Re: how to fit x10 switches in a gangbox

[Bill Kearney <wkearney99@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

random735 wrote:
> Has anyone else had this problem?  is there a reasonable solution?  is
> there a line of x10 switches that aren't so bulky?

Yes, either rearrange the wires or replace the box with a deeper one.
Neither proposition is easy.

If there's a lot of 'extra' wire in the back of the box it's possible
you could trim it a bit.  But most likely there's not enough to make it
worthwhile.

Putting in a replacement box isn't all that impossible but it's tedious.
  The hardest part is getting the old box out.  A sawzall works best at
cutting the bracket where the old box attaches to the stud.  Then it's a
matter of getting the wires out of the old box into a new one.  Some old
boxes have screws on their sides that make it easier to disassemble
them.  Otherwise you've got a messy job of pushing wires out the holes
in the old box.  BE SURE you securely attach a label of some kind to the
old wires.  It's a real headache that having to debug which ones go
where because they weren't labelled.  If it's old wire (armormed BX
cable) then be careful how you handle the insulation.  Older insulation
can crumble and you want to handle it as little as possible to prevent
it from developing shorts later on.  Otherwise the job will expand into
replacing the old wire.  That will greatly complicate the job so try to
avoid it.

I just replaced a 2-gang box with a 4-gang box to accomodate some new
switches.  Took all damn day but works fine now.

-Bill Kearney