Mains wiring: GFCI won't fit in the box!

D

DaveC

Guest
Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to find
that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above and
below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and
taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside the
opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a
larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?

This is a Levitron GFCI.

Thanks,
--
DaveC
me@privacy.net
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Yes, there is a spacer available that adds about 3/8" to the box...it
actually protrudes from the wall, but it is meant for just this situation
and looks good. I dunno who has them...possibly Home Depot or Lowes. fyi,
the ones I have seen are ivory plastic in color. if 3/8" isnt enough you may
be able to stack them....pick up some long 6-32 screws while you are at it.

The other possibility is to install a Wiremold type extension box....they
are 3/4" deep (or deeper).


"DaveC" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:0001HW.BBF76E220080B486F0284600@news.individual.net...
Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to
find
that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above
and
below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and
taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside
the
opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a
larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?

This is a Levitron GFCI.

Thanks,
--
DaveC
me@privacy.net
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
Click to expand...
 
"DaveC" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:0001HW.BBF76E220080B486F0284600@news.individual.net...
Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to
find
that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above
and
below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and
taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside
the
opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a
larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?
Click to expand...
Another idea, is there an outlet elsewhere in the house that's electrically
before the bathroom outlets on the same run? If so you could install the
GFCI outlet there and it'll protect the bathroom outlets as well. The other
option is a GFCI circuit breaker for the main service panel.
 
"DaveC" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:0001HW.BBF76E220080B486F0284600@news.individual.net...
Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to
find
that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above
and
below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and
taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside
the
opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a
larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?

This is a Levitron GFCI.

Thanks,
--
DaveC
me@privacy.net
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
Click to expand...
CONDUIT? What around the 1930's era? Do you have a ground wire?
You could always cut a new box into the wall near the other one and put a
blank plate on the original.
Yikes that is hideous. Easiest bet is to use a wire mold box for the
application.
 
On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 15:16:30 -0800, SQLit wrote
(in message <irtAb.33412$9O5.312@fed1read06>):

CONDUIT? What around the 1930's era? Do you have a ground wire?
You could always cut a new box into the wall near the other one and put a
blank plate on the original.
Yikes that is hideous. Easiest bet is to use a wire mold box for the
application.
Click to expand...
No, I'd guess 60's. It's an apartment building, and the code disallows romex.

No ground wire; the conduit serves that purpose. Otherwise, I'd consider
taking off the conduit nuts and cutting down the threads of the couplers. But
I can't do that... Well, I could, but don't want to. :)

Thanks,
--
DaveC
me@privacy.net
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
 
I have no idea, here in Greece we put a GFCI in the main distribution panel
for the whole installation (up to 4x63 A for 380 V line-to-line voltage).Of
course, if it won´t fit the only possible solution would be to install a
larger box.BTW, how much does an outlet with GFCI cost?Here, we charge 100
euro for a 4X40 (RCCB is typed on the box, which means Residual Current
Circuit Breaker).I usually prefer Geyer (german)ABB or Siemens.

--
Dimitris Tzortzakakis,Greece


Ď DaveC <me@privacy.net> Ýăńářĺ óôď ěŢíőěá óőćŢôçóçň:
0001HW.BBF76E220080B486F0284600@news.individual.net...
Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to
find
that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above
and
below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and
taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside
the
opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a
larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?

This is a Levitron GFCI.

Thanks,
--
DaveC
me@privacy.net
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
Click to expand...
 
"Tzortzakakis Dimitrios" <dimtzortihatespam@nospamotenet.gr> wrote in
message news:br06p2$96d$1@usenet.otenet.gr...
I have no idea, here in Greece we put a GFCI in the main distribution
panel
for the whole installation (up to 4x63 A for 380 V line-to-line
voltage).Of
course, if it won´t fit the only possible solution would be to install a
larger box.BTW, how much does an outlet with GFCI cost?Here, we charge
100
euro for a 4X40 (RCCB is typed on the box, which means Residual Current
Circuit Breaker).I usually prefer Geyer (german)ABB or Siemens.

--
Dimitris Tzortzakakis,Greece
Click to expand...
Here a GFCI outlet is about $10, a 20A GFCI breaker for the main panel is
around $30.
 
On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 11:29:38 -0800, DaveC <me@privacy.net> wrote:

Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to find
that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above and
below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and
taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside the
opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a
larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?

This is a Levitron GFCI.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
The easiest solution is a Wiremold extension box. It will stick out
of the wall, about an inch or less, but sure beats tearing the place
apart. They look good, and can be painted to match the walls.
 
On Sun, 7 Dec 2003 17:47:36 -0800, me@my.com wrote
(in message <5ul7tv0eso0dbekaf9nf45coqlg2q638um@4ax.com>):

The easiest solution is a Wiremold extension box. It will stick out
of the wall, about an inch or less, but sure beats tearing the place
apart. They look good, and can be painted to match the walls.
Click to expand...
I'm beginning to agree. I looked at regular plastic box extensions, but these
create a gap between the wall and the plate.

Wiremold seems to extend the box (so code is happy) and fill the gap between
wall and plate (so owner is happy).

Thanks,
--
DaveC
me@privacy.net
This is an invalid return address
Please reply in the news group
 
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