Mains wiring: GFCI won't fit in the box!

Convinced my landlord to pay for a GFCI in each bathroom. Now I come to find that it won't fit.

The box is a single gang switch-box size with conduit connections above and below. The box is deep enough, but the GFCI (being quite a bit fatter and taller than a regular outlet) collides with the conduit fasteners inside the opening. The most I can stuff the GFCI in the box is about half way.

Is there any option other than ripping out the wall paneling and putting a larger box that will accommodate the GFCI outlet?

This is a Levitron GFCI.

Thanks,

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DaveC
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DaveC
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Yes, there is a spacer available that adds about 3/8" to the box...it actually protrudes from the wall, but it is meant for just this situation and looks good. I dunno who has them...possibly Home Depot or Lowes. fyi, the ones I have seen are ivory plastic in color. if 3/8" isnt enough you may be able to stack them....pick up some long 6-32 screws while you are at it.

The other possibility is to install a Wiremold type extension box....they are 3/4" deep (or deeper).

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Reply to
User 1.nospam

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Another idea, is there an outlet elsewhere in the house that's electrically before the bathroom outlets on the same run? If so you could install the GFCI outlet there and it'll protect the bathroom outlets as well. The other option is a GFCI circuit breaker for the main service panel.

Reply to
James Sweet

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CONDUIT? What around the 1930's era? Do you have a ground wire? You could always cut a new box into the wall near the other one and put a blank plate on the original. Yikes that is hideous. Easiest bet is to use a wire mold box for the application.

Reply to
SQLit

On Sat, 6 Dec 2003 15:16:30 -0800, SQLit wrote (in message ):

No, I'd guess 60's. It's an apartment building, and the code disallows romex.

No ground wire; the conduit serves that purpose. Otherwise, I'd consider taking off the conduit nuts and cutting down the threads of the couplers. But I can't do that... Well, I could, but don't want to. :-)

Thanks,

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DaveC
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DaveC

I have no idea, here in Greece we put a GFCI in the main distribution panel for the whole installation (up to 4x63 A for 380 V line-to-line voltage).Of course, if it won´t fit the only possible solution would be to install a larger box.BTW, how much does an outlet with GFCI cost?Here, we charge 100 euro for a 4X40 (RCCB is typed on the box, which means Residual Current Circuit Breaker).I usually prefer Geyer (german)ABB or Siemens.

-- Dimitris Tzortzakakis,Greece

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Tzortzakakis Dimitrios

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Here a GFCI outlet is about $10, a 20A GFCI breaker for the main panel is around $30.

Reply to
James Sweet

The easiest solution is a Wiremold extension box. It will stick out of the wall, about an inch or less, but sure beats tearing the place apart. They look good, and can be painted to match the walls.

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me

On Sun, 7 Dec 2003 17:47:36 -0800, snipped-for-privacy@my.com wrote (in message ):

I'm beginning to agree. I looked at regular plastic box extensions, but these create a gap between the wall and the plate.

Wiremold seems to extend the box (so code is happy) and fill the gap between wall and plate (so owner is happy).

Thanks,

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DaveC
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DaveC

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