Straightening BT socket

danrv

Hi
I'm decorating my hallway and this BT socket is not at all level and would like to get it straight.
Just not sure if it's ok to take the backplate off. Need to do this to try and reposition the box.
The two wires shown aren't connected to anything so the connection is made when the faceplate is in place.
And help appreciated.

On-the-coast

Ok in what sense?
it’s perfectly safe, and unless the interior cables are about to fall out anyway you won’t even break the connection. 

I’d do it / have done it & more. 

born_again

Loosen the 2 screws holding face plate in place, often there is adjustment on one side to allow it to square up.

Eldi_Dos

I believe that type of socket can have a VDSL faceplate installed then the inline filter shown is no longer required, if you are looking for a neater appearance.
If your area is due a upgrade to FTTP in near future might not be worth doing.

FreeBear

Eldi_Dos said: If your area is due a upgrade to FTTP in near future might not be worth doing.

A socket (or switch) on the huh, is always worth leveling assuming there is sufficient movement on the back box lugs. After all, it is only a couple of screws that need slackening off, so no skill or qualification needed. Just a good eye or little spirit level required.

Eldi_Dos

FreeBear said:

Eldi_Dos said: If your area is due a upgrade to FTTP in near future might not be worth doing.

A socket (or switch) on the huh, is always worth leveling assuming there is sufficient movement on the back box lugs. After all, it is only a couple of screws that need slackening off, so no skill or qualification needed. Just a good eye or little spirit level required.

Agree completely, meant it might not be worth fitting a VDSL faceplate if area is due upgrading to FTTP in next few months, just live with the inline filter till then.

danrv

FreeBear said:

Eldi_Dos said: If your area is due a upgrade to FTTP in near future might not be worth doing.

A socket (or switch) on the huh, is always worth leveling assuming there is sufficient movement on the back box lugs. After all, it is only a couple of screws that need slackening off, so no skill or qualification needed. Just a good eye or little spirit level required.

Yes, the back box lugs have movement and have got it a bit straighter.  
Not completely level but it's better.

ThisIsWeird

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

Eldi_Dos said: If your area is due a upgrade to FTTP in near future might not be worth doing.

A socket (or switch) on the huh, is always worth leveling assuming there is sufficient movement on the back box lugs. After all, it is only a couple of screws that need slackening off, so no skill or qualification needed. Just a good eye or little spirit level required.

Yes, the back box lugs have movement and have got it a bit straighter.  
Not completely level but it's better.

One lug should usually have a good 3-odd mm of up&down movement in it. Of course, it's possible that the backbox itself is squint, so that this 3mm is only going to help you by around one :-)

When you slackened these two screws, was there this amount of movement - a good few mm? If not, then chances are the lug was sticking. So, if you want, you could slacken them again, and try a firm rotational rocking clock and anti, to check for this free movement, and hopefully then gain the missing one or two you require for Danrv perfection.

danrv

ThisIsWeird said:

danrv said:

FreeBear said:

Eldi_Dos said: If your area is due a upgrade to FTTP in near future might not be worth doing.

A socket (or switch) on the huh, is always worth leveling assuming there is sufficient movement on the back box lugs. After all, it is only a couple of screws that need slackening off, so no skill or qualification needed. Just a good eye or little spirit level required.

Yes, the back box lugs have movement and have got it a bit straighter.  
Not completely level but it's better.

One lug should usually have a good 3-odd mm of up&down movement in it. Of course, it's possible that the backbox itself is squint, so that this 3mm is only going to help you by around one :-)

When you slackened these two screws, was there this amount of movement - a good few mm? If not, then chances are the lug was sticking. So, if you want, you could slacken them again, and try a firm rotational rocking clock and anti, to check for this free movement, and hopefully then gain the missing one or two you require for Danrv perfection.

I managed to get that amount of movement after wiggling the lugs. A bit of WD40 also helped.
Will check the back box to see if that's true.

moneysaver1978

If you are decorating anyway, have you considered replacing that with a MK5 version which essentially has a microfilter built-in?

Section62

moneysaver1978 said:

If you are decorating anyway, have you considered replacing that with a MK5 version which essentially has a microfilter built-in?

...bearing in mind if it is a BT/Openreach master socket you aren't meant to fiddle around with it, let alone swap it for a different type yourself.