electrical - mounting boxes

[boink]

Hi, i need to add another mounting box to a salid wall in my hall to hold a ethernet socket, im wondering if this could be done making very little mess or damage to the wall, i was thinking i could cut the recessed whole out with a grinder then chip any existing mortar/brick away. do the steel boxes then need to be cemented in place? and how much extra space should i cut out to re-fill with cement? i know i could use a surface mounting box but id rather not

[Postdog]

I'm not an expert, but the way I did worked very well for an electrical socket. I marked where the box would be, then at various points in and around the edge, I used a masonary drill set to the right length (fraction deeper than the box) and drilled. With the drill on hammer it took less than five minutes.

Then all I did was hammer and chisel (I think I used a brick bolster actually) the drilled bits out.

Then drill mounting holes for the box, slap around some polyfilla to take care of the gaps, then fix the box.

PS Don't forget to thread the cable first.

[Siamsal]

It isn't hard to do and isn't too messy if you're careful.

Further to Postdog's drilling technique, B&Q sell a jig to help you do this (saw one only last week). You fasten the jig to the wall, and it has guide holes for you to drill, to get the right shape and size. You just have to get the right depth (insulating tape around your drill bit).

Do that, then exactly as Postdog says.

It's best to go about 5mm deeper than you need.

To be strictly professional, you should protect the cable with a rubber grommet around the knock-out hole, and earth the box to the socket's earth with a bit of insulated wire.