When using drywall in building walls, room partitions or other purposes during repairs, it is very often necessary to conduct electrical wiring in order to power spotlights, chandeliers, make sockets and switches. At first glance, such machinations may seem rather complicated, but even a novice builder or a self-taught person should not have any problems here, the main thing is to know how and what to do.
So how do you install drywall sockets? It is this question that is one of the most common during repairs, and we will now answer it, along the way, describing all the subtleties and possible difficulties of this process.
Choice of socket material
So, drywall sockets, of course, are somewhat different from those used when installing electricians in concrete or brick. Their main difference is the fact that no use of concrete and other means for reliable fixation and recessing of the socket box is required. Drywall walls are hollow or,as they say, hollow.
Thus, when choosing a socket for drywall, you must first pay attention to what material it is made of. The most common and cheapest option is ordinary plastic, but wiring using such tools is considered unsafe, and for good reason. The best choice for everyone is a self-extinguishing plastic socket. Such a device, in the event of a short circuit or ignition of the wiring, will not begin to melt and ignite at the same rate as ordinary plastic.
On the contrary, the burning process will be suspended in every possible way, delayed, and even if the problem is serious, the owner will have time to react to a strange smell that has appeared in the room before something irreparable happens. In addition, drywall is also a flammable material, and a wise choice of wall socket can help you a lot.
Dimensional characteristics of socket boxes
Gypsum board sockets also have different sizes, so once you have decided on the material, you can take measurements. Here attention should be paid to the parameter of free space under the drywall sheet, that is, the cavity of the wall itself. The standard for socket boxes is a distance of more than 50 millimeters, that is, the drywall socket itself usually has a planting depth of 45-50 mm. For an accurate measurement, you just need to take into account the thickness of the drywall sheet and the distance from its surface to the inner wall. Such calculations are carried out using the most ordinary roulette wheel, and withthe results obtained should go to the market or to a hardware store, where you will pick up the details of the required configuration.
As for all other measurements and specifications, they are based on the outlet or light switch you choose, so you can’t say anything for sure, it’s better to also take the part you bought and come with it to a specialized store.
Installation of socket boxes and preparations preceding it
As with most construction work that involves drywall, before the installation of the sockets in the drywall begins, some manipulations with the wall itself should be carried out. To do this, first of all, you will need putty and a special type of primer that can impregnate the gypsum sheet.
So, all actions taken will fit into several points:
- To begin with, it is worth treating the wall with the above-mentioned primer and waiting for it to absorb and dry. This is done using a conventional construction roller and will not cause any difficulties even for a novice builder.
- After the primer has dried, it's time to putty. It should be applied with a wide spatula in a thin layer in order to give the drywall sheet more rigidity and avoid crumbling while drilling holes for the sockets.
- The final step is marking the surface for which you will need your drywall sockets. Often the diameterthe hole is 45 millimeters, however, the cases are different and it is best to do the markup by applying the purchased models of installation boxes to the wall.
Drilling process
As soon as the preparatory work in the form of wall processing and marking is over, it's time to start drilling holes. To do this, the best way out would be to have a special nozzle for a drill, with which a hole of the required diameter can be easily drilled, but if you don’t have such devices, it will be enough to purchase a conventional large-diameter drill and have a mounting knife on hand. With such simple tools, you can easily install drywall sockets, the main thing in this matter is to remember that the hole must be of a strictly specified diameter and the socket element must fit right into it, this is the only way to achieve proper fixation and security.
Installation device
Now that everything is ready and the holes are drilled, let's say a few words about how to install the socket in drywall and pay attention to some of its design features.
The fact is that each part of this type has 4 bolts. Two of them are directly responsible for fixing the outlet you purchased, and the other two for the rigidity of fixing the socket. At the moment, we need exactly the last two bolts.
Installation process
In order to properly mount the socket, you need to press it into the socket with a simple but careful movement.prepared hole and start tightening the two above-mentioned bolts with a Phillips screwdriver. Their mechanism is designed in such a way that special hinges (legs) are attached to them in depth, which, at the moment of twisting, begin to move along the thread towards the socket, thereby pressing it against the drywall sheet, providing a tight fixation. Such hinges are both metal and plastic, but this moment does not affect the strength of fixation.
By the way, before the installation of the sockets in the drywall is completed and you tighten both bolts, securing the socket, do not forget to put a wire into it that will power the outlet or switch.
