Dear Mr. Electrician: How do I repair a broken electrical box?
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Answer: The best way to repair a broken electrical box is to replace it. Although some products are available that claim to restore the plastic threads, I have not tested them, so I cannot comment on their effectiveness.
BROKEN OUTLET BOX SCREW HOLE REPAIR
There is a product available that makes some replacements of an existing broken plastic electrical box unnecessary. I haven’t used it yet, but it is an easy fix to a broken screw hole. Take a look at the G-Clip for a simple plastic outlet box screw hole repair.
Few options exist for repairing a broken screw hole on a plastic electrical box. My standard choice was to replace the electrical box. The G-Clip provides the option to repair if possible. Sometimes the electrical box is broken more than just the screw hole, so it would need replacing after all.
See the electrical box replacement below. The original installer of this two gang plastic switch box used a new-work box for an old-work installation. Screws were driven into the right side of the box. Also, the hole in the wall was too big for an old work box.
A two gang old work box would have been better, however in this situation the hole in the wall was cut too big.
REPLACE THE BROKEN BOX
The existing hole in the wall was too big for a plastic old work electrical box to fit. The broken box was a new-work box that someone retrofitted as an old-work electrical box. Note the screw holes and twisted plastic on the right side.
I used my Knipex High Leverage Diagonal Pliers to slowly cut away the plastic cable clamps without damaging the existing Type NM cable.
For a replacement, a four-inch square, 2 1/8″ deep metal electrical box was used. Holes were drilled in the side of the box. The center half-inch knockout was removed on the same side as the drilled holes.
A fender washer was used with a number 10 x 1 1.5″ sheet metal screw to initially attach the box to the wood stud through the half-inch knockout. This gives you room to adjust the box, so it sits even with the front of the stud. Then, more sheet metal screws are added through the drilled holes for strength.
An impact driver was used to drive the screws after using a hammer and awl to start the screw holes.
After the old plastic box was removed, the new metal Romex cable connectors were attached to the ends of the existing cables inside the wall. The locknuts were removed.
The appropriate knockouts were removed from the four-inch square box for each cable connector. After each Romex cable was pulled into the box, the locknut was installed onto the end of the connector.
A four-inch square, two-gang mud ring was attached to the face of the square box. Mud rings are available in various depths depending on the finished wall surface.
There are also adjustable mud rings for when you don’t know the final depth of the finished wall surface.
A mud ring adds cubic inches to the total box fill when calculating the number of wires that will fit according to table 314.16(A) in the National Electrical Code.
All green and bare ground wires are connected under one wirenut. The electrical box is grounded through the green screw in the back of the box.
Notice that the two dimmers above can sit side-by-side because the heat sink tabs have been broken between them. This is normal. The tabs are made to be snapped off with pliers. However, when removing heat sink tabs, you also lower the dimmer’s wattage rating. Check the manufacturer’s instructions.
The completed product is below. A midsize wall plate was used to cover the wide opening in the wall until a painter comes in to finish the wall.
Click this link to see photos and details about replacing a broken plastic one gang outlet box with a new, plastic one gang box.
Click here to see all of my blog posts that pertain to switches and switch boxes.
