non replaceable broken junction box

[MoMo_Jo]

Metal electrical junction box set in concrete ceiling has broken off screw wings. Any solutions?

 

[oxocube]

Drill through back of box and into concrete and fix (whatever it is) with wall plugs and wood screws, or drill and tap..

Or, fit a surface box over it, drill through the back of both boxes and into concrete and fix with wall plug and screw, or drill and tap.

If wiring then too short extend with crimps.

 

[MoMo_Jo]

Oooh, neglected a detail...The wiring is layed in the concrete also. The electrical was layed out then the concrete was poured. It would be a blind drill which could hit existing wires.

 

[oxocube]

The wiring is in the box not behind the box.

 

[MoMo_Jo]

It is the wiring that goes to the box that is the problem. I think this is a "you have to see it to understand it situation", but thanks.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Get a picture up and we can give you a better idea as what to do.

 

[netblindpaul]

Dig the box out and replace it?

 

[MoMo_Jo]

yep, might be digging it out.

 

[Knobhead]

How old is the original installation?
Do the cables come through the back of the box or the side?
Is the cable in conduit or MICC?

Sorry but some questions have to be answered before a reasonable solution is given.

 

[oxocube]

"Dig the box out of the concrete", do me a favour, someones having a larf.

 

[MoMo_Jo]

6-8 years, back of box, neither, wires were just laid and concrete poured.

 

[Engineer54]

Can't you get any, say glue or ''no nails'' type of stuff to stick the metal section back to the concrete?? Or even that plastic metal stick stuff, that you cut off the amount needed then knead together and bond it to the other metal in contact with the loose section, from the inside of the box. I can think of many solutions to try before i'd think of chopping round the box to remove it completly....

 

[MoMo_Jo]

Sorry, had to pull down another fixture and do some feeling around in the problem box. There is conduit. It just isn't hooked to the box. There are a inches of wire coming from the conduit and just strung into the box. I thought that sounded incredibly illegal

 

[MoMo_Jo]

Those thoughts had occured to me but have not used them in the past. Thought I'd give you guys a try before making a final decision. Think I ruled out chopping it out.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Can't you get any, say glue or ''no nails'' type of stuff to stick the metal section back to the concrete?? Or even that plastic metal stick stuff, that you cut off the amount needed then knead together and bond it to the other metal in contact with the loose section, from the inside of the box. I can think of many solutions to try before i'd think of chopping round the box to remove it completly....

How about Epoxy Resin (Araldite?) I think you can even drill & tap that stuff to take the screw.

 

[MoMo_Jo]

Thanks, think i'll try it.

 

[Knobhead]

Metal putty can definitely be drilled and tapped but needs to be left to cure for 24Hrs.