Cable ran through wall back box but back box needs upgrading?

ronanblack212 · Jan 9, 2021

I had a job today and i’m back at it again tomorrow. The customer wants a new chrome fitted USB socket installed in his kitchen, but the current metal back box is 25mm.

I need to upgrade this back box to 35mm, came across this a million times, no problems at all.

With this one though there is a T&E that runs tightly straight through the back box and im
not sure where it’s leading to.

I’ve never seen this before and i’m looking for suggestions to get round it.

I can easily cut the current back box out i think to get it at least out of the wall, but not sure on getting one back in.

The cable that runs through has no slack so might be hard to get round it.

could i...?

- Cut in half , strip back , chisel out deeper hole for 35mm box , and make a joint in the back of the box? (not ideal)

- Chisel out a channel below or above the double gang box and try get some slack and bury the cable below or above the socket?

Might be an easy fix for some people but something i’ve not seen before.

Thanks for reading and i hope to get some answers.

telectrix · Jan 9, 2021

cut old box round cable. sink cable behind new back box.

Dustydazzler · Jan 9, 2021

Tel , I think the OP is saying a mystery cable passes ‘through’ the box which means they can’t get the box out without cutting the cable...

telectrix · Jan 9, 2021

he can cut the back box to allow cable to be freed. another option is to re-use the 25mm box, but sink it in an extra 10mm. chiselling carefully round the cable. or get usb socket that fits a 25mm box. e.g BG.

DefyG · Jan 9, 2021

Explain to the customer the problem and that it will require a lot more work and hence £££'s to put it there. He will probably select another location for it.

kropaske · Jan 9, 2021

Cut in half, chisel out deeper hole, fit 35mm back box put cables back in and use wago or ideal connectors and piece of new cable to join them back inside the box, fit socket