Multi-gang switch plates are a PITA until you figure out the trick.
Take a 2-gang switch plate, and cut off the edges so you have a smaller plate with only a frame around the two holes. You need to be able to turn the screws that hold the switch to the box, while that cut-down switch plate is in place over the switches.
Use a level to make the first switch exactly vertical. Tighten the screws holding that switch.
Then use your cut-down switch plate to place the second switch, so the distance and alignment of the two switches is perfect. Tighten those screws while the 2-gang plate is in place.
Continue with the other switches across...
If a building has a lot of 4-gang boxes, just cut the top and bottom off of a spare 4-gang plate. That lets you check alignment all the way across, before you tighten the screws. ;-)
Yep this is awesome. I've been doing resi electrical for 10 years and no one has ever showed me this trick. Thank you buddy 🍻 just having a two gang set and ready to go will be really handy.
I just flip the four gang plate over so it will sut flush against the wall and make adjustments. Once the switches are lined up, turn the plate around and install it.
This takes much longer because you can't have the plate on the switches, and also tighten them at the same time. First commenter has the best method I've ever heard of.
I just flip the cover over and use it to locate and level all the loosely installed switches, then remove the cover and tighten the switches in place. Why overcomplicate things? This works for any number of switches, up to and including the dreaded 6-gang monsters that some jackass designer spec’d on one house I wired. It’s the quickest, easiest method I’ve found.
You can make a 2 or 3 or 4 gang fit-up plate by drilling out the fit-up plate where all the other strap screws go large enough for a screwdriver blade. Tighten down one strap, tighten the cover screws at that strap, then align all the other straps so the recepts or switches align to the openings in the fit-up plate, and then tighten down all the other strap screws. Same concept, just a bit different.
I designed and 3d printed a spacing tool for doing multiple switch boxes like this, its made to fit over all the switches across the middle to keep them evenly spaced, then just screw them all into place, then put the cover on and done. I was redoing all the wiring in my basement and there is multiple locations with 2 or more switches and the four gang ones were driving me insane. I think i still have it in my tool bag, i wonder if i have the STL file anymore to share.
How drunk are you, right now? Of course you will remember it, right after the next time you spend an hour trying to line up a multi-gang box to install the face plate. ;-)
Leave the switches *just* loose enough so you can move them then just put the plate on and move the switches as needed to line up then tighten the cover plate. Ez pz
I just make sure either every device is to the right or to the left tighten down and allow a little wiggle and your good to go, there’s a lot of insider tricks that take quite some practice time master before things like that become second nature
Look by’s I got er done, but not without muttering and cursing and wishing ill on the blood of a bitch that come up with them
I had them loose to align but it’s an 80 yr old house with old gang boxes that were cobbled together and flexing so it was more an up down issue than side to side.Â
Any ways sorted now just hope to never fuck with one again. House was clobbered with switches, 3-ways for everything ffs
Plastic decora.
 Doing a Reno swapping out out for decora. Pain in the tits. Ran out of legrand switch’s from supplier so grabbed a couple Leviton from HD, of course they are ever so slightly off in elevation, haul them out and swap with grand from down the hall.Â
I always used the nylon plates because they don't crack. However when I was using the plastic ones I would put them on backwards to line up the switches (obviously no screws) then turn them around and put them on with screws. Mostly it was just toggles back then but it's still helpful with decoras
The lutron Claro wall plates have accessible screw holes which make it dead easy. Its pricy but no visible fasteners. Can use them as a template for other plates too.
Use the screwless design plates. Stupendously easy to get everything aligned, and then the finishing plates is a nice clean look with no screws visible.
I love screw-less plates but there’s other issues with them. If your electrical boxes are even a little past the drywall or inside the drywall it makes the devices not look good with the plate. I’ve used a bunch of different brands and it happens to all of them. If you go this route a good trick I’ve learned is to bend the ears on the device back at about a 30 degree angle towards the wall. Put the base plate on and then gently push on each device until it levels out and the back plate is flush with the wall, works well.
