Both my mom’s house and my house, each circa 1960, have older outlet boxes that are too shallow for a standard GFCI. The boxes have the top and bottom that go in a little over an inch and then have a 45 degree slope section down to the back, which is probably less than two inches high (don’t have one in front of me here…) A standard GFCI hits the sloped sections and stops the standard GFCI from going all the way in, so it stands out about 3/16th of an inch. Does anyone know of a GFCI outlet that can fit these older outlets? I asked at my usual electrical supply house and they just sort of shrugged. I would prefer not having to tear the wall up to remove and replace these old boxes. And, yeah, I realize that they are probably undersized by current code, but they are on 15 amp circuits and I assume they are grandfathered in if I can find a GFCI that will fit. On a different circuit, I put in a GFCI breaker in the panel but I would prefer to put them in the wall so I don’t have to go outside to reset them when they are tripped. Thanks, Casey If my superb verbal description didn’t do the job, let me try some of my 1980’s style computer graphics for the side profile: __ | | | |__ /
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I've run into this. The only
I've run into this. The only solution was to perform a box-ectomy and replace with a new deeper pastic box.
By the way, you can avoid wrecking a bunch of drywall by carefully removing the old metal box. Then cut the mounting tabs off of a new plastic box. Insert the plastic box in the opening and work the wire(s) into it.
Now drive a couple of screws through the wall of the box to secure it to the stud. Voila...no drywall to repair.
Then cut the mounting tabs off of a new plastic box. Insert the plastic box in the opening and work the wire(s) into it.
Or use a proper "old work" box.
If you need to GCFI multiple outlets on the same circuit, you can put in a new deeper box above an existing upstream outlet, remove the wire from the old and run it into the new, and feedanew wire from the new to the old. In the new box, place a GCFI switch... it looks like a GCFI outlet without the prong holes in the front.
Why not just put a new device in the breaker panel to protect that circuit
Problem is the GFC sticks out 3/16". How about adding a 3/16" extension to the box and cut out a 3/16" thick piece shim to fit around the box. I did this in a kitchen with outlets in the back splash that were into a plaster over brick wall in my 150 year old house. It was either shim the outlet covers or cut into the brick.