Doing it wrong or unicorn box?

[PCustoms]

I'm assuming I'm doing it wrong as I can't seem to find a solution that works between the orange box and a quick search.

Need a 3 gang box that can be surface mounted with conduit. Cover needs to have at least one "decora" gang, 2 normal switches and preferably no sharp corners.

Currently have 2 "handy" boxes that is like to combine into a single switch bank.

 

[LXCam]

Stainless plates fit perfect to a bell box if so inclined.

 

[sparky 1971]

I've never done it, but you could try one of these and cut the bracket off.

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electrical-boxes-covers/electrical-boxes/raco-3-gang-galvanized-steel-electrical-switch-outlet-box/686/p-1444451762847-c-6425.htm

I think if surface mounted, I'd use a raised cover for a 4X4 and use a stack switch with a duplex/decora combo cover.

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/light-switches-dimmers-outlets/combination-devices/legrand-reg-15-amp-1-pole-toggle-light-switch/690wgcc6/p-1444451143928-c-1642874342785208.htm

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electrical-boxes-covers/extenders-covers-mud-rings/raco-2-gang-galvanized-steel-1-2-raised-4-square-electrical-box-cover/915c/p-1444451773456-c-6427.htm

 

[PCustoms]

Stainless plates fit perfect to a bell box if so inclined.

What box?

I'm not a huge fan over covers like that in this use, as I could be coming in blind/dark for the switch.

 

[sparky 1971]

What box?

I'm not a huge fan over covers like that in this use, as I could be coming in blind/dark for the switch.

One of these:

3/4

www.southwire.com

I've only seen them in pictures, never seen them in the wild.

 

[PCustoms]

I've never done it, but you could try one of these and cut the bracket off.

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electrical-boxes-covers/electrical-boxes/raco-3-gang-galvanized-steel-electrical-switch-outlet-box/686/p-1444451762847-c-6425.htm

Supply House has a 3-gang drawn box for $20, shipping would be kind of dumb. Amazon has a "garvin" for $15, I'm sure it's a Chinese knockoff. I suppose for a metal box it doesn't matter.

I think if surface mounted, I'd use a raised cover for a 4X4 and use a stack switch with a duplex/decora combo plate

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/light-switches-dimmers-outlets/combination-devices/legrand-reg-15-amp-1-pole-toggle-light-switch/690wgcc6/p-1444451143928-c-1642874342785208.htm

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electrical-boxes-covers/extenders-covers-mud-rings/raco-2-gang-galvanized-steel-1-2-raised-4-square-electrical-box-cover/915c/p-1444451773456-c-6427.htm

This would work. Need to decide if I have any reason to leave the 2 outdoor lights independent of each other. If not I'll combine them on 1 switch and the interior on the other. Aside from cover plate (and possibly conduit fill) everything is already on the wall for this...

 

[PCustoms]

One of these:

3/4

www.southwire.com

I've only seen them in pictures, never seen them in the wild.

Duh.

Was having a moment, was going through paperwork to burn/toss and found my registration renewal from 2 months ago....oops

 

[LXCam]

Well I'll be damned, depot doesn't sell them anymore. Amazon shows some.

TayMac TB7100S Electrical Box 3-Gang Die Cast, Aluminum 1-Inch Thread, Gray - Amazon.com

TayMac TB7100S Electrical Box 3-Gang Die Cast, Aluminum 1-Inch Thread, Gray - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[PCustoms]

Well I'll be damned, depot doesn't sell them anymore. Amazon shows some.

TayMac TB7100S Electrical Box 3-Gang Die Cast, Aluminum 1-Inch Thread, Gray - Amazon.com

TayMac TB7100S Electrical Box 3-Gang Die Cast, Aluminum 1-Inch Thread, Gray - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

They might, Depot search *****, yesterday I searched a SKU, of something I just bought, and it brought up something different.

My local store is a trainwreck most days.. thankfully the major reno is behind me.

 

[mm08822]

Order the "3 gang" box and surface mount raised cover online. Search RACO website for part #'s.

Or use 1 4" sq box and ****** out to a handi box.

 

[sparky 1971]

Supply House has a 3-gang drawn box for $20, shipping would be kind of dumb. Amazon has a "garvin" for $15, I'm sure it's a Chinese knockoff. I suppose for a metal box it doesn't matter.



