I recently replaced four switches in a 7-gang box and I'm struggling to align them all perfectly so they fit through the cover plate holes. The wall is standard gypsum board, but there's some crumbling around the box's perimeter, which is making things trickier. I'm feeling quite frustrated and could really use some effective tips to get this right!
3 Answers
One approach that worked for me was to take a spare cover plate and modify it using a dremel. I cut out sections above and below each plate screw so that I could still access the mounting screws while the plate was attached. It was only for two switches, but it made the process a lot easier. If you have an extra plate, this might be worth a try!
I recommend leaving the mounting screws a bit loose during installation. This way, you can adjust the switches once the cover is on to make sure everything fits properly. Electricians often use jigs for aligning switches, or they just do the same technique. If you're trying this and it's still not working, maybe you could try adjusting them from the center outward instead of left to right!
Try working one side to the other. For example, measure the distance between the openings on your cover plate; let’s say it's 1 inch. Cut a scrap piece of wood to that width, center and secure the leftmost switch, place the wood block between switches, then pull the next switch tight and screw it down. Keep repeating this process. It helps to keep everything uniform as you go!