How can i level a couple of wonky sockets?

[quackfly]

Afternoon guys, Got a kitchen to do and the customer has asked if i can straighter up the sockets which are a bit crooked, can this be done if the boxes they're screwed into are crooked??

 

[DHTiling]

Sometimes you can have enough play on the screws for the face plate to correct slightly wonky ones but if they are well out of level then you will have to straighten the back box...turn the power off..lol...

You are not altering the power circuit in anyway so none applicable to part P..

 

[Olz]

If you can move the box enough to straighten it then you could pack it out with some wedges. Not sure how legal that is though regs wise.

Try asking the question on our sister forum http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/

 

[Deleted member 1779]

Some knockout mounting boxes have an adjustable screw mount inside.

If not its also possible to get longer screws and then manually bend (twist) the lugs inside the mouting box if its the galvanised steel version. The lugs are able to flex or twist a little bit. But dont overdo it or you will snap them off.

If the back box is very off then you might have to dig it out and reposition. Although I appreciate that's sometimes a bit of a task !

Dry lining boxes are a different animal though and the screw locators are fairly fixed. Thats because they form part of the grip on the plaster board. If you have dry lining boxes you are fairly stuffed! Any attempt to reposition them will eat into what's left of the plasterboard. You will then be forced to reinforce them with noggins. Yuk!

 

[CJ]

As mentioned, SOME boxes (the better makes of back box) usually have a movable lug if not on both sides.....one at least. The cheaper back boxes don't. If that is the case, you will need to loosen screws, and possible chip away at the edges of them to move.

 

[kilty55]

there is one adjustable lug on most boxes usually situated on the right hand side of the box once fitted just check if this is the caser and you can adjust accordingly