easiest way is to power up the cables. that'll keep the bugger's trowel out of the box. :smilielol5::smilielol5:
 
I don't get it - you still have to chip away the plaster to get the cardboard out, and as mentioned the plasterer could easily just skim over the lot, meaning you have to search for the socket, which is a worse situation.
They sound like a nice idea for big sites where you have to give the guys all the bits otherwise they'll moan like hell, but if I were working on my own I'd probably use yesterdays newspaper.
That's if I read paper newspapers instead of reading the online version on my phone.
Junk mail maybe.
 
These are fantastic, saves a lot of time, I have used them on the past 3 rewires I have done.

when 2nd fix comes along a spray bottle of water shows up the back box and with a flat screwdriver the cover comes out easy without damaging the plaster. Hit it once with back screwdriver to break plaster then stab centre and pull out.

so much better than digging out the dam plaster from the back box.
they also do these for single back boxes as well
 
My biggest problem remains with the plasters pushing my lighting cables back up into the ceiling so I can't find them.
i have not as yet found a way around this???

plasterers are thick, so it's difficult but you just have to talk to them slowly and try not to use any big words.
for downlights i always leave the cables above and take measurements as it's alot easier to get them perfectly lined up this was and it's easier for the plasterer to get the ceiling nice and flat.
but for pendants etc and single lights, you have gotta leave the cable hanging down, there is no other way so whenever they do this which seems to be too often i just don't fit the light because i can't. and when they ask why i havent fitted the light you explain it's because the plasterer is thick and has hidden the cables somewhere, get him to find them!
 
My biggest problem remains with the plasters pushing my lighting cables back up into the ceiling so I can't find them.
i have not as yet found a way around this???

Use a plumb line from the proposed lighting point to the floor, on the floor if wood push in a drawing pin if concrete/screed knock in a top hat masonry pin, inform customer in writing that if pins are moved or missing at 2nd fix extra cost will be incurred & no liability on your part for damage caused to plaster/ceilings while finding the cables......for second fix plumb line from the floor marker to the ceiling & cut out the hole.
 
I must be lucky, last job I did, first fixed cables, came back with no interaction with guys doing the boarding (customer was project managing his own project), expect a nightmare finding cables etc....instead....level lines drawn, 80% of cables pulled through holes, others marked where they were....only niggles - socket ring in the utility room extension had a 2.5 spur to an SFCU for an exterior light, instead of drawing all 3 cables out at once, they had drawn them out in 2 separate holes (no one had considered to phone the spark to ask why there were 3 cables there.... oh well 2 holes for the plasterer to sort, stuck the socket backbox dead centre between the 2 holes...where I had planned for it to be all along.)

Other niggle was for the living room lights (fcu off the living room ring at socket height to light switch at normal height - underfloor heating so couldn't go below, customer had laminate floor above so couldn't lift boards upstairs) Feed cable was below a noggin, supply cable above it, ended up having to remove the plasterboard from that wall (thankfully not skimmed etc, just screwed in place) to get the feed cable above the noggin, after spending 25 mins trying to pull it up through the drylining box hole and removing the skin from my knuckles from the harling on what was once an exterior wall behind the plasterboard.
Also the geniuses removed a socket and joined the wiring with 5amp terminal strips...well the live and neutral, the earths they just left alongside each other..........
 
Just had an idea - not sure if it will work - but will try it today and will update the forum.
mount a round dry lining back box in the roof to insert cables. Pendant mounts directly to the back box and terminates easy.

i can't see any reason why it would not work as long as the holes match up.

it won't matter then if the cables are pushed in, just cable tie the end or take back box off and fish around.
also could solve the problem with trying to get a secure fixing.


thoughts on this please
 
These things are only made from corrugated card, wonder how much moisture from new plaster they can take before falling apart.

I use the yoozy boxes, at leat they can be reused time and time again
 
Just had an idea - not sure if it will work - but will try it today and will update the forum.
mount a round dry lining back box in the roof to insert cables. Pendant mounts directly to the back box and terminates easy.

i can't see any reason why it would not work as long as the holes match up.

it won't matter then if the cables are pushed in, just cable tie the end or take back box off and fish around.
also could solve the problem with trying to get a secure fixing.


thoughts on this please

I do something similar for wall lights. I use an architrave box sunk into the wall to give more room for looping cables etc
 
For lighting cables that have to come through the ceiling, just put a noggin in between the joists flush level with the joists and drill a hole in it where the cables are to come through they can't board over them then!!
 

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