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The Steel City RS-6 4" face plate has metal tabs that break-off easily. What is their purpose?

(click for full-size)

As you can see, they are cut and bent to leave a gap/slot.

enter image description here

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I haven't seen too many manufacturers include these tabs on a double duplex cover, but I think you will find they mount behind the recpt to grab the screw and sandwich it to the cover. The screw goes through the cover, then through the recpt, and treads into the tab. The offset dog on the tab should secure under the cover edge.

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So you attach the receptacle to the faceplate rather than the faceplate to the receptacle? I like it. – BMitch♦ Aug 23 '11 at 11:53
@BMitch: In fact, you can sit at a workbench and do all the work to prep the receps. Check it out: i.stack.imgur.com/nyujc.jpg – Jay Bazuzi Aug 23 '11 at 16:27
exactly right, but wiring the side terminals is difficult after the recpt is attached to plate. Could work that way however. – shirlock homes Aug 24 '11 at 0:54
It's not too hard if you only put 1 recep in the face plate. I'm putting two receps at each location (so nice!) but it means wiring the receps up before putting them in the face plate. Again, all at the workbench. – Jay Bazuzi Aug 24 '11 at 6:11

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