Junction boxes too deep for wall

u0362565 · Jun 21, 2019

Hi all,

I have two 35mm deep junction boxes above two doors in our hall and the boxes protrude out from the wall. It's not a big deal but it does bug me. After investigation the boxes are screwed to a stud in the wall but the wall's are lathe and plaster and this is determining how deep the box can be set in the wall. The back box of one protrudes about 10mm beyond the plaster then there's the faceplate on top of that. The 35mm boxes are full so I can't use slimmer ones if they exist. Maybe it just is what it is and I just leave them as is. I'm not an electrician so theres probably not many options open to me.

Thanks for the advice

GeorgeCooke · Jun 21, 2019

I assume you mean back boxes. You can get 25mm ones but as you say there is no room for the whatever is inside.

Andy5678 · Jun 21, 2019

Have you got any pictures? Maybe they could be re located elsewhere...

Dustydazzler · Jun 22, 2019

Sounds like you have boxes meant for surface wiring which have been partially chopped into the plaster and lathe.
My honest opinion, is leave well alone, if it ain’t broke stop trying to fix it.

Wilko · Jun 22, 2019

Hi - what’s in the boxes? And yes, some pics please - the wall, the box and it’s contents. It should be fixable but you may need some help with the cabling.

u0362565 · Jun 22, 2019

GeorgeCooke said:
I assume you mean back boxes. You can get 25mm ones but as you say there is no room for the whatever is inside.

Yeah the back boxes sorry. I think I wouldn't get all the wires inside a slimmer box though. It might be that all the wires are not required and are historic but I couldn't say. It's a shame the wires can't float in the wall and then I just put a faceplate on to indicate cables are there but I guess this wouldn't meet regulations.

telectrix · Jun 22, 2019

it can be done with perhaps a little butchery. whereabouts are you. a member may be close.

ruston · Jun 22, 2019

Has it been , or near the site of a previous fuse box and is being used to extend cables?

FatAlan · Jun 22, 2019

Cut a decorative piece of 10mm thick wood to fit round the protrusion and re fit a faceplate of your choice. Other than that, as others have said, you’re looking a bit of butchery into the stud wall, obviously making sure that you’re not hacking into something structural.

u0362565 · Jun 22, 2019

telectrix said:
it can be done with perhaps a little butchery. whereabouts are you. a member may be close.

Edinburgh, it's not big deal it was just if I could do something myself about it. Both walls are being replastering soon so maybe the plasterer can thicken out the plaster layer a bit to reduce how much the boxes protrude.

telectrix · Jun 22, 2019

or get them sunk in more if you're having plastering done.

Deleted member 26818 · Jun 22, 2019

Sounds like you need a multi tool to remove some of the stud that the boxes are attached to.
Another option, may be that the conductors inside the box can be made shorter so a shallower box can be used.

Charlie_ · Jun 22, 2019

How old is the installation?
I recommend having a periodic inspection done prior to the plastering.

ruston · Jun 22, 2019

Charlie_ said:
How old is the installation?
I recommend having a periodic inspection done prior to the plastering.

I agree.
It would be interesting to see what kind of wires are in those boxes, could easy be the original wiring into updates. As @Andy5678 asks, pictures would be nice.

u0362565 · Jun 22, 2019

Here's a couple of pictures of the wiring in each box. There seems to be quite a bit of wire pulled through but I thought this was good practice.

Junction boxes too deep for wall

u0362565

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GeorgeCooke

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Andy5678

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Dustydazzler

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Wilko

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u0362565

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telectrix

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ruston

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FatAlan

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u0362565

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telectrix

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Deleted member 26818

Charlie_

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ruston

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u0362565

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