Electric Box Mounting - Super Duty

[Spudland_Dave]

Am I the only one with OCD enough to want my boxes solid enough to be able to be used as mounting points for a frame straigtener? Just kidding about the mounting, but I hate spongy recep's.
So what I did for my welder outlet & normal 110V was to screw a backer 2x3" across the studs..boxes are mounted both on the back side and with the side ears. Nice & Solid.
My question was do they make some pre-fabbed brackets that accomplish the same thing? or is continuing the way I did it the easiest?

 

[pattenp]

I think what you've done is the cheapest and easiest.

 

[justsam]

I like it! I agree in regards to outlet boxes that are not firmly mounted.

Outlets for overhead fans are often boxed or braced in some way.

For professionals it is all about productivity, while meeting generally accepted work practices. Not a bad thing, but time is money for them.

 

[Highbeam]

I did the same thing for my long multi switch junction boxes. Like 4 gangers. Those things need more support I think.

Also the welder plugs and RV 30 amp plugs, they are really hard to put in and take out so unless you bolt that box to something solid, I think you'll have problems. I don't bother blocking for regular 120 duplex outlets.

On boxes with ears, I mount the box using the ears and then I come in behind with a 2x4 and block it using nails. Quick and easy with a nail gun. Only drag is insulation around the block is a little harder. Totally worth it.

 

[kbs2244]

That is the way I do it and the only way I have seen it done.

 

[sparky36000]

There are several types of manufactured brackets the do what you did. Definitely labor savers in the trade. But what you did is perfectly fine and very commonly done.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

There are several types of manufactured brackets the do what you did. Definitely labor savers in the trade. But what you did is perfectly fine and very commonly done.

Do you know what they are called or what I should be googling? Depending on price & performance of those brackets, I'd be interested.
I've used up pretty much all my scrap ends, so buy a couple more 2x4's or buy some brackets and my time is worth something too. Things progress slowly when I can only work for 1-2 hours a night some nights.

 

[sparky36000]

Here's one we use a lot. It is available for 16" and 24" widths.

With a little ingenuity it has dozens of uses. Here's their web page that gives a few examples of uses. http://www.erico.com/part.asp?part=TSGB1624 You would probably have to go to an electrical wholesale house to get them though. Google "screw gun bracket" to get more choices.

 

[MrMark]

What you did is by far the best. It is really needed with 3 gang. Those 4S boxes are pretty strong just mounted with 4 screws in the ears. I've never blocked them like that but maybe I will now for a 240 plug.

Those Erico brackets are OK but very flimsy in my experience. Not even close to what you did. You have to realize that generally a guy doing this for a living isn't going to come with wood and a saw and nail gun and install blocking like that. This is one of those times where you get a far better job doing it yourself.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Thanks...sounds like I'll stick with the 2x4 bracing.

Not to hijack my own thread, but in terms of the welder outlet, was showing the pic to a buddy and he said I shoulda used a 2" "box extension" on it to make wiring that much easier. Still have another welder outlet to install and a couple of 30A 220v circuits...debating if I should do that or not.

 

[sparky36000]

Thanks...sounds like I'll stick with the 2x4 bracing.

They are definitely not as stout as a 2x4 screwed to the framing. With heavy boxes, multiple boxes or multi gang boxes, I'll use two brackets for more strength. Most framing we work with is steel and wood backing isn't an option. And looking for scrap steel studs to cut up for backing when your mounting hundreds of devices isn't practical. When mounted and screwed to the framing properly, they are more than adequate though. In your case where production and labor cost aren't an issue, the 2x4 method is probably the best option.