ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Photos for General Discussion Screaming for help

I just hate those unsightly outlets is there anything you can do to hide them?




[This message has been edited by smokeeater 38 (edited 01-05-2004).]

Should the ground sockets be at the top, instead of the bottom?

(Ducking, and running for cover...)

When I install devices before the finish work is done, I cover them with masking tape. Many painters and sheetrock/wall texture people use spray equipment.

Snotty homeowner more concerned with appearance than safety:

"Can't you do something to hide that icky outlet?

Let's finish it nicely covering the screw hole and call it "Decora Series 2".

That's exactly what Home Depot sells their translucent "PaperIt" wall plates for.
Here in Europe I've seen old rotary switches and outlets with real clear glass wallplates. I think modern versions of those are still sold for a scary price. Especially the old receptacles looked good. They were of the ungrounded round-pin variety and only had 1/2" round plastic covers around the pin holes, everything else was glass with wallpaper behind. They also incorporated a 1 or 2A fuse (though links up to 10A were available).

I saw the problem right away.

The ground should be up.

[This message has been edited by ThinkGood (edited 02-12-2004).]

Thinkgood,

Could you point me to the past discussion about which way the ground goes? I'm pretty new here and I wouldn't know where to start looking.

Yes. I see a big problem. You can't insert a plug into it because the contact holes were "photo-shopped" in.

But seriously....there is (or was) one manufacturer who incorporates the socket and/or switch "mechanism" into the wallplate, so that you wire the entire thing up and then attach it to the wall box. Of course if the plate shatters you have to swap out the entire thing.

It's a Colombian company - the logo I've seen embossed on their products is something like EXE but haven't been able to find anything on the Internet about them.

Three years ago I brought home one of their surface mount receptacles but wasn't able to find the standard flush-mount sockets anywhere. If I ever go back I'll continue my "hunt".