Mounting a socket outlet box (page 1)

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Flush or surface mounted socket outlets

Once you have routed your cable, it will be necessary to mount the backing box. Obviously, if you are fitting a surface mounted type this will simply be a question of drilling and plugging the wall and screwing the box in place.

Flush mounted types require a recess to be made in the wall, into which they can be secured.

In masonry – use metal box

Hold the new metal box against the wall in the desired position making sure it is level. Use a pencil to draw round it.

Having first checked that there are no cables or pipes below the surface near where you are cutting the hole, use a masonry drill to make a series of holes around the perimeter of your outline. Wear goggles to protect your eyes. If you have a depth-stop on the drill, set this to the depth of the box. Otherwise mark the depth on the drill bit with a piece of chalk, so that you can see when the appropriate depth has been reached.

Cutting the socket outlet recess

Once the perimeter has been drilled, drill further holes to the same depth throughout the internal area of the outline.

Use a cold chisel and hammer to trim out the hole as neatly as you can. Wear goggles to protect your eyes. The neater it is, the less making good you’ll have to do later. Once the hole has been cut out, check that the box will fit comfortably into the recess and sits flush with the surface of the surrounding plasterwork.

Use the same technique to provide a recess for the cable route to the box.

Fixing the socket outlet box

Mark the fixing positions by drawing a pencil mark through the holes in the back of the box. Remove the box and drill and plug the holes. Take the box and carefully remove one of the blanked out holes in the most suitable side. This is best done by giving it a sharp tap with a small cold chisel and hammer. Fit a rubber grommet (which provides protection against damage to the cable on the metal edges of the hole. Feed the cable through making sure you have made adequate allowance for trimming and connecting the conductors. Reposition the box back in its recess and fix with screws into the plugged holes.

Continued...

• Locating new sockets