Fan Rated Electric Box?

[MikeA3]

Hello,

I am wanting to add a ceiling fan where a lighting fixture used to hang. Can anyone identify whether this is a fan rated electric box? It has a lot of paint so it’s not showing any visible markings. It does seem to have at least some metal parts where the ground is connected. Thank you.

 

[Norcal]

Not a fan fated box.