Converting round ceiling box to outlet???

[rburke65]

Can't you drill two holes and nut n bolt the outlet yoke to the cover?

 

[sberry]

You could still put the round covers in and say you did it before the code changed. Code isn't retroactive. And the intention of the code was to require both screws on an outlet are used in normal application. It's not like those plates were safe a year ago, but are unsafe this year because of a code rule change.

I tend to agree here, rig it up, connect G wire to recept and call it a day. My stuff is up in the ceiling, installed a goodly long time ago and is not gfci. No one is using it with tools. I aint losing a lot of sleep over it.

Can't you drill two holes and nut n bolt the outlet yoke to the cover?

I do that with some older covers.

 

[AntonLargiader]

I assume the OP has found a solution in the last three years, but since this thread was revived ... I didn't see mention of exactly what size box was being discussed. In our 1930-ish house the original round (or octagon, don't remember exactly) boxes were TINY. There was one with a recep in it and there honestly was hardly room for the cloth-covered wires in there. The recep itself almost scraped the sides going in. I see no point in trying to re-use a box that small for any purpose. Modern old-work boxes, or new metal ones if you can fasten laterally to a joist, seem like a way better solution to me.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

I assume the OP has found a solution in the last three years, but since this thread was revived ... I didn't see mention of exactly what size box was being discussed. In our 1930-ish house the original round (or octagon, don't remember exactly) boxes were TINY. There was one with a recep in it and there honestly was hardly room for the cloth-covered wires in there. The recep itself almost scraped the sides going in. I see no point in trying to re-use a box that small for any purpose. Modern old-work boxes, or new metal ones if you can fasten laterally to a joist, seem like a way better solution to me.

That's what I would do. Cut out the old round box and put in a 2-gang old work box, should fill the hole with a little extra cutting, and be easier and code compliant.

 

[bhaveshr]

It is interesting these many years later the thread is still providing some useful guidance on how to fix it, however, it has not found a solid solution. I came here looking for solution to the exact problem posted in this thread.
I went to Lowes and found that the duplex outlet will not fit in the 4" round box properly and there was no way to put retaining screws in the outlet and use metal cover plate on it.
First attempt to get single wall outlet and drilling a hole in the cover plate to make it fit over the outlet, failed miserably, as the screws holes from the cover plate did not line up properly with the screws of the outlet and the box already installed.

Further investigation on the google, i came across these. if anyone is stilling listening to this old tread, any suggestion /advise would be helpful.

I can not post link since this is my first post and i joined just so i can reply to this thread.

These are some of the alternative product I found, suggestions are welcome
www . homedepot . com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-3-Wire-Round-Type-Single-Outlet-Zinc-Plated-Steel-5059/301390715?

www . amazon . com/dp/B000HEHCAU/ref=psdc_6291367011_t1_B00002NAQ3

www . cesco . com/Thomas-Betts-T-B--5401-LR-Steel-City-5401-LR-4-In-Flat-Single-Receptacle-Cover/p2135111

 

[Dbld022]

Probably more of this since LED strip & Shop lights have gotten inexpensive. I found this while looking for a cover and found this one: kyleswitchplates dot com/4-round-duplex-receptacle-cover-plate-white/ . Two holes for mounting the receptacle per code. The also have a larger cover plate that can cover a larger hole if necessary. Haven't tried this out yet but will try to get one and install it before September. I'll do an update then and anything else I find in the meantime.

 

[exranger06]

Thinking outside the (round ceiling) box here - what about installing a wiremold round extension onto the existing round box, and run a section of wiremold to a surface-mounted receptacle box? You can put the receptacle box right next to the round box if you want, or put it wherever.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Legrand-Wiremold-500-and-700-Series-Metal-Surface-Raceway-5-1-2-in-Open-Base-Extension-Box-Ivory-V5737A/202276743
Picture this:

but instead of a ceiling fan hanging from it, there's just a blank round cover, and instead of the wiremold running down to the switch on the wall, it runs to a receptacle box mounted either on the ceiling right next to the round box, or wherever else you want it.

 

[Brandon_oma#692]

Stumbled into this today. What should I use to install duplex outlets for led lights to plug into? I was planning on new work boxes attached to the ceiling joists. Realized that the duplex outlets didn't fit correct in the "ceiling boxes" at the store today.

Thanks

 

[AntonLargiader]

The first part of the answer is knowing what boxes exist and what they are for. I have collected all kinds of mismatched stuff over the years in the course of learning this. There is probably a comprehensive list somewhere, but this is what I've encountered in ceiling stuff.


Octagon and round boxes are sized by the diameter of the round hole they occupy.

3.5" octagon: old small stuff. Has 2.75" threaded hole spacing. My house had single devices installed in these but it's super cramped and possibly not legal any more. Probably just for light fixtures now.

4" octagon: available in different depths, 3.5" hole spacing. You commonly see single-device covers for these and that was mentioned earlier in the thread.

4" round fan-rated box: fan-rated boxes are shaped such that the threaded holes are in the body rather than just being bent-in tabs.

Round ceiling boxes: have opposing holes at 2.75", 3.5", or both. Some keyless light fixtures I have have holes at 3.5" and punch-out holes at 2.75".


"Square" boxes are sized by the height of the rectangle that they fit into. Obviously these are also available in many different widths but the common doubles look like:

4" 2-gang boxes: can have corner holes (4.75" spacing) for a cover that holds the devices like you typically see with exposed conduit, or side tabs (4.25") to hold the devices and the cover attaches to the devices like you see inside a house.

4-11/16" boxes: these have side tabs at 4.25".

Some new work steel wall boxes are more like 3" tall and have the mounting holes outside the box but you're less likely to see them in ceilings.

Covers are going to have the external size and hole spacing to match a particular box style, and can be flat, punched out for one or more devices, mud ring, etc.

See them all here:
https://www.hubbell.com/raco/en/Products/Electrical-Electronic/Boxes/cl/2144301

 

[AntonLargiader]

Stumbled into this today. What should I use to install duplex outlets for led lights to plug into? I was planning on new work boxes attached to the ceiling joists. Realized that the duplex outlets didn't fit correct in the "ceiling boxes" at the store today.

Thanks

A briefer answer... metal 4" octagons and any of the covers mentioned before should do it.

Raco 731 - 4" octagon cover for duplex recep
Leviton 5042 - duplex 15A recep in round 4" cover

The 731 and octagon are probably big-box store stuff, so you should be able to mock it up in person.

 

[75gmck25]

Would one of these work for your conversion? Its not really that attractive, but it does have a 3 prong receptacle and it fits on a round box. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton...Pull-Chain-and-Outlet-R60-09726-00C/100357030

Bruce

 

[Brandon_oma#692]

A briefer answer... metal 4" octagons and any of the covers mentioned before should do it.

Raco 731 - 4" octagon cover for duplex recep
Leviton 5042 - duplex 15A recep in round 4" cover

The 731 and octagon are probably big-box store stuff, so you should be able to mock it up in person.

Ok that makes sense. I was hoping to use some type of plastic one with the nails on it and built in strain relief. I'll have to pick up some octagon metal ones. All the metal ones I have are single gang.

 

[AntonLargiader]

The 20 cubic inch 4" Carlon new work boxes might work. They have the full 4" diameter, unlike the old work boxes. I haven't compared them in person but they look as large as the metal ones.