Standing proud

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wyreman

wyreman

Senior Member
Location
SF CA USA
Occupation
electrical contractor
I have to replace a lot of switches in a high end custom residence.
It's very important that all the devices standoff equally or at least beautifully

I remember there was a certain metal spacer assembly
that was used often in apartment buildings
to ensure perfect spacing in multi gang boxes
??
Does anybody know the right name for that?
Or any other tricks to get good spacing and
standoff in six gang and more switch boxes?
Besides not having
Russian hands and Roman fingers ?
Thanks
 
P

Partz Guy Mike

New User
Location
Riverside, CA. USA
wyreman said:
I have to replace a lot of switches in a high end custom residence.
It's very important that all the devices standoff equally or at least beautifully

I remember there was a certain metal spacer assembly
that was used often in apartment buildings
to ensure perfect spacing in multi gang boxes
??
Does anybody know the right name for that?
Or any other tricks to get good spacing and
standoff in six gang and more switch boxes?
Besides not having
Russian hands and Roman fingers ?
Thanks
Click to expand...


Check out the Dottie Catapillar. Used to space wiring devices
 
J

John120/240

Senior Member
Location
Olathe, Kansas
Experience is key here. I have cut the pointy ends of wire nuts off & use the remainder for a spacer. Or wrap a coil of scrap wire around you Phillilps screwdriver & cut to the length that you need. Best of Luck
 
N

norcal

Senior Member
A couple of other methods, one wrap some bare 14 AWG around a awl and cut it to desired length, or use copper splice caps, cut them to fit & use a awl to restore them from flat to round, if only people would set the bleeping boxes flush with the finished surface...
 
kwired

kwired

Electron manager
Location
NE Nebraska
norcal said:
A couple of other methods, one wrap some bare 14 AWG around a awl and cut it to desired length, or use copper splice caps, cut them to fit & use a awl to restore them from flat to round, if only people would set the bleeping boxes flush with the finished surface...
Click to expand...
Most of us think we set the boxes flush, but end up with lumber that isn't straight, extra set back because of drywall taping at seams or corners, or plain and simple poor wall finishing methods that end up causing too much or too little on the box being flush.

We are allowed up to 1/4 inch set back for non combustible finish, if the cutout is tight to the box no spacers are really neccessary for wall switches. Recepacles - maybe a little extra support behind them isn't a bad idea if not flush since they get pushed/pulled on when inserting/removing cord caps.
 
F

Frank DuVal

Senior Member
Location
Fredericksburg, VA 21 Hours from Winged Horses wi
Occupation
Electrical Contractor, Electrical Engineer
I also use the Caterpillars, same as the Buchanan in the Ideal link.

Yes, another thing to carry to the job site, whereas solid wire is normally there already, but, they work well, give almost an inch of bearing surface for receptacles, and are added after the device screws are installed (but not tight).
 
wyreman

wyreman

Senior Member
Location
SF CA USA
Occupation
electrical contractor
I guess I wasn't clear, yes I I am very familiar with
standing proud
as far as using caterpillars
twisted wire and that kind of thing.

But my specific question
which is a little more Specialized
was about the material
used in apartment building construction
where you have a multi gang box
say there is a 4 gang box
and you want to have the devices
spaced evenly in the lateral dimension
. It's kind of like flush mud ring
that staggers them side to side
 
wyreman

wyreman

Senior Member
Location
SF CA USA
Occupation
electrical contractor
That's closer!?
The ones I'm thinking about
Are used in
skyscrapers
are made out of metal but

that's the general look
they have slightly different layout
but The photos are coming closer?

I'll ask at the supply house
 
S

SMHarman

Member
Location
NYC
wyreman said:
I have to replace a lot of switches in a high end custom residence.
It's very important that all the devices standoff equally or at least beautifully

I remember there was a certain metal spacer assembly
that was used often in apartment buildings
to ensure perfect spacing in multi gang boxes
??
Does anybody know the right name for that?
Or any other tricks to get good spacing and
standoff in six gang and more switch boxes?
Besides not having
Russian hands and Roman fingers ?
Thanks
Click to expand...
If it's high end why did the architect spec 4 gang not panellists and motion / keypad / scene based lighting?

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk
 
infinity

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
Buy a metal multigang face plate and cut slots or drill holes where the 6-32 switch mounting screws are located. You can hold the plate and adjust the device depth until it's perfect. Then install the finish plate.
 
G

Gary Glaenzer

Member
Spacing

Spacing

"Or any other tricks to get good spacing and
standoff in six gang and more switch boxes?"

Concerning spacing, can you have a machine shop make a pair of metal strips with holes precisely bored to the spacing of the switch plate screws ? and provide some thumbs screws in the same size as the switch plate screws ?

Install the switches with the mounting screws barely snug, put the strips on and fasten them tight, then tighten the mounting screws ? the thumb screws would make it a lot faster.

Just a random thought.....

Thanks to all for the information I glean from this site !

Gary (Broadcast Equipment Fixer-Upper.. 'twist the wires together, push the Big Red Button, watch for smoke')
 
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