Comments on: Hands-On: Caterpillars Fix Wiggly Outlets For Good

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:13:57 +0000

I do maintenance on a 4 yr old high rise plagued with this problem. I noticed in a few outlets the elctricians used an extender plate made by Caddy:
http://www.erico.com/products/CADDYcfcDvcLvlrRetnr.asp
I picked up a box and use ‘em everywhere else I find loose plugs. Prior to that I used these Caterpillars, but these plates are a really quick, solid fix.

By: Benjamen Johnson

Benjamen Johnson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:07:32 +0000

@paganwonder that’s a good point.

I remember the electrician I used to work for called them spark gaurds. My understanding is they are used when you have wood or some other material exposed that is combustible and they aren’t necessary for drywall.

—–

Doing a search for box extenders I stumbled across this article in the Family Handyman showing the caterpillars.

http://www.rd.com/74696/article74696.html

I’ve been bit by the first one, when the siders put up my new siding. They lost the wires for two of my fixtures because the people who installed the light previously made a pigtail and stuffed it back into the wall cavity. When they went to put the fixtures back up they pulled on the wire and they got a 8 inch piece of solid wire with a wire nut attached, leaving the feed buried inside the wall. This happened of course on my shoddily built addition. (Maybe you’re starting to get the picture of why I call it my shoddily built addition. Previous homeowners did it, not me )

By: paganwonder

paganwonder — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:37:25 +0000

Electrical box extenders are for safety, leaving them off when they are needed puts the structure at risk. Most electric codes were developed the hard way- people or structures suffered damage and the code changed to prevent re-occurance.

By: Joe C.

Joe C. — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:22:08 +0000

Nice idea. Though I’ve used a lot of washers and other fixes over the years, these look like they would be much quicker to find the right thickness.

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:25:41 +0000

These are great, I buy the big pack at the depot and it lasts me a while. I agree with Jerry, there are lots of instances where I find plates are the only thing keeping the fixtures secure, and if their the cheap plastic ones, forget about it. their always cracked.

By: rob

rob — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:03:58 +0000

I have always just made a coil of #14 wire around a thin screw driver
and cut it to the correct length

do it all the time but cool little idea but scrape wire is free just about always have some around

By: Water Damage New Jersey

Water Damage New Jersey — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:09:57 +0000

THAT is cool, I can use some of these as my house is 100 years old.
I have electrical boxes on 4 floors that span in age from the 1920 to 2009.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 23:34:26 +0000

I have used these things for a few years - they are not new. And to respond to those who think the plate is there to stabilize the outlet, try to get that past the electrical inspector. Please make sure the receptacle (or switch) is securely anchored to the box and then put the plate on. The plate is to keep things like fingers from contacting the outlet and to make the thing look neat and tidy. These “shims” are great on older homes when you have added drywall over the face of old plaster. You have to shim the outlets to be able to attach the plates.

By: MR P

MR P — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:18:03 +0000

I just set a nut after the receptacle so the screw is holding the outlet from moving fwd and backwards

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 21:24:15 +0000

When using non-Decora style devices (those that use a single central screw to link the face plate to the device), the face plate can stabilize the device.

When using Decora-style devices (or any that use a top and bottom screw), especially when using hidden-fastener face plates the screws don’t do much, and may make things worse.

These really shine when the box is firm but not quite square to the wall or the box is just a bit buried in the wall, these are a time saver.

They won’t remedy a wobbly or flexing multi-gang box, nor would I suggest piling them up more than a stack two or three thick to bring a buried box out. They don’t offer much surface area. Use a box extension, or replace the box with an adjustable old work box. It may take a bit longer and cost a little more, but things will stay put.

By: Benjamen Johnson

Benjamen Johnson — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:04:28 +0000

@John:

Anybody feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but the cover is there 1) for looks, 2) so you don’t go sticking you fingers or other objects around the side of the outlet and get electrocuted, not to secure a loose outlet.

While you may be able to fix a loose outlet with a sturdy metal cover, plastic and wood covers (which often have metal reinforcement) aren’t going to hold the loose outlet for more than a few plug unplug cycles.

By: Gene

Gene — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:50:46 +0000

I’ve used washers for small gaps, and those plastic extender boxes for larger ones, but the shims seems like a good solution for the latter using less plastic.

By: John

John — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:45:11 +0000

I thought the cover was there to help secure the outlets. As you tighten the screw connecting the cover to the cover to the fixture, it pulls the fixture out towards the room, and pushes the cover edges tight to the wall. As long as you use the metal covers, you can tighten them and secure the fixture so it doesn’t dive into the wall when you plug things in. Try this too much with plastic covers and you crack them. And alternatively make sure the screws on the fixture are tight enough so it doesn’t pull out from the wall as you unplug things. For the outlets I had in my house that were loose, I simply had to go buy a metal cover and tighten up the screws.

so basically set the fixture a little below where it should end up, and use the cover to pull it to the right spot, making a tight connection. so the screws from the fixture to the box are pulling the fixture into the wall, and the screws from the cover to fixture pull the fixture out of the wall, making things tight.

hard to explain, but just making some tension between the screws on the outlet to box, cover to outlet and cover to wall. that’s how I’ve set all my outlets and not had too much problem, even when the box is recessed a bunch in the wall, or the drywall is cut too large.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:26:56 +0000

I actually just bought some of these the other day to support some outlets and switches after a tile job. They worked great and are way easier then installing a box extension!