This would work. Need to decide if I have any reason to leave the 2 outdoor lights independent of each other. If not I'll combine them on 1 switch and the interior on the other. Aside from cover plate (and possibly conduit fill) everything is already on the wall for this...

So, you have three switches and one of them is decora? I figured it was two switches and a GFCI. The next thing I was going to suggest was a two switch raised cover and put the GFCI below it with a box spacer, and make it a quadplex while you're at it for looks if nothing else.

 

[PCustoms]

So, you have three switches and one of them is decora? I figured it was two switches and a GFCI. The next thing I was going to suggest was a two switch raised cover and put the GFCI below it with a box spacer, and make it a quadplex while you're at it for looks if nothing else.

Single switch for the indoor "walkway" lights to get from the entry across the garage (main shop lights are across the parking area).

Dual gang and 2 switches for outdoor lights. Swapping at least one of the outdoor lights to a timer.

Probably just going to put them both on the timer, then use the other gang for the indoor lights

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

If you need some depth.

Raco Electrical Box, 67.3 cu in, Masonry Box Type, 3 Gangs, Galvanized Steel, Rectangular Shape 697 | Zoro

Order Raco Electrical Box, 67.3 cu in, Masonry Box Type, 3 Gangs, Galvanized Steel, Rectangular Shape, 697 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

 

[PCustoms]

If you need some depth.

Raco Electrical Box, 67.3 cu in, Masonry Box Type, 3 Gangs, Galvanized Steel, Rectangular Shape 697 | Zoro

Order Raco Electrical Box, 67.3 cu in, Masonry Box Type, 3 Gangs, Galvanized Steel, Rectangular Shape, 697 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

I think I've got it figured out now, but I guess this is the cruc of my question.

People **** on handy boxes all the time, but in an exposed location they sure look a lot more finished then a welded box.

Are the welded boxes really meant for surface mounting?

 

[mm08822]

I think I've got it figured out now, but I guess this is the cruc of my question.

People **** on handy boxes all the time, but in an exposed location they sure look a lot more finished then a welded box.

Are the welded boxes really meant for surface mounting?

IMO, no. You want a drawn box and matching ...................smooth, no hard corners.

Handi boxes come in drawn and welded version too.

 

[dscheidt]

Come to Chicago. This is stock stuff here, at least at the supply house. Garvin makes them. Or at least they did, before sourhwire…

 

[sparky 1971]

IMO, no. You want a drawn box and matching ...................smooth, no hard corners.

Handi boxes come in drawn and welded version too.

I can get 1-1/2" deep boxes in drawn or welded but nobody stocks drawn 2-1/8" deep so, in order to keep everything matching, I use welded. Raco 189, 232, and 232CS. The CS style is only made in welded anyway and I use a ton of those in pole barns. I will admit that drawn looks nicer with a raised cover but 99% of people wouldn't know the difference. As far as handy boxes, I will occasionally use one if it's 2-1/8" deep and I've never seen one of those that wasn't welded, but they may exist.

 

[dscheidt]

I can get 1-1/2" deep boxes in drawn or welded but nobody stocks drawn 2-1/8" deep so, in order to keep everything matching, I use welded. Raco 189, 232, and 232CS. The CS style is only made in welded anyway and I use a ton of those in pole barns. I will admit that drawn looks nicer with a raised cover but 99% of people wouldn't know the difference. As far as handy boxes, I will occasionally use one if it's 2-1/8" deep and I've never seen one of those that wasn't welded, but they may exist.

Deep drawing is expensive. Garvin makes a 2 1/2 drawn handy box. See them sometimes on boilers, there's a fused safety switch that comes on a handybox cover, and the volume is nice to have. an over stuffed box, instead of a deeper one or an extension, is a sign that there are probably other problems with the installation.

 

[mm08822]

I can get 1-1/2" deep boxes in drawn or welded but nobody stocks drawn 2-1/8" deep so, in order to keep everything matching, I use welded. Raco 189, 232, and 232CS. The CS style is only made in welded anyway and I use a ton of those in pole barns. I will admit that drawn looks nicer with a raised cover but 99% of people wouldn't know the difference. As far as handy boxes, I will occasionally use one if it's 2-1/8" deep and I've never seen one of those that wasn't welded, but they may exist.

I searched raco 232cs and found Lowes carrying a raco 239, drawn, 2.125", 1/2, 3/4 ko's, but requires ordering.

