TransWikia.com

My circular old work electrical box is too small for the light fixture mounting bracket

Home Improvement Asked by GreatBlakes on August 4, 2021

I purchased some flush mount light fixtures to install in each of the bedrooms in my house. Originally I picked up some circular 4″ old work electrical boxes (the ones with the “flags”) but discovered that those are not mean to bear weight (the weight of each fixture is about 5lbs). I found the “right” circular old work electrical box which had a metal support and said it supported up to 10lbs, so I bought them and installed them. I did notice that they were 3 1/2″ but I didn’t think anything of it.

Now I’m trying to install the mounting bracket for the light fixture and it is too wide for these boxes… The outer screws which must go in the outer holes are touching the plastic of the box itself. I feel like I’m screwed now. If they make bigger electrical boxes, I could buy them, but I already have three 3 1/2″ holes in my ceiling so removing them and expanding the holes will be a nightmare. These fixtures are meant to match others that I was able to install in original electrical boxes without a problem, so I really don’t want to change them.

This is the light fixture:
light fixture

This is the electrical box:
electrical box

And here’s the problem:
screw hits wall of electrical box

Any help is appreciated.

Edit: I just tried a 4″ round old work box (with the “flags”) and it has the exact same problem… Is there a different type of box that I need to be using for this? How would you make this work in an “old work” style situation (E.g. I have a 3.5″ hole in the center of my ceiling)?

4 Answers

Moved from my comment so I could add a picture.

Wouldn't a 4" round ceiling box solve your problem? Something like this:

enter image description here

Answered by SteveSh on August 4, 2021

Edit: Sorry, trim the screws

In electrical, screws are not sacrosanct. If one is too long, you simply trim it. That's why your stripper-crimper multi-tool has thread shears around the center pivot.

Wrong holes

This box has 2 sets of holes at 2 different spacings.

The inner (closer) set of holes sit on inward sticking nubs. Those are the ones you are trying to line up on.

The outer (farther) set of holes sit pretty much on the rim of the box. They are 90 degrees from the other holes. Try those.


The reason for the two spacings is the two sizes of steel octagon box (pictured).

  • The older, now largely obsolete 3-1/2" trade size (3-1/2" across corners, 3" across flats) had 2-3/4" screw spacing.
  • The current 4" trade size (4" across corners, 3-1/2" across flats) has 3-1/4" screw spacing.

enter image description here

Answered by Harper - Reinstate Monica on August 4, 2021

Use an Adjustable Cross Bar

enter image description here

Here is one from Home Depot

Answered by Ack on August 4, 2021

I installed led ceiling light on such ceiling mounts enter image description here

Answered by Bryce Sadler on August 4, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP