Can anyone tell me how to attach a double socket to a wall?

KaySamuels

I am in the process of removing built in white ash wood effect cupboards, and fake brick panelling from my living room, and on one panel was a double socket. I took the socket apart to unscrew it from the panel, removed the panel, then rewired the double socket.

However, I now have the snag of having nothing on the wall to screw the double socket box onto! There is a hole (about the same size as the socket box) in the wall, so nowhere to drill + screw into.

All I can think of is attaching a discreet plinth of wood to the wall (eg painted same colour as walls), and then fixing the socket onto this???

Any ideas on best course of action?

Ideally I would like this to be a DIY job, I'm capable and I'm currently on a saving mission so would like to avoid labour costs if possible.

Could MAYBE upload photos of that would help with advice ....

googler

Usual protocol is to attach socket front plate to a metal back box, which is embedded in the wall, and depending on wall style, attached to timber strutwork. This leaves the front plate flush with the wall

Either that or white surface-mounted box, which is secured to the flat of the wall. If you fill the hole, and attached one of these to the filling material, would that work?

ic

Is it a brick wall or a stud wall? For brick there should be one of these: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Boxes+Pattresses/Metal+Box+2+Gang+35mm/d190/sd2634/p77591, or for a stud wall one of these: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Electrical/Boxes+Pattresses/Appleby+Dry+Lining+Boxes+2+Gang+35mm/d190/sd2634/p96918. Assuming you mean you want the socket flush to the wall?

These screw/attach to the wall in the hole, and then the faceplate you have screws to these. Make sure you get the correct depth for your hole - the deeper the better, as there's more room for the wiring.

ormus

sounds like you need one of these. the top one is a surface mounted box.
the other one is for flush mounting.
you can also buy another type specially for stud/PB walls.

you must have something to affix the box too, otherwise you would be seeing daylight or into next doors lounge.

KaySamuels

Hmm I think there is one of those metal boxes sat inside the hole in the wall, I will have a look when my little boy is in bed later.
It didn't seem like the white box would fix to it though.....

The white socket box had a deep white back to the box and then a front panel that screwed on. Hope that makes sense!

It's an internal wall - is this a stud wall then? It's definitely not a brick wall :-)

I will be back later when I've had a good recent look at it

googler

KaySamuels wrote: »

Hmm I think there is one of those metal boxes sat inside the hole in the wall, I will have a look when my little boy is in bed later.
It didn't seem like the white box would fix to it though.....

You don't fit a white box as pictured above to a metal back box, you fit the socket plate (with the three-pin sockets, and possibly switches)

The metal box should be screwed into something solid, possibly wooden studwork, so that it doesn't move, and the socket plate goes onto that.

ic

Is the metal box in the wall approx half as wide as the white box that was on top of it? If so then a single socket has been upgraded on the cheap and easy to a double. If you want the sockets flush to the wall, you'll need to replace with a double back box.

Sounds like its time for the pictures...

fluffpot

What about fitting a dry lining box (plasterboard box)?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Images/Products/size_3/MTBDLB2.JPG

Bob_the_Saver

No nails is no good then, damn

ormus

if you have stud walls, here you can see how the (socket) metal box is fitted to a noggin.
ready for the PB.

fluffpot

ooo, nice bum!