MK Grid Plus Frame & Captive Screws !

[slartybartfast]

• Just bought into MK Grid Plus system to provide required flexibility for light switches.
• Shocked to see that the frames have captive screws held in place by a washer.
• Need to use longer screws as most of my back boxes are too far back. Ordinarily you junk the screws that come with sockets / switches and use lengths to suit.
• So quite why MK have gone down the captive screw route is beyond me.
• Removing the washer holding the screw in place is a b*tch. What's the knack here? MK Technical were hopeless - they said you can't remove them !

 

[telectrix]

snip the buggers.then they fall off. or hold washer with pliers and unscrew the pin.

 

[snowhead]

Way back long in the past we used to use extension screws for similar fixings.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[James]

Good pair of side cutters, snip the screws
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Way back long in the past we used to use extension screws for similar fixings.

I remember them, bet you can still get them.

 

[littlespark]

Extension screws?
or extension box

 

[telectrix]

i carry a dozen of those extension screws, you can get them anywhere.also useful when you have a broken,missing, or stripped lug in a back box.

 

[James]

Extension Studs

Socket screws not long enough? Use these extension studs to increase their length by 35mm - it's a quick and easy solution when the box is set too deep into the wall for your regular fixing screws to reach.• Extends fixing lugs in metal back boxes by 35mm• Perfect if box is set too deep for...

www.toolstation.com

 

[Dartlec]

• Just bought into MK Grid Plus system to provide required flexibility for light switches.
• Shocked to see that the frames have captive screws held in place by a washer.
• Need to use longer screws as most of my back boxes are too far back. Ordinarily you junk the screws that come with sockets / switches and use lengths to suit.
• So quite why MK have gone down the captive screw route is beyond me.
• Removing the washer holding the screw in place is a b*tch. What's the knack here? MK Technical were hopeless - they said you can't remove them !

Maybe they're making up for the times I've taken one of their CU lids off and the screw has come flying out and hidden itself?

I've only used grid switches a few times, but from memory captive screws seems to be the standard on the grid frames? For white accessories then I'll likely use the Click system now I've tried it though - no such worries about frames

 

[westward10]

Due to the grid size it will push into the back box so the captive screws hold it in place removing undue stress on the front plate. If you remove them the grid is floating and because the grid accessories are not part of the front plate all pressure is put onto the front plate. MK assume and rightly so the back box will be level with the wall finish hence the correct length of screw is fitted.

 

[slartybartfast]

Due to the grid size it will push into the back box so the captive screws hold it in place removing undue stress on the front plate. If you remove them the grid is floating and because the grid accessories are not part of the front plate all pressure is put onto the front plate. MK assume and rightly so the back box will be level with the wall finish hence the correct length of screw is fitted.

No. The grid has ears which rest on the finished wall surface and this stops the grid frame from being screwed in too far. The back box is rarely level with the wall finish, particularly after plastering / tiling. Hence why socket screws are available in varying lengths.
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snip the buggers.then they fall off. or hold washer with pliers and unscrew the pin.

Very difficult to cut the retainer for the screw, and when holding it still and turning the screw, it does not unscrew.

 

[Vortigern]

Decent side cutters, cut into both sides of the washer, it falls away. At least that is how I have approached the same problem successfully.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Extension studs for me ... always used to keep a box of them in my tool box especially when doing schools and offices which more often than not use MK grid

 

[slartybartfast]

Ordered some extension studs. Quite pricey. Cheaper to use screws of correct length. Would prefer it if MK didn't make the screws captive !

 

[Dustydazzler]

Ordered some extension studs. Quite pricey. Cheaper to use screws of correct length. Would prefer it if MK didn't make the screws captive !

I get mine from here..

Extension Studs

Socket screws not long enough? Use these extension studs to increase their length by 35mm - it's a quick and easy solution when the box is set too deep into the wall for your regular fixing screws to reach.• Extends fixing lugs in metal back boxes by 35mm• Perfect if box is set too deep for...

www.toolstation.com

 

[slartybartfast]

I get mine from here..

Extension Studs

Socket screws not long enough? Use these extension studs to increase their length by 35mm - it's a quick and easy solution when the box is set too deep into the wall for your regular fixing screws to reach.• Extends fixing lugs in metal back boxes by 35mm• Perfect if box is set too deep for...

www.toolstation.com

Yup - thats where I have ordered some from.

 

[Wiggyboy]

I struggled to get the washers off, was there for 15 minutes, so called the wife and she got them off straight away..typical.

So next time, get the wife to do it..

 

[mattg4321]

I think they’ve changed the design slightly recently. You could just snip them off before.

I had to replace a poor quality grid switch in a rental property recently. Turned up armed with MK grid and it took me as long to get the b&£@&5d washers off as to do the rest of the job!

Will be trying Click grid pro next time.