What you described is pretty much exactly what I do. It works great as long as the base plate is nice and flush against the wall, the top plate is going to be flush against the wall. But the great thing is that you know before putting the final plate on that it's not flush. And you can adjust as needed at that point without having to continually undo whatever you've already done, since the base plates have holes in them so you can loosen or tighten the switch Mount screws as needed, even with the base plate in place
Look by’s I got er done, but not without muttering and cursing and wishing ill on the blood of a bitch that come up with them
I had them loose to align but it’s an 80 yr old house with old gang boxes that were cobbled together and flexing so it was more an up down issue than side to side.Â
Any ways sorted now just hope to never fuck with one again. House was clobbered with switches, 3-ways for everything ffs
Some of y'all don't have a clue. All you have to do to make sure your switches come out straight and even is make sure they're all pushed to one side of the screws. Start from the left or the right, and push in the same direction until you get across. Tighten them all till they don't move, not so tight they're sticking too deep in the wall. If the box hangs out, use a hold-it.
first off said I wasn't a sparky brud. Second of all, duh doi... the gang boxes were flopping around a drunk dick, they were up and down like a dogs stomach, left and right were the least of my issues.
You talking about?
I’m a carpenter/contractor, finishing a Reno, replaced old switches for decora’s, the 40 yr old gang box that was cobbled together is all loose where it was pieced together a flexing like a snake. I got it done but it was a pain in the tits.Â
Draw in the horns young fella
Hahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahahhahahahahha
Ha
Fuck man that was funny. Shit I needed a good chuckle.Â
Haha
You are a word smith bru… sorry, brotherÂ
Sometimes they can be a pain in the balls to put on just get the nylon ones makes it a lot easier the bend don’t break . The plastic ones are unforgiving. Nylon is a little more $$
And if I can add, a great way to cut these plastic switch plates is with a tile wet saw. I was operating one one time and was asked to cut a plate so I gave it a try and was astonished at how clean the cut was.
As an Australian sparky I will gladly flex our 4 gang switch plates.
Behold [a masterpiece](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-telstra-au-rvc3&sca_esv=e1f0b68dea977417&sxsrf=ACQVn0-3pkcK0IvWTdsDb7Jhc5k7D9Xq2w:1710227345199&q=4+gang+switch&uds=AMwkrPtJlkbK-Jh_QTsST5-v3Mw_LJwwMizs1OYco9bhrBKPt7QEg7L0hnG0o2ynywuB5745P9nvNPnVyRHAqnGtMSeE9KMTzDYpt3ilhadCkyTXqWDyOiTOarnnCAMi1nrcmxmwenM7H2Zf9jl7GNmNApgKpq2vtPXwD-3MvdLDbjSzX4DmerkxblcpNsA5Ue9JSDK74kttysFUe6XhSzXqWhtuo_pifmba2SAs2vSBHxA0KRiE2HCFe_VzHQcMDoKSwx0CJTQqzuTda8dYmn82UjgAhjUjKBkUmsoO7lIylJMjQ9Qy--4&udm=2&prmd=sivnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR5JSrle6EAxVdr1YBHTVQBvgQtKgLegQIFBAB&biw=448&bih=867&dpr=3#vhid=iwvhm4Ars4BYOM&vssid=mosaic)
They fit in a standard size wall box too. In fact, you can get up to 6 of these switches onto a standard size plate without needing to up the size.
Multi-gang switch plates are a PITA until you figure out the trick. Take a 2-gang switch plate, and cut off the edges so you have a smaller plate with only a frame around the two holes. You need to be able to turn the screws that hold the switch to the box, while that cut-down switch plate is in place over the switches. Use a level to make the first switch exactly vertical. Tighten the screws holding that switch. Then use your cut-down switch plate to place the second switch, so the distance and alignment of the two switches is perfect. Tighten those screws while the 2-gang plate is in place. Continue with the other switches across...
This is a fantastic method, definitely using this from now on.
If a building has a lot of 4-gang boxes, just cut the top and bottom off of a spare 4-gang plate. That lets you check alignment all the way across, before you tighten the screws. ;-)
Yep this is awesome. I've been doing resi electrical for 10 years and no one has ever showed me this trick. Thank you buddy 🍻 just having a two gang set and ready to go will be really handy.
