Best outdoor outlet/box

[jimy]

I'm finishing the interior of my garage and would like to put an outdoor outlet at the back of the garage. I have 1.5" foam board between the girts and 3.5" fiberglass insulation.

The outlet will be rarely used, but seems like I should put one there just in case. What is the best way to do this? I'm mostly worried about water issues. I'm not too worried about the cover - I do know I hate the clear plastic covers that hinge in two directions, and also the ones with the rubber bellows. I will find something.

Options I can think of are:

1 - cut out my LP Smartside and put in an old work box.
2 - Drill a hole for the wire thru a girt and surface mount a shallow box (probably a cast metal outdoor box)

Seems like #2 is best from the insulation perspective. Anyone have a favorite method/box/cover? I assume I should caulk around the box or is there something better to prevent moisture?

Jim

 

[dave*99]

I like these. There are horizontal versions, and paintable cover versions.

Arlington DBVR1C-1​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004K1G0YA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[larry4406]

@dave*99 - Nice electric box. I have not seen that one before.

 

[nadogail]

Arlington is an excellent brand of boxes.

 

[dave*99]

@dave*99 - Nice electric box. I have not seen that one before.

They have versions for every application - brick/stone, vinyl, stucco etc.

 

[rlitman]

I'd stick with a metal box and cover. Every plastic cover I'd had has eventually failed on me. If you do use plastic, paint it!

 

[dave*99]

I'd stick with a metal box and cover. Every plastic cover I'd had has eventually failed on me. If you do use plastic, paint it!

I have had similar bad experience with some plastic covers. Especially the latch mechanisms.

I started using the Arlington plastic because it is the only plastic cover that didn't fail for me.

I'm on the coast so the aluminum ones turn to powder.

 

[rlitman]

...I'm on the coast so the aluminum ones turn to powder.

I'm close enough to the Atlantic to know what you mean, but just far enough to not really have trouble with it. Yeah, the boxes corrode badly eventually if you skip the foam gaskets and let moisture in (and woe is to the person trying to take a steel screw out of that), but otherwise I've had good luck with them.

Yes, the latches are always the weak point for me.

 

[dave*99]

I'm close enough to the Atlantic to know what you mean, but just far enough to not really have trouble with it. Yeah, the boxes corrode badly eventually if you skip the foam gaskets and let moisture in (and woe is to the person trying to take a steel screw out of that), but otherwise I've had good luck with them.

Yes, the latches are always the weak point for me.

If you dig a hole about 2 feet deep in my yard, you will see the Atlantic. Or you can look in the street during a Nor'easter like todays and see it there too.

My ground rods have a low earth impedance.....

 

[rlitman]

If you dig a hole about 2 feet deep in my yard, you will see the Atlantic. Or you can look in the street during a Nor'easter like todays and see it there too.

My ground rods have a low earth impedance.....

LOL, I feel ya. It's 9' to the water table beneath me, and about 7' at my parents' house, but we're both far enough inland that the water is completely fresh. A mile or more south, where people don't have basements, you may start to see brackish water underground. Since Sandy there's been a program of swapping out the most low-lying fire hydrants with ones that are better suited to the corrosion they see when they're standing in a storm surge.

 

[csp]

I have the Arlington's on my home and have had one cover latch break, which was entirely my fault. It was easy enough to find a replacement. They have been in one place since 2006.