Old house wiring outlets wiggling

[WaterBoyz]

So, my son recently bought a house built in 1952. Replacing the outlets and switches. Some are 2-wire and some are 3-wire.

Anyway, over the years the boxes and the wall material have been whittled away to the point that the mounting hardware ears for the outlets and switches no longer touch the wall when the outlet/switch is tightened or the box is inset a lot. It seems that the wall plate is the only redeeming factor to keep the device from moving.

This is really a concern because the new outlets are those tamper-resistant types that require a lot of effort to insert the plug. The device moves all over the box because the device is not being held in place by the ears of the device. If it wasn't for the faceplate......

What have people been doing to safely secure the device to the box?

As to the 2-wire vs 3-wire that will be another thread or research.

I hate working on old ****.

As a side note, I have one box that was cast into the concrete and all of the threads of the screwing into the box are rusted gone. Another case of the wall plate sorta holding the devices in alignment. What have people been doing to address this situation? Somewhere in the past the owner just put some black tape around the device to reduce the possibility of shorting to the box.

 

[driftpin]

Use a larger-dia. screw, or:

You could use a nut-sert tool to set a threaded female, and GB offers folding plastic spacers you install, accordion-style behind the screws so it spaces-out your switch or duplex plug.

 

[The Cobbler]

first problem, you can shim the screws with something so you can seat them tight and hold the device. an electrician i know uses the sheath off of probably # 8 cable , cut to the right lenght & slipped over the screw . tightened down and the plug/switch is rock solid

 

[Sokoloff]

Use caterpillars: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-Spacers-25-Pack-172451L/202937111

 

[WaterBoyz]

Use caterpillars: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-Spacers-25-Pack-172451L/202937111

Thanks.......

Now to find than at a HD near me.........

 

[WaterBoyz]

Use a larger-dia. screw, or:

You could use a nut-sert tool to set a threaded female, and GB offers folding plastic spacers you install, accordion-style behind the screws so it spaces-out your switch or duplex plug.

Actually, the metal screw ears are either completely gone are filled with the rusted remains of the previous 6x32 screw.

 

[ddawg16]

New construction requires TR outlets. Unless he has babies or it's being inspected, just put in standard recept's.

Also....when you attach the wall plate....it will pull the recept up and snug it so it's fairly stable.

 

[WaterBoyz]

New construction requires TR outlets. Unless he has babies or it's being inspected, just put in standard recept's.

Also....when you attach the wall plate....it will pull the recept up and snug it so it's fairly stable.

No babies.
No senior adults.
No inspection.
No non-tamper resistant outlets are available at the local big box. Are they available at the specialized electrical houses?

 

[ddawg16]

No babies.
No senior adults.
No inspection.
No non-tamper resistant outlets are available at the local big box. Are they available at the specialized electrical houses?

Amazon..........

 

[b-boy]

No non-tamper resistant outlets are available at the local big box. Are they available at the specialized electrical houses?

Really? I don't have any problem finding them in NY. Maybe a state thing?

 

[Sokoloff]

^^^ Good solution.

Got to love Home Depot pricing.

In stock: $2.49 for 3: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RACO-1-Gang-Flush-Fit-Wall-Plate-Spacer-3-Pack-999X/304353271

Not in stock: $26.91 for 30: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RACO-1-Gang-Flush-Fit-Wall-Plate-Spacer-10-Pack-of-3-999X/303040294

 

[larry4406]

That wall plate spacer is a new one to me. Typically I have seen the electrician leave the screws from the outlet to the box somewhat loose and then use the trim plate screw to pull it all tight. I learn something new each day here.

 

[Zeke]

Why not fire break foam the boxes or use plaster to fill the voids? If they are loose, what has been mentioned so far will stop the box from moving in, but what about that cord plug that is hard to remove?

 

[acer66]

That wall plate spacer is a new one to me. Typically I have seen the electrician leave the screws from the outlet to the box somewhat loose and then use the trim plate screw to pull it all tight. I learn something new each day here.

Never seen that before either, I normally use these.

 

[Higgins]

WE used them all the time. Were quick to install, easier than trying to use washers,and easy to stack to adjust to various depths.

 

[WaterBoyz]

Found the multi-pak of the neon Z-spacers at Lowes. I did my first outlet with them. Worked great.

As mentioned by some, the oversized holes were mudded up some. But not all of them. It is really really bad at the kitchen backsplash. None of the devices were touching the tile. The wall plates were sorta holding them steady. Found a lot of connections that the wire literally fell out of the device. Also there was blue tape on some of the connections.....YIKES.

As a side note, this job has some very thick brass wall plates. It is a balancing act to get the device secured to the wall/box AND to get the wall plate screws to reach the device. I just HATE it when the device wiggles around, especially when trying to plug a cord into it. I'm scared that it will juggle just enough to contact the metal box. Seen too many situations where the installer was too lazy to find that balance. But, then again, they were probably getting paid by the device so the faster they go the more money they make.

I do have OCD issues.........

 

[wssix99]

Found the multi-pak of the neon Z-spacers at Lowes. I did my first outlet with them. Worked great.

I have to use these all over in my new construction. Similar problem, except my drywallers tore things up so bad, there isn't any good material for the outlet ears to hold on to.

 

[acer66]

That's the accordion plastic spacers I mentioned.

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Never heard that term but makes sense.

 

[Jay H 237]

Raco (or others) wall plate spacers

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RACO-1-...Vff7jBx0TzAveEAkYASABEgKFfPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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Thanks! Never saw those before, and the small HD near me in New Hartford lists a few in stock, if I knew about those I would have gotten them yesterday when I was there. Another trip back today. I just bought a house last month and slowly working on it and this is an issue I have too!

 

[checkthisout]

Yeah, sorry - I'm sure that's not an official term for them, it just seemed like a good descriptor to me at the time!

Those spacers are awesome. I always wondered why something like didn't exist. Thanks!

 

[WaterBoyz]

I used these yesterday. Some places I had to stack 6 of them.

But, in my application, I have super heavy thick solid brass wall plates. I have to leave lots of slack in the device just to get it to show itself through the wall plate. I'll get some pics.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Get you a Klein triple tap screwdriver (625-24) (HD less than $12) and a supply of 8-32 screws inch and half long and upgrade the screws and use neon spacers and get the whole works solid in the boxes. Should not take more than 5 minutes or so per box to get them tight forever. The triple tap screwdriver retreads 6-32,8-32 and 10-24 all in one tool. I have had one for 30 years plus that I still use occasionally. Handy tool you will wonder what you have done without it for all these years. They also have it in a insert bit but its more and not nearly as handy.