Help with socket face plates to fit a busy/narrow back box

[Peter22]

Hi there,

Hoping someone on here could help. I have been swapping my standard white plastic plug sockets with flat polished chrome ones. In one of the rooms, the back boxes are fixed to the breeze block of external wall Vs the others which are fit to the stud walls. Basically it means there is no way to fit a deeper back box without chiseling the wall. The components on the back of the face plates on my new chrome flat ones seem to take up slightly more room that the current palstic standard ones and I can't get them to fit on without crushing everything in the back box. My question - is there a brand of face plates that are more accommodating for a busy/narrow back box?

Thanks

 

[buzzlightyear]

most flush sockets namely the screw less one you need a deep back box for the sockets and switches, the ones I use are click and always use.UK Electrical Supplies - https://www.ukelectricalsupplies.com/Click-scolmore.htm

 

[SJD]

If the cable(s) to the back box enter from just one side (e.g. top), then it is quite simple to remove the back box, scrape the hole a bit deeper, and refit the box. With a soft breeze block, you don't really need to do any chiselling.

 

[buzzlightyear]

If the cable(s) to the back box enter from just one side (e.g. top), then it is quite simple to remove the back box, scrape the hole a bit deeper, and refit the box. With a soft breeze block, you don't really need to do any chiselling.

and what about if it is wall papered.

 

[SJD]

and what about if it is wall papered.

If it's a shallow box, you can probably get it out with care without damaging the wall paper, lift top/bottom of the paper before damaging it, and scrape out a little of the breeze block top or bottom of the box to assist removal.

 

[kropaske]

Bg Nexus NPC22W series will fit to 25mm boxes but they are not flat. Other option would be to use 10mm spacer.
Ideally of course is to remove 25mm boxes and replace them with 35mm

 

[Toneyz]

There are some makes that fit into a 25mm K.O. box I assume the RFC (ring main) is 2.5mm cable?

 

[telectrix]

just get the hammer out. if it's a new build, the worst scenario is that it will collapse.

 

[PEG]

just get the hammer out. if it's a new build, the worst scenario is that it will collapse.

I've heard,a certain scouse,plant operative,is going to be using the old "i was using the bucket of my machine...to deepen a back-box,in a hotel i was working in...."

 

[Andy78]

Chase out and fit 35mm deep boxes or get socket fronts that are not flat plate are the only real options in my opinion.

 

[Toneyz]

Is the walls wet plaster or dot and dab?
The stud walls if fast-fix boxes have not been used and are stud cross noggins mat be tricky as the noggin may become loose.

 

[Leesparkykent]

Flat plate are rubbish any way and don’t look any good imo if the wall isn’t truly flat....

 

[Toneyz]

Flat plate are rubbish any way and don’t look any good imo if the wall isn’t truly flat....

Quite right there, Lee, I have heard a few electricians say that and from the few that I have fitted. The wall has to be a perfectly plastered flat wall.

 

[littlespark]

Wait until you get round to swapping the light switches for flat plate and find them only 12mm deep

 

[Deleted member 26818]

On one site I worked on, they had plastered concrete walls in communal areas and cleaner sockets.
The shallow back boxes all had that intumescent putty stuff on the inside.
I was tasked with getting the flat plate sockets to sit flat.
A nightmare.

 

[Rpa07]

I detest the things - never have liked the look of them yet strangely enough I have them fitted in my front room! I guess I’ve grown in myself and gained some taste!
My favourites are the slim varieties - still need a deeper backbox but they look sweet.
Hamilton hartland slim, quite square and look great whether metal or white moulded

Isn’t that pretty (er) than a flat plate?

 

[DPG]

Must admit I'm not a fan of the flat plate stuff. The one Rpa just posted looks better. Will it scratch though - you see a lot of metal sockets scratched from myopic people trying to fit 13A plugs (plug-tops, etc.) in them.

 

[Rpa07]

Hey, I’m myopic - Rude!

Must admit I'm not a fan of the flat plate stuff. The one Rpa just posted looks better. Will it scratch though - you see a lot of metal sockets scratched from myopic people trying to fit 13A plugs (plug-tops, etc.) in them.

 

[DPG]

Hey, I’m myopic - Rude!

In that case I wouldn't have fitted metal sockets

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Hey, I’m myopic - Rude!

You need sockets that are a different colour to your walls.