Re-fitting electrical sockets

IM

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

I took the screws out of the electrical sockets in my kitchen, so that I could tile the area between the worktops and the cupboards.

Unfortunately, when I came to re-fit them on Saturday, I couldn't for the life of me get three of them to accept the screws. Working in such a cramped spot, I just couldn't get the screws to go in. I always find this a pain of a job, but can normally get a partial bite on each screw and slowly tighten up.

On this occasion, I literally spent hours screwing into what (as far as I could see through one eye, head wedged into unnatural position) looked like the right place, but just couldn't get the b******s to take.

Having turned the air blue, Mrs IM took over........and turned the air blue.

In addition, we also managed to dislodge one of the screw fixing lugs on one of the pattress boxes (the movey-uppy-downy one). Basically, the wee retainer knocked through from the outside of the box needs to be encouraged in a bit more, or else the lug falls out as soon as you offer up the screw.

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!

I really don't want to get an electrician in to screw 6 screws in, but I'm at my whits end. Beyond my brother-in-law's suggestion of large quantities of sealant and some masking tape, does anyone have any cunning techniques they would like to share?

grumbler

You can buy longer screws (bolts) in a DIY shop like B&Q or, possibly, even in Wilkinson. I am glad to see that you are clever enough not to follow 'advice' :eek: of your brother-in law...

IM

It's not the length of the screws (I've got longer ones).

It's more the fact that I'm not the most flexibe of fellas, and working in a cramped position isn't helping.

From peering from the side, I can see that the screw is 'meeting' the lug, but I then screw slowly, changing the angle periodically, but still get nowhere.

I've taken the sockets off to check I'm not using dud screws (or dud lugs for that matter) and they go in without a murmer....

grumbler

I just know from my experience, that if the screw is not long enough it is very difficult to get it into the threaded hole ...

YorkshireBoy

The threads are damaged (or will be if you keep on trying)!

Get down to an electrical wholesalers and buy an M3.5 HSS rethreader. It's the size of a stubby screwdriver and is basically an engineering "tap".

It'll cost around £5 - £6.

Alternatively, if you're near an RS Components trade counter, you can get one from there - I've bought several recently for my electricians.

I can't link to the RS web site (for some unknown reason) but if you go to http://rswww.com (www deliberately omitted), and search for "Red CAB handled HSS rethreader,M3.5", you will see what I mean.

HTH
YB

IM

YorkshireBoy - So I use this to re-cut the thread in the lugs in the pattress box?

Cagey

IM ,the threads do not require to be rethreaded as you have already stated that the screws go in without a problem when the sockets are off.

Do as grumbler says and get slightly longer M3.5 screws which will allow you to get the screws started with your fingers bufore you have to use the screwdriver. Make sure the screws are not too long as they may damage the cables.
You have a problem if the lug is missing(movey one). I don`t know how you get round this one.
Are the boxes metal or plastic ?. If they are fast fix plasterboard boxes you may be lucky enough to get a simular box & be able to use the lug.

YorkshireBoy

Cagey wrote:

IM ,the threads do not require to be rethreaded as you have already stated that the screws go in without a problem when the sockets are off.

Thanks Cagey, and my apologies to IM for my misleading post.

For some strange reason I chose not to read the last paragraph of the OP's second post!!

IM

The screws I have are the right length (or at least as long as I need). I have some longer ones (I sound ilke a one-man Screwfix catalogue...) but these are too long, and would hit the back of the pattress box.

I think I'll try the rethreading option. When I re-tried screwing straight into the lug last night, it wasn't actually that easy - I suspect I've damaged the threads with all my cack-handed attempts....

Don't know about the box with the dropped lug though. The last thing I want to have to do is attempt to replace the pattress, and risk shattering the surrounding tiling....

Cagey

If you have screws that are long enough to hit the pattress an option for the missing lug is to drill & tap a hole a m3.5 hole in the pattress & fix right through to the pattress.
Not 100% but the good screw would take most of the strain & the other would just hold the socket in place.

robv_3

It could be because your doing work in a special location and are not registered as a competent person as per part-p so need building regs to do the work?