The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Practical Electricity And House Wiring

Installing Switches, Fixtures, Etc.

In earlier chapters we learned that boxes for switches and convenience outlets are so installed in the wall that their front edges are flush with the plaster. However, the workman who installs the boxes does not do the plastering, and the plaster may turn out to be a little thicker than we planned, so that the front edge of the boxes will be a little below the surface of the plaster. We will also find that the boxes may not be exactly vertical, but may slope a bit. These facts, however, will not mean that our switches cannot be neatly installed, straight up and down and properly flush.

Installing Devices Flush.—On all your switch boxes you find small "ears" with tapped holes, to which the switches and receptacles are fastened. With every switch and receptacle, you will find a couple of flat head machine screws, and a number of spacing washers. Some switches and receptacles also come equipped with "plaster ears" as shown in Fig. 188 so that when these are laid on the plaster at the top and bottom of the box, the device automatically is at the right height. When wiring devices are not so equipped, it is a simple matter to use as many of the spacing washers as necessary between the box, and the supporting straps of the switch or receptacle, to bring it to the right height with reference to the plaster. See Fig. 189. By trying the wall plate over the switch or receptacle, you can easily determine the number of spacing washers required; install the switch so that the plate will touch the wall all around the box, without placing any great strain on the screws holding the plate to the switch or receptacle. The bakelite of which the plates are usually made is rather fragile, and particularly on duplex receptacle plates, a very narrow strip of bakelite which will bear but little bending is used to hold the plate to the receptacle. If two few washers are used, so the front edge will be behind the front edge of the plaster, the bakelite plate will break as it is fastened to the receptacle.

You will note that the holes in the supporting straps of the switches and receptacles are not round but elongated.