How the hell can i get a thermostat that fits?

[aphex]

Just moved into a place that has a non-programmable thermostat. Proceeded to take the unit off the wall exposing the back plate. Behind the back plate (in the wall) is a box with 2 screw holes for the backplate to screw onto.....

Problem is, i've tried 3 different models and none of them have fit into the screws in the box in the wall. All of the come up short by about 1/8" (i.e. the screw holes on the backplate are too close togeather), just enough to keep it from screwing in.

Any ideas?

 

[FoBoT]

put a new box into the wall

 

[T2T III]

Make new screw holes and use plastic mollys to receive the screws.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
put a new box into the wall

The box seems to be attached to a beam running the length of the wall. It is also behind the drywall, so im not really in the mood to make a nice big hole in the wall

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Make new screw holes and use plastic mollys to receive the screws.

Unfortunately the box behind the wall is fairly large. I tried earlier, only to have the screw make it halfway into the wall and run into part of the box.

 

[FoBoT]

super glue or epoxy

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
super glue or epoxy

Ya know, i didnt even think of that.

The unit isnt heavy, i dont see why it wouldnt work. Thanks

 

[DougK62]

3M double-sided tape

 

[xSauronx]

superglue or duct tape

oops...late

 

[seanws]

is it the size of a light switch box? if so, you can buy covers that are blank for them, made of plastic or metal. screw one of them on, and then screw the thermostat to it. can get them at any home depot type place for under $1.

 

[McCarthy]

Make one of the holes in the thermostat backplate bigger and, if necessary, use a washer? If I'm understanding this right that'd be the easiest way.

 

[h8red]

Originally posted by: seanws
is it the size of a light switch box? if so, you can buy covers that are blank for them, made of plastic or metal. screw one of them on, and then screw the thermostat to it. can get them at any home depot type place for under $1.

do this, don't use superglue - it will be a royal pain in the ass to get off if it breaks down

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: seanws
is it the size of a light switch box? if so, you can buy covers that are blank for them, made of plastic or metal. screw one of them on, and then screw the thermostat to it. can get them at any home depot type place for under $1.

Ah, good call by the noob! Buy a metal one. Home Depot or Lowes should carry them. Use sheet metal screws to fasten the new thermostat.

 

[allisolm]

velcro

 

[whoiswes]

i second the 3M double sticky tape. hell, at our last apartment, that's what was holding the original thermostat on!

 

[AlienCraft]

There should be an adaptor plate that screws into the two box mounting holes and then allows the thermostat to screw to that plate.
This is a common problem when the directions are not read first.

 

[Ornery]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
There should be an adaptor plate that screws into the two box mounting holes and then allows the thermostat to screw to that plate.
This is a common problem when the directions are not read first.

Too many mouthy dipshlts without a clue giving advice on this board. This is a common problem when the topic is not read first:

• "Just moved into a place that has a non-programmable thermostat."

Anybody knows the instructions and adapter plate should be in the upper left hand kitchen drawer, eh :roll:

Edit: Sorry, I'm the mouthy one here. If you mean the new thermostat should have an adapter plate, it won't. The Home Depot quality units are made to attach right to the wall. It's low voltage, so no electrical boxes are needed or accounted for. Only buying the exact same type of commercial grade thermostat will fit that box, and that would be way too expensive and unnecessary.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Too many mouthy dipshlts without a clue giving advice on this board. This is a common problem when the topic is not read first:

• "Just moved into a place that has a non-programmable thermostat."

Anybody knows the instructions and adapter plate should be in the upper left hand kitchen drawer, eh :roll:

You actually ignored the most important part of the post...Behind the back plate (in the wall) is a box with 2 screw holes for the backplate to screw onto.....
Speaking of "mouthy dipshits without a clue", have a look in the mirror and see one now. Ornery, you're living up to your moniker, but with someone who actually does know of which he speaks.
I've been in construction and building maintenance since probably before you were born. It has been MY EXPERIENCE that too many people attempting to do their own repairs and improvements simply look at the instructions as packing material, and toss them aside without RTFM FIRST!
Having installed something on the order of 1000+ thermostats over the past 37 years of my contracting life, (since before they were "programmable"} I can say without fear of contradiction there is either a mounting plate to adapt the thermostat to a single gang box, or knock outs in the thermostat back plate to mount it to that single gang box in the wall.
Being "Ornery" might be cute, but it isn't productive in this case.
ALL thermostats are made to fit standard electrical mounting boxes, as some jurisdictions require ALL Electrical terminations (even Class 2) to be made within a box and not within the device. Thus they will contain hardware or mounting holes to make this possible.

 

[Ornery]

Sorry, I have a headache and full itinerary. Trying to juggle too much at once. Edited post at the same time you did. Personally, I don't RTFM either, so that doesn't even register here!

Later, I got some pics to take...

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Ornery

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
There should be an adaptor plate that screws into the two box mounting holes and then allows the thermostat to screw to that plate.
This is a common problem when the directions are not read first.

Too many mouthy dipshlts without a clue giving advice on this board. This is a common problem when the topic is not read first:

• "Just moved into a place that has a non-programmable thermostat."

Anybody knows the instructions and adapter plate should be in the upper left hand kitchen drawer, eh :roll:

Edit: Sorry, I'm the mouthy one here. If you mean the new thermostat should have an adapter plate, it won't. The Home Depot quality units are made to attach right to the wall. It's low voltage, so no electrical boxes are needed or accounted for. Only buying the exact same type of commercial grade thermostat will fit that box, and that would be way too expensive and unnecessary.

That is incorrect, but I accept your retraction.

 

[Ornery]

Yeah, sorry again. I'm uploading pictures right now, but I checked out my thermostat to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Neither it, nor the couple others I've installed have any provision for attaching to an electrical box. Here's the instructions for mine. The others I put in were Honeywell, and they just attached to the drywall. Unless the box is mounted sideways, there wouldn't be any way to cover it with these thermostats, let alone get the screw holes to line up. Maybe it's a regional electrical code thing.