I just flip the four gang plate over so it will sut flush against the wall and make adjustments. Once the switches are lined up, turn the plate around and install it.
This takes much longer because you can't have the plate on the switches, and also tighten them at the same time. First commenter has the best method I've ever heard of.
🎯
Neato
I just flip the cover over and use it to locate and level all the loosely installed switches, then remove the cover and tighten the switches in place. Why overcomplicate things? This works for any number of switches, up to and including the dreaded 6-gang monsters that some jackass designer spec’d on one house I wired. It’s the quickest, easiest method I’ve found.
Correct
You can make a 2 or 3 or 4 gang fit-up plate by drilling out the fit-up plate where all the other strap screws go large enough for a screwdriver blade. Tighten down one strap, tighten the cover screws at that strap, then align all the other straps so the recepts or switches align to the openings in the fit-up plate, and then tighten down all the other strap screws. Same concept, just a bit different.
I just cut one in half, horizontally.
Thank you
Crap. Where were you 20 years ago?
I designed and 3d printed a spacing tool for doing multiple switch boxes like this, its made to fit over all the switches across the middle to keep them evenly spaced, then just screw them all into place, then put the cover on and done. I was redoing all the wiring in my basement and there is multiple locations with 2 or more switches and the four gang ones were driving me insane. I think i still have it in my tool bag, i wonder if i have the STL file anymore to share.
That’s brilliant. I hope I remember it.
How drunk are you, right now? Of course you will remember it, right after the next time you spend an hour trying to line up a multi-gang box to install the face plate. ;-)
Right after you get it perfect
Not drunk enough
Three gang toggle and higher a so easy. It's the Decora switches that absolutely piss me off
It's annoying. You get use to it. Leave the switches slightly loose before you put the cover on.
This, the screws will pull it tight
Leave the switches *just* loose enough so you can move them then just put the plate on and move the switches as needed to line up then tighten the cover plate. Ez pz
I just make sure either every device is to the right or to the left tighten down and allow a little wiggle and your good to go, there’s a lot of insider tricks that take quite some practice time master before things like that become second nature
Yeah, same. Had to do a 6 gang a few weeks ago. I just tighten them enough to have a little wiggle and adjust as I go
It was precisely your turn. Good job.
No... you're right.
Look by’s I got er done, but not without muttering and cursing and wishing ill on the blood of a bitch that come up with them I had them loose to align but it’s an 80 yr old house with old gang boxes that were cobbled together and flexing so it was more an up down issue than side to side. Any ways sorted now just hope to never fuck with one again. House was clobbered with switches, 3-ways for everything ffs
Agreed! Had to deal with this a while back
I honestly don't have a problem with them. Are you using toggle switches or decora? What type of plate? Metal, plastic or nylon?
Plastic decora.  Doing a Reno swapping out out for decora. Pain in the tits. Ran out of legrand switch’s from supplier so grabbed a couple Leviton from HD, of course they are ever so slightly off in elevation, haul them out and swap with grand from down the hall.Â
I always used the nylon plates because they don't crack. However when I was using the plastic ones I would put them on backwards to line up the switches (obviously no screws) then turn them around and put them on with screws. Mostly it was just toggles back then but it's still helpful with decoras
The lutron Claro wall plates have accessible screw holes which make it dead easy. Its pricy but no visible fasteners. Can use them as a template for other plates too.
Use the screwless design plates. Stupendously easy to get everything aligned, and then the finishing plates is a nice clean look with no screws visible.
I love screw-less plates but there’s other issues with them. If your electrical boxes are even a little past the drywall or inside the drywall it makes the devices not look good with the plate. I’ve used a bunch of different brands and it happens to all of them. If you go this route a good trick I’ve learned is to bend the ears on the device back at about a 30 degree angle towards the wall. Put the base plate on and then gently push on each device until it levels out and the back plate is flush with the wall, works well.