Drawn 2.125 handy boxes exist and in stock at my local orange.

On the shelf is whatever keeps moving at any place these days.

Finding what you need at mom & pop shops with 1/4" of dust on it is almost a forgotten memory.

 

[sparky 1971]

I searched raco 232cs and found Lowes carrying a raco 239, drawn, 2.125", 1/2, 3/4 ko's, but requires ordering.

Nah, the CS stands for corrugated steel and is made for pole barns. The knockouts on two sides are punched a little further from the back so the conduit can come out the side and lay right on top of the ribs of the metal with no knockouts. I don't think there is a drawn box like that. The 239 is a plenum box.

4 in. Square Box, Welded with Elevated Conduit KO's, 2-1/8 in. Deep, 600V, Elevated Side Knockouts, Raised Ground | 232CS | Raco

4 in. Square Box, Welded with Elevated Conduit KO's, 2-1/8 in. Deep, 600V, Elevated Side Knockouts, Raised Ground

www.hubbell.com

Drawn 2.125 handy boxes exist and in stock at my local orange.

On the shelf is whatever keeps moving at any place these days.

Finding what you need at mom & pop shops with 1/4" of dust on it is almost a forgotten memory.

There's part of the problem, I won't go to HD. Menards carries welded and believe it or not, the supply house I go to most often either doesn't carry any kind of deep handy box, or the counter guys don't know what it is but I have asked more than once and of different salesmen.. I haven't asked at the other three SH's I have accounts with, but I'm not in them often enough to remember something like that.

 

[PCustoms]

^^^around here it's home depot or the supply house, which is closed after 4:30 IIRC.

 

[sparky 1971]

^^^around here it's home depot or the supply house, which is closed after 4:30 IIRC.

I understand not having much of a choice is a problem in some parts of the country. I have accounts at four supply houses, open from 6 a.m. till 5 p.m., one is open till noon on Saturday. We have five Menards and there's nowhere in the metro area that isn't 15 minutes from at least one of them, three Lowes but none of them are in a location that is convenient with two of them being about five minutes apart from each other, and three HD'd. Orange pissed me off over 10 years ago and I haven't forgotten or forgiven them. They will never get one red cent of my money.

 

[Brandon_oma#692]

Nah, the CS stands for corrugated steel and is made for pole barns. The knockouts on two sides are punched a little further from the back so the conduit can come out the side and lay right on top of the ribs of the metal with no knockouts. I don't think there is a drawn box like that. The 239 is a plenum box.
........

Cool to know. That would have made my life easier. Ended up spacing the boxes out on the walls of my shop.

 

[AntonLargiader]

I assume you also want the raised cover with corner screws, like the drawn 4x4s get? I'm with you... a few weeks ago I spent some time looking for that, too. No one seems to make a 3-gang equivalent of those nice drawn 2-gang boxes with matching covers. The missing part is the cover; all of the wide-box solutions either use standard plates (that mount to the devices) or the box is extra wide and gets a mudring-style cover with a standard plate on that.

EDIT: the reason might be that on the 2-gang raised covers the devices are mounted to the cover and therefore need to move when the cover is removed. There may be a limit to how many devices you really want to have attached that way, and the limit may be two. More than that, they use a different system where devices are individually attached to the box.

 

[dscheidt]

I assume you also want the raised cover with corner screws, like the drawn 4x4s get? I'm with you... a few weeks ago I spent some time looking for that, too. No one seems to make a 3-gang equivalent of those nice drawn 2-gang boxes with matching covers. The missing part is the cover; all of the wide-box solutions either use standard plates (that mount to the devices) or the box is extra wide and gets a mudring-style cover with a standard plate on that.

EDIT: the reason might be that on the 2-gang raised covers the devices are mounted to the cover and therefore need to move when the cover is removed. There may be a limit to how many devices you really want to have attached that way, and the limit may be two. More than that, they use a different system where devices are individually attached to the box.

Garvin makes some. They’re not common because most places you’re putting up surface mount boxes, you can just put up another.

 

[Snap-on_rich]

3 gang masonry box with an exposed work masonry box cover

 

[PCustoms]

I had thought about how to do this and decided that I didn't need the outside lights separate since I changed out the fixture (lost the upwards lighting that was annoying). All I needed was to grab a GFCI/switch combo cover plate.

