remove tabs on receptacle strap?

[jives]

Hi all:
The ears (screw holes) on the receptacle ******** my new install stick out too far. The receptacles will be fit inside a 1 1/8" thick panel, thus need to be flush. Can I just bend/break these off? Here is a pic:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-Duplex-Outlet-White-10-Pack-M24-05320-WMP/100055784

 

[In The Doghouse]

Yep. Just bend them back and forth until they fall off.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I'm pretty sure your ok doing that - you have to take them off when you put the outlet in a steel cover on a box like in the link.

I'm not an electrician - so I'm sure I'll be corrected shortly.

https://www.grainger.com/product/RACO-Galvanized-Zinc-Electrical-5AA26

Jim

 

[Cmreschke]

Can you post a pic of what your sticking them in? Yes ears can be cut off if it's the 4 corners your talking about. If your talking about the yoke that the ears are attached to, then no. Just the ears.

 

[ishiboo]

That's why they're scored... for breaking off with lineman's pliers or the likes.

Steel boxes with covers are one spot where they don't fit, and probably why they're all scored.

 

[jives]

That's why they're scored... for breaking off with lineman's pliers or the likes.

Steel boxes with covers are one spot where they don't fit, and probably why they're all scored.

I was pretty sure that is why they were scored. I don't have pics of the install, that will come later this fall.

 

[CJ7VFR]

I remove them some times when I have to put receptacles in places that won't allow the outlets to sit flush with wall plates. There are times when I want to recess them a bit and not have the "ears" come in contact with the wall around the hole for the mounting box.

As others have said, the little "ears" are scored to allow you to remove them using a pair of pliers.

Jim

 

[nh_yota]

They're called plaster ears and they're designed to keep the device flush with the surface of the wall but you can remove them if needed.