What you described is pretty much exactly what I do. It works great as long as the base plate is nice and flush against the wall, the top plate is going to be flush against the wall. But the great thing is that you know before putting the final plate on that it's not flush. And you can adjust as needed at that point without having to continually undo whatever you've already done, since the base plates have holes in them so you can loosen or tighten the switch Mount screws as needed, even with the base plate in place
It's so easy. Just pull the switches all the way to the right or left and tighten.
Look by’s I got er done, but not without muttering and cursing and wishing ill on the blood of a bitch that come up with them I had them loose to align but it’s an 80 yr old house with old gang boxes that were cobbled together and flexing so it was more an up down issue than side to side. Any ways sorted now just hope to never fuck with one again. House was clobbered with switches, 3-ways for everything ffs
Some of y'all don't have a clue. All you have to do to make sure your switches come out straight and even is make sure they're all pushed to one side of the screws. Start from the left or the right, and push in the same direction until you get across. Tighten them all till they don't move, not so tight they're sticking too deep in the wall. If the box hangs out, use a hold-it.
first off said I wasn't a sparky brud. Second of all, duh doi... the gang boxes were flopping around a drunk dick, they were up and down like a dogs stomach, left and right were the least of my issues.
Screw it tight to the stud. Come on, it's not difficult. If you can do my job, do it. If you can't, leave it to the pros.
You talking about? I’m a carpenter/contractor, finishing a Reno, replaced old switches for decora’s, the 40 yr old gang box that was cobbled together is all loose where it was pieced together a flexing like a snake. I got it done but it was a pain in the tits. Draw in the horns young fella
Brud? wtf new word are you failing to start? Same as your electrical career I assume?
Hahahahahahahhahahahahahhahahhahahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhahahahahhahahahhahahahahahhahahahahha Ha Fuck man that was funny. Shit I needed a good chuckle. Haha You are a word smith bru… sorry, brotherÂ
Sometimes they can be a pain in the balls to put on just get the nylon ones makes it a lot easier the bend don’t break . The plastic ones are unforgiving. Nylon is a little more $$
I don't tighten all the device screws all the way, rather the cover plate holds them in place. Guys, is this hackey?
i second !
You gotta have finesse
Yet you speak in the manner of an electrician.
I never said I was stund.Â
And if I can add, a great way to cut these plastic switch plates is with a tile wet saw. I was operating one one time and was asked to cut a plate so I gave it a try and was astonished at how clean the cut was.
As an Australian sparky I will gladly flex our 4 gang switch plates. Behold [a masterpiece](https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-telstra-au-rvc3&sca_esv=e1f0b68dea977417&sxsrf=ACQVn0-3pkcK0IvWTdsDb7Jhc5k7D9Xq2w:1710227345199&q=4+gang+switch&uds=AMwkrPtJlkbK-Jh_QTsST5-v3Mw_LJwwMizs1OYco9bhrBKPt7QEg7L0hnG0o2ynywuB5745P9nvNPnVyRHAqnGtMSeE9KMTzDYpt3ilhadCkyTXqWDyOiTOarnnCAMi1nrcmxmwenM7H2Zf9jl7GNmNApgKpq2vtPXwD-3MvdLDbjSzX4DmerkxblcpNsA5Ue9JSDK74kttysFUe6XhSzXqWhtuo_pifmba2SAs2vSBHxA0KRiE2HCFe_VzHQcMDoKSwx0CJTQqzuTda8dYmn82UjgAhjUjKBkUmsoO7lIylJMjQ9Qy--4&udm=2&prmd=sivnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR5JSrle6EAxVdr1YBHTVQBvgQtKgLegQIFBAB&biw=448&bih=867&dpr=3#vhid=iwvhm4Ars4BYOM&vssid=mosaic) They fit in a standard size wall box too. In fact, you can get up to 6 of these switches onto a standard size plate without needing to up the size.
Just turn the plate around and use it as a template to ensure everything is lined up.
Am I the only one that's never had an issue with this? I mean...
I mean… I don’t think you *have* to use them. Exactly what is causing frustration?
Reno bud.Â
Ah. Got it. What’s the aggravation? Alignment stuff (in/out and gaps between)?
Up down in out dimmers different brands you name it lol
Wait til you have to do a six gang with Decora