Was out running some errands early yesterday and needed a few things at the orange store so swung through the electrical aisles, of course the friendly hack in the orange apron insisted what I wanted wasn't available, and tried to tell me it would be quicker to just change the switches (though they didn't have that cover either). For now I'll just put the timer in and leave the other switch.

Funny this does exist though, maybe I'll order one and move the single interior switch over later.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-4-in-W-Steel-Metallic-2-Gang-Exposed-Work-Square-Cover-1-Toggle-1-Duplex-Raised-1-2-in-1-Pack-G1948-UPC/330260559

 

[WillyBoy]

I've found that at the Orange Box, it's the luck of the draw. The "kids" know very little. The older guys don't always want to be bothered. Years ago, the guy roaming the electric aisles at the store near here knew where everything was and what it did and offered good suggestions about how to solve unusual situations. He has long since retired and the replacements have never been that great.

 

[PCustoms]

I've found that at the Orange Box, it's the luck of the draw. The "kids" know very little. The older guys don't always want to be bothered. Years ago, the guy roaming the electric aisles at the store near here knew where everything was and what it did and offered good suggestions about how to solve unusual situations. He has long since retired and the replacements have never been that great.

It was an older guy....

The local store *****, stocks very little. When I need anything special I'll run to the next closest store, but that doubles the drive time. Wasn't doing that for a $4 cover and a box of lightbulbs

 

[AntonLargiader]

Garvin makes some. They’re not common because most places you’re putting up surface mount boxes, you can just put up another.

They don't make the same style as the 4x4 with the cover with crushed corners. At least, I didn't see it in their online catalog. If you have a link or a PN, I'd love to see it.

 

[PCustoms]

They don't make the same style as the 4x4 with the cover with crushed corners. At least, I didn't see it in their online catalog. If you have a link or a PN, I'd love to see it.

I had found this on Amazon, but have my doubts it's Garvin:

1 Pc, 2-1/8 In. Deep, Three Gang Multi Device Switch Box, .0625 Galvanized Steel, (4) 1/2 In. & (6) 1/2-3/4 In. Side Knockouts; (2) 1/2 & (2) 3/4 In. Bottom Knockouts - Amazon.com

1 Pc, 2-1/8 In. Deep, Three Gang Multi Device Switch Box, .0625 Galvanized Steel, (4) 1/2 In. & (6) 1/2-3/4 In. Side Knockouts; (2) 1/2 & (2) 3/4 In. Bottom Knockouts - Amazon.com

a.co

But never found a cover...

 

[sparky 1971]

I had found this on Amazon, but have my doubts it's Garvin:

1 Pc, 2-1/8 In. Deep, Three Gang Multi Device Switch Box, .0625 Galvanized Steel, (4) 1/2 In. & (6) 1/2-3/4 In. Side Knockouts; (2) 1/2 & (2) 3/4 In. Bottom Knockouts - Amazon.com

1 Pc, 2-1/8 In. Deep, Three Gang Multi Device Switch Box, .0625 Galvanized Steel, (4) 1/2 In. & (6) 1/2-3/4 In. Side Knockouts; (2) 1/2 & (2) 3/4 In. Bottom Knockouts - Amazon.com

a.co

But never found a cover...

That's a three gang handy box; there isn't a cover, it would be a three gang plate. There might be a three gang handy box plate available which wouldn't look too bad, but a regular three gang plat would look awful since it's going to be taller and wider than the box.

 

[PCustoms]

That's a three gang handy box; there isn't a cover, it would be a three gang plate. There might be a three gang handy box plate available which wouldn't look too bad, but a regular three gang plat would look awful since it's going to be taller and wider than the box.

I know...

 

[sparky 1971]

I know...

You did state you couldn't find a cover. There is a difference between covers and plates.

This configuration might not be too bad, at least it would be something meant for surface mounting.

Raco Electrical Box, 60 cu in, Gang Box Type, 3 Gangs, Galvanized Steel, Rectangular Shape 952 | Zoro

Order Raco Electrical Box, 60 cu in, Gang Box Type, 3 Gangs, Galvanized Steel, Rectangular Shape, 952 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

Edit: wrong cover. This one and use decora switches.

https://www.gordonelectricsupply.com/p/Garvin-Gbgfi-3-M-G-Flt-Gfci-Dec-Cvr/6008602?srsltid=AfmBOoo7JIhyH2McE23N36DvIWI_pEeuSow6Vi12q38ydKUnd7I0W8J2