Elyse M Grasso

The high winds in Boulder yesterday blew one of my porch light fixtures clean off the house, so it was just dangling by the electrical wires.

The light is supposed to be held on by two small spherical bits of hardware that have screw threads inside that grab onto skinny bolts that are attached to a mounting plate that is attached to the wall. I was only able to find one of the little spherical things.

Edit: Looks like I am looking for a 'cap nut'

#DIY #Electrical #TerminologyQuestion

Mar 13 at 3:29pmWeb
Show threadElyse M Grasso4d ago

Went over to Home Depot... they had one package of cap nuts left, which someone had removed the chrome pair from.
They gave me the remaining package (which had the colors I needed) for half price.

I also picked up the blue Loctite Threadlocker someone recommended.

The missing nut has been replaced and had Loctite added,, the other nut on that fixture has been Loctited, and a fixture on the front porch that was loosening has had its nuts Loctited and tightened.

The other 2 fixtures seem solid

Show threadLori M Olson4d ago
@ElyseMGrasso hopefully that will keep the fixtures safe when the next wind storm blows through
Show threadElyse M Grasso4d ago

@lorimolson We should find out shortly. There is no wind at this exact moment, but the power company has announced that they are cutting the power in a little more than an hour because they expect the next wind storm to hit and everything is so dry.

I have solar + battery now, so I'm not worried about the power (much), but the windstorms are stressful in and of themselves. Especially since the Marshall Fire.

Show threadElyse M Grasso3d ago

Line power was out from 2 pm to 9 pm. All of the porch lights remain in place, but it really was not nearly as windy as it was on Thursday, so I'm not sure it's a valid test.

I am SO glad I have solar + battery. (And the high winds here are dry, so there is seldom worry that the roof panels will be covered by snow when the power is out.)

Show threadAndy P5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso if you can take in the remaining cap and screw that may save a lot of guessing about size and thread type
Show threadElyse M Grasso5d ago
@otterlove I think the bracket and bolts are standard electrical widgets and may not have come in the package with the fixture. But I was planning to take the rescued one with me to the hardware store (preferably after the winds die down ).
I still would like to know what the parts in question are called.
Show threadJoyce Lionarons5d ago

@ElyseMGrasso

I have no idea, but maybe you could bring the photo on your phone to show the folks in the hardware store.

Show threadOwen G. Richards - ANTIFAscist5d ago

@joyce @ElyseMGrasso

Like minds... have the same thoughts! 😱

Show threadRatsnake Games 🔞5d ago
@joyce @ElyseMGrasso the photo does not say anything about diameter, thread pitch or thread orientation so it is basically useless for getting a correct replacement piece
Show threadRatsnake Games 🔞5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso It sounds like me as if the ball is basically just a nut with a fancy shape?
Show threadElyse M Grasso5d ago

@ratsnakegames @joyce

Before I worry about the exact thread, I need to know the name of the thing (which appears to be 'cap nut'). Hardware store dudes are assholes if you don't know the name of what you are looking for.

It is apparently a standard electrical component, and seems to only come in one threading and size.

Show threadRatsnake Games 🔞5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso @joyce there's a ton of different cap nuts in different sizes and shapes https://www.mcmaster.com/products/cap-nuts/cap-nuts-3~~/cap-nuts-4~performance~corrosion-resistant-2/
McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 700,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

Show threadRatsnake Games 🔞5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso @joyce my point being, bring the part to the store, unless you are able to measure thread pitch at home
Show threadRatsnake Games 🔞5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso @joyce (if you can't find a cap nut, i reckon a regular nut would do just fine)
Show threadBen Pfaff5d ago

@ElyseMGrasso I would guess that it's just a nut with a decorative look.

(I am not any kind of authority.)

Show threadAware-wolf5d ago

@ElyseMGrasso

When you go to put it back together, a little dab of blue loctite will help stop it from working loose in future high winds

Show threadElyse M Grasso5d ago
@wifwolf Blue Loctite? That is very useful to know about. I've got 4 of those lamps. The west facing ones have been a problem in the past, but yesterday's winds were from an odd direction, so they took a backdoor lamp.
Show threadAware-wolf5d ago

@ElyseMGrasso

Yeah, a dab where any threads touch and it'll help stop the wiggle that lets bolts unthread themselves

Show threadMikael Fernstrom5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso that's a spherical nut. Might be custom made for the light fitting.
Show threadElyse M Grasso5d ago
@mikaelfer They seem to be called cap nuts, and there seem to be a standard size of the spherical ones sold for lighting fixtures by places like Lowes and Home Depot.
Show threadMikael Fernstrom5d ago
@ElyseMGrasso aha, a trade name.
Show threadElyse M Grasso5d ago
@mikaelfer Not quite a trade name (there seem to be various manufacturers) but apparently fairly standardized for light fixtures: the Home Depot site listed cap nuts that are 3/8 inch spheres with 1/8 inch threaded holes, Lowes did not even bother to list any measurements.