Old light switch

[Jimmyb]

Just wondered what people thought on the old style backboxes for light switches well if you can call them that, i came across them today and they just have to little bits of wood mounted in the wall and wood screws to fasten the switch, are these still ok to use ? ive got to change all the switches back to plastic as a tenant has changed them to metal and the lighting circuit has no earth, i will be changing the cu so the circuit is covered by a rcd and all the normal notices but could make my mind up if the back boxes needed replacing.

many thanks

jimmy

 

[Des 56]

If you remove them carefully,metal plaster depth boxes will slot back in with little or no chiselling

 

[Paul.M]

In your case jimmy I'd say yes.

No cpc/earth in any of the old wooden backboxs with a metallic screw sitting on the faceplate is a big no no in my book.

Plastic or nylon lug screws (none conducive screws) are the answear.

 

[D80]

Realistically its no more likely the screw in that backbox will become live than in any pvc backbox I'd have thought?

As long as minimal chance of sticking the screw through a cable I don't see the issue. Could use a size 6 screw with smaller head, and a faceplate that has the little white covers. This won't help if you have screwed through a cable, just helps hide the ugly looking screw a bit.

Metal backboxes I'd say are much worse here as there is no cpc. Would need A different screw at least, nylon perhaps.