Outdoor electrical box with snapped screws.

[Donald]

I have two outdoor electrical boxes in my lawn that support a floodlight shining on my house. Each box has a cover on one side and outlet on the other and spotlight attached to the top. It is a non metallic box.

Pulling off the cover and outlet 6 out of 8 screws snapped. Normal outlet mounting screws so probably 6-32.

I have grabbed what was left with Vise-Grip and got a short piece then snapped. So now almost flush.

The box appears to be glued to underground conduit. So replacing the box is a pain.

I may try but not sure I will have much luck trying to drill out the small screws and/or drill for Easy-Out.

Other suggestions?

Of course had they use SS screws ,years ago there would be no need for this post.

 

[SC Maintenance]

What kind of box? I assume its some sort of NEMA sealed box / panel? Is it ABS or some sort of metal?

Have you tried a screw extractor?

If its just a regular box you can use something from https://boxdoctor.us/ but I am guessing it is not.

 

[Donald]

What kind of box? I assume its some sort of NEMA sealed box / panel? Is it ABS or some sort of metal?

Have you tried a screw extractor?

If its just a regular box you can use something from https://boxdoctor.us/ but I am guessing it is not.

It's a non metallic brown outdoor box. The front and back are open with screw holes where you can mount a blank cover or outlet with cover. Those screw holes are the problem.

 

[billt460]

A picture is worth 1,000 words.

 

[mk378]

Replace the box. A roller type pipe cutter will cut the conduit without damaging the wires still inside. Then glue on a new box.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Bingo !!!!!! I second that motion. Dump the whole kabash

 

[Tdbo]

Replace the box. A roller type pipe cutter will cut the conduit without damaging the wires still inside. Then glue on a new box.

This. In the long run, less time consuming, much easier, and you get fresh gaskets out of the deal.

 

[AZjeff]

Then aim them at crazy neighbor.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Yeah .....what's the deal with neighbor's ? I've owned 3 houses and always had crazy neighbor's.......or am I the crazy neighbor ? My current neighbor asked me to kill some weeds on his property ( he's an ok neighbor ). I have one of those backpack battery powered 4 gallon thingys. He paid for the herbicide. I just sprayed it. 2 days later I had the NYS DEC knocking on my door looking to lock me up. Turns out another neighbor saw me killing weeds, off my property, and ratted me out. I didn't get locked up, just using round up. I was no where near this guys property either. People are NUTZO !!!!!

 

[Donald]

Then aim them at crazy neighbor.

Crazy neighbor has been calm lately. The HOA board told him locking my truck (which chirps) at 10 or 11 at night is reasonable.

He never commented on him being visited by Delaware Dept of Agriculture for illegal use of a pesticide (moth balls on planting beds to poison my dog). Someone must have called them when they smelled the moth balls.

I walk my dog on a leash even in my own backyard.

 

[Donald]

This. In the long run, less time consuming, much easier, and you get fresh gaskets out of the deal.

I may just buy 4 blank covers and use wire ties to hold them tight to box. Forget about the outlet for now.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Be careful of the crazy neighbors Donald . LOL

 

[Donald]

This is one of the two boxes.

 

[vwmaniaman]

If you can be very careful they make reverse direction drill bits that turn the screw out as you drill. Maybe that would work on those.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Heck of a place to put an outlet. In a lamp post base ? I worked for Con-Ed, ( local utility company in New York, for 36 years) We use to replace the wiring and the conduit coming up from the base of the lamp post. There may be 220 volt and 110 volt mixed in with each other. Don't touch nothing without wearing a pair of 1-KV electrical gloves. Those gloves will stop any electric from getting to you. BE CAREFUL if you decide you're gonna play inside there. Get the gloves. Might save your life.

 

[Donald]

If you can be very careful they make reverse direction drill bits that turn the screw out as you drill. Maybe that would work on those.

I have one and might try. But an outlet screw is small. Not much room for error.

 

[Donald]

Heck of a place to put an outlet. In a lamp post base ? I worked for Con-Ed, ( local utility company in New York, for 36 years) We use to replace the wiring and the conduit coming up from the base of the lamp post. There may be 220 volt and 110 volt mixed in with each other. Don't touch nothing without wearing a pair of 1-KV electrical gloves. Those gloves will stop any electric from getting to you. BE CAREFUL if you decide you're gonna play inside there. Get the gloves. Might save your life.

It's actually not a lamp post. There is a spot light about 2" above the box. All the power to the box is controlled by a blank GFI inside the house. So I know when it's off and have checked with a non conducting voltage tester.

The initial reason I took things apart is the GFI is popped. At this point I have not found the reason for that.

I assume the outlets were for Christmas lights??

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Sorry, geez...got me scared. Looked like a lamp post. That's good. You can kill the juice working on it. Quick story: You know what will stop a 110volt zap ? A lousy pair of nitrile gloves that you would use working on a car !.. A guy at work taught me that trick, and it works. No more running downstairs to find the breaker. Just do the job hot ( switch, outlets, small stuff )