Why are single gang boxes still made with 4 fixing lugs?

[Tommy02]

Hi all,

I am an experienced DIY electrician and I just wanted to ask a quick question about something since I am new to this forum, if it hasn’t really been answered anywhere else.

The question I have in mind is how come most electrical manufacturers still make single gang (25, 35mm etc) back boxes with four fixing lugs on all four sides as apposed to just two? It’s just that I have my thoughts that they are a bit useless and an inconvenience when you are wiring up appliances with multiple cables, like a 2 gang switch or fused spur. I know a lot of old sockets back in the day used to have double gang versions with fixing lugs on the top and bottom but realistically I personally don’t see the point of the extra two, which inevitably usually get bent over to stop the conductors from catching the edges.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Grid switches have the plate fixings top and bottom and the front plate screws left and right.

 

[littlespark]

Grid switches have the plate fixings top and bottom and the front plate screws left and right.

Which ones?

I’ve only ever seen them on the horizontal, with the shorter M2.5 cover screws closer together.


The top bottom lugs are just a nuisance. Harking back to very old original 13A sockets that were fixed top and bottom. Double sockets had 2 screws top and bottom.
Possibly 5 and 15A before that.

Maybe it just means it can be placed either way… like if the brick is a bit crumbly behind, you can turn it 90 degrees to get a better fixing.

 

[davesparks]

It is probably because that's what it says in the British Standard which likely hasn't been updated since everything went metric.

Also it's probably a lot easier and cheaper for manufacturers to just carry on using the same machines, tools and processes than it is to change.

 

[davesparks]

Grid switches have the plate fixings top and bottom and the front plate screws left and right.

Grids always have the fixings horizontally.

The front plate screws on some are vertical, such as MK 2g grids.

 

[ipf]

Just a point.....who decides who is an 'experienced DIY electrician'?
Latest C&G, or what?

 

[rewireIT]

Grid switches have the plate fixings top and bottom and the front plate screws left and right.

Front plate screws can be top and bottom.

 

[rewireIT]

Just a point.....who decides who is an 'experienced DIY electrician'?
Latest C&G, or what?

I think people can decide themselves.

I'm an experienced youtube user. Based on the fact that i use youtube every day. Doesn't mean i'm any good at searching it though.

 

[pc1966]

In some cases, like the back-boxes for trunking systems, you might have them on a vertical or horizontal section but the box is polarised to only fit with a pair of sides along the trunking direction, so there you do need the options for all 4 screws.

But more generally I guess it is down to always doing it that way!

Not seen any of the 4 screw double sockets for a long long time though.

 

[FatAlan]

What about the single or double knock out options on the sides? Lugs on all sides enables you to orientate accordingly.

 

[nicebutdim]

What about the single or double knock out options on the sides? Lugs on all sides enables you to orientate accordingly.

When you have to occasionally turn a 1g box through 90 degrees, it's annoying that box lugs are fixed.

 

[ipf]

I think people can decide themselves.

I'm an experienced youtube user. Based on the fact that i use youtube every day. Doesn't mean i'm any good at searching it though.

Aye, it's a free world.
I'm endangering myself working on exel, at present.