screw threads you can pick up for pennies to put onto car parts to hold panels etc, but without insulation? bit of heat shrink would cure that.

 

[nicebutdim]

They look strangely like the captive screw threads you can pick up for pennies to put onto car parts to hold panels etc, but without insulation? bit of heat shrink would cure that.

Those would be perfect for the job if they were available with M3.5 thread.

 

[Dartlec]

They look strangely like the captive screw threads you can pick up for pennies to put onto car parts to hold panels etc, but without insulation? bit of heat shrink would cure that.

They do work, but aren't ideal.

They fit to the existing lug either with the little bit of sleeving, which isn't really strong enough to hold it in place while getting the screw lined up - at least not once your first attempt fails... or tiny sticky pads which don't stick to anything and are useless....

I guess a 3.5mm nut would effectively do the same thing if you could hold it behind the lug with a finger while getting the screw in - with a single box that's hard to do on both sides...

 

[DPG]

They look strangely like the captive screw threads you can pick up for pennies to put onto car parts to hold panels etc, but without insulation? bit of heat shrink would cure that.

Spire clips. Yes, they are pretty much the same but obviously they have a 3.5 thread rather than a hole for a self tapper.

 

[loz2754]

A bodge I've used, on a couple of occasions, to deal with a stripped or missing lug, is to drill a 6mm hole in the back of the box, directly behind the lug, then to use a masonry drill to drill out the mortar for a red or yellow plug, then to fit the plate with a very long #6 woodscrew.

Similar to this idea, but I've found a long 3.5mm socket screw will go nicely into a red plug.

 

[telectrix]

Similar to this idea, but I've found a long 3.5mm socket screw will go nicely into a red plug.

i've used the pin extensions in the same way, into a red rawlplug, lined up with where the damaged lug was, then fitted a normal 3,5mm.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Those would be perfect for the job if they were available with M3.5 thread.

They are.