Tight electrical boxes rant

[firstone]

I apologize in advance but I just have to fume about it. I have a couple of particularly evil boxes or mud rings in my house. Rounded corners. Two insteon switches kind of fit but get squeezed in so tightly by those corners that makes faceplate installation almost impossible. Grrrr. Dremel is of no help because that particular spawn of hell has metal bend covering screw behind it. Why, oh, why? Why wouldn't Insteon switches be a couple of millimeters narrower? 

I have previously suspected electricians were evil after seeing switches "attached" to boxes with dry wall screws. Or boxes not attached to the stud properly that tend to move away from you as you try to attach switch. But this box puts a cherry on top. 

 

</end of rant>

[larryllix]

13 minutes ago, firstone said:

I apologize in advance but I just have to fume about it. I have a couple of particularly evil boxes or mud rings in my house. Rounded corners. Two insteon switches kind of fit but get squeezed in so tightly by those corners that makes faceplate installation almost impossible. Grrrr. Dremel is of no help because that particular spawn of hell has metal bend covering screw behind it. Why, oh, why? Why wouldn't Insteon switches be a couple of millimeters narrower? 

I have previously suspected electricians were evil after seeing switches "attached" to boxes with dry wall screws. Or boxes not attached to the stud properly that tend to move away from you as you try to attach switch. But this box puts a cherry on top. 

 

</end of rant>

That is why electricians study origami, first year.  

[Teken]

1 hour ago, firstone said:

I apologize in advance but I just have to fume about it. I have a couple of particularly evil boxes or mud rings in my house. Rounded corners. Two insteon switches kind of fit but get squeezed in so tightly by those corners that makes faceplate installation almost impossible. Grrrr. Dremel is of no help because that particular spawn of hell has metal bend covering screw behind it. Why, oh, why? Why wouldn't Insteon switches be a couple of millimeters narrower? 

I have previously suspected electricians were evil after seeing switches "attached" to boxes with dry wall screws. Or boxes not attached to the stud properly that tend to move away from you as you try to attach switch. But this box puts a cherry on top. 

 

</end of rant>

At least it sounds like it's a newer house as older one's had the smallest JB's. Which made it near impossible to insert the latest Insteon relay modules. I spent the week end replacing a few 2013 era hardware with the famous All On command.

As an aside do really appreciate Smarthome upgrading the Marrettes / wire nuts to have the side wings! Makes turning the connector 300% easier on the user and insures a solid connection (assuming) you didn't bother to use linesmen pliers! 

[sanders2222]

On 1/27/2020 at 8:55 AM, firstone said:

I have a couple of particularly evil boxes or mud rings in my house. Rounded corners. Two Insteon switches kind of fit . . .

I feel your pain! My daughters condo has the metal mud rings!  Switches did not fit at all.  I had to use a hack saw blade to square the corners so they would fit! Grrrr!