Cieling Fan Boxes - Strongest Way?

[Spudland_Dave]

What is the best way/product to install a cieling fan rated box? I see I can get ready to go boxes with brackets that appear kinda flimsy to me despite the 70lb rating. OR I can get a plain metal box, screw a 2x4 into the correct place (or screw to a truss) and voila?

 

[ishiboo]

The ceiling fan boxes with the brackets do fine holding a fan, but they don't have a lot of rigidity.

I always do exactly what you proposed - 2x4 with a metal box, screwed (not nailed) to the joists from both sides.

 

[JakeKohl]

What is the best way/product to install a cieling fan rated box? I see I can get ready to go boxes with brackets that appear kinda flimsy to me despite the 70lb rating. OR I can get a plain metal box, screw a 2x4 into the correct place (or screw to a truss) and voila?

Some of the new plastic ones straddle a 2x4 and you drive the screw for the fixture (fan base) through the box into the stud that is on the same plane as the ceiling framing. The plastic box serves only as a j-box for the wiring and lets the loads go straight through to the stud. If you don't mind plastic boxes, these work well.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Some of the new plastic ones straddle a 2x4 and you drive the screw for the fixture (fan base) through the box into the stud that is on the same plane as the ceiling framing. The plastic box serves only as a j-box for the wiring and lets the loads go straight through to the stud. If you don't mind plastic boxes, these work well.

Saw those, definetly look strong (the box mounting screws double as the fixture screws...couple issues for my install.
A) I will be strapping the trusses prior to installing my sheetrock. Those boxes were all designed to protrude 1/2" which would have been fine if I wouldnt have the 3/4" Strapping as well.
B) I am not actually wiring the boxes now because I dont know what I want to do yet...BUT I want to insulate my cieling ASAP. (The area over the fans is already decked with my attic flooring...So I got some 3/4" ENT and will be running that to the Cieling fan boxes and out into the accessible part of my attic. Down the road if I want 14-2 or 14-3, I just pull whatever I decide.

SO that being said, I picked up 2 4"x1.5" Metal Cieling Fixture Boxes...Can anybody honestly tell me difference between the Fan Rated ones (70 lbs) and the normal ones which are good for 50lbs.. Putting them side by side, minus the 5.00 plus price difference ($1.25 vs $7.98)...the ONLY Difference I saw was the screws included with the Fan rated one were 1.25" long and had a truss head. The non-Fan one comes with 1/2" Normal head screws. I can buy a whole box of Truss head 1" screws for 5.00...10 bucks if you figure I putting in 2.

 

[frankush]

The screws in a fan rated box are usually 10-24 or 10-32 as opposed to the 8-32 in a normal metal box.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The screws in a fan rated box are usually 10-24 or 10-32 as opposed to the 8-32 in a normal metal box.

Gotcha...
They had this one on the shelf, had it had 3/4" K/O's I probably would have gotten it from the perspective of easy install...Of course I could have always drilled it out to 3/4".....

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The screws are usually quite long and engage lots of threads. Fan boxes usually have a long hollow/threaded insert swedged into the box.

I mounted my fans on Unistrut/Superstrut to make it fall exactly in the middle, could have easily bolted the boxes to one of the purlins, but then it would have not been centered what you cannot see in the first pic is the ¼-20 bolts inside the box that screw up into channel nuts in the strut material. Then I put a heavy metal strap over the top of the strut and ran long ¼-20 bolts down thru the strap, thru the box, and thru the cover and the fan mounting bracket, using large thick washers and self locking nuts.

I made new 48 inch downrods from (brand new/old stock 1987 vintage) American made 3/4 water pipe I was given.

The fan also has a safety cable that is connected to the strut, and the strut is connected to the purlin flanges with ½-13 bolts and large washers both sides.

Charles

 

[Charles (in GA)]

HERE YOU GO!!!

 

[Spudland_Dave]

The screws are usually quite long and engage lots of threads. Fan boxes usually have a long hollow/threaded insert swedged into the box.
Charles

All the ones I saw were just plain ol folded over & tapped threads, just like the normal ones.
Frankush is right I think though, it could very well be a 10-32.

I really like that box you sent, but dunno if it would work with my furring + sheetrock?...upon further inspection, I found the Arlington FB423 which is made exactly for 3/4" Strapping & 1/2" Drywall....BUT no K/O's....I could just run 2 14-2's to it in case... What I'm really thinkin about is getting a light kit to add to each fan and then wire the fans to a wall switch, light kit to my Liftmaster Remote Light....way more then I want to think about, yet dont want to paint myself in a corner down the road.

Edit...I Take that back, looks like the FB423 does have 2 KO's...I hope my Elec. Supply has 2 in stock!

THANK YOU!

 

[mobiledynamics]

I can't say for sure as the last one I did was awhile back, when I did pendants in the dining room. For any of my overhead lights, I use wood blocking AND a ceiling fax box. If memory recalls. the GAUGE of these boxes were thicker than the regular ones, hence the reasoning to use such for any ceiling light.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I can't say for sure as the last one I did was awhile back, when I did pendants in the dining room. For any of my overhead lights, I use wood blocking AND a ceiling fax box. If memory recalls. the GAUGE of these boxes were thicker than the regular ones, hence the reasoning to use such for any ceiling light.

The gauge was the FIRST Thing I looked at (at Lowes)....same thing as far as I could tell. If anything the "normal" box felt heavier to me.. Either way, I think the ones Charles turned me onto are a winner...I had seen the normal 1/2" version of those at home depot....basically you screw the box on with a normal sized screw...then when you put the fixture on, you use some long *** #12 Lag Screws right into the Truss/Joist.... Simple & Strong. I just hope I have enough room in the box to use my UniBit to make the KO 3/4 instead of 1/2....

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Charles, I just wanted to say thanks for turning me onto the Arlington boxes...I've been using Arlington OneBoxes throuought my garage...Went to electric supply house and they had FB423's in stock, got 2 of em...they are EXCELLENT. Couldnt ask for better!
Thanks again.

 

[Steevo]

The ceiling fan boxes with the brackets do fine holding a fan, but they don't have a lot of rigidity.

I always do exactly what you proposed - 2x4 with a metal box, screwed (not nailed) to the joists from both sides.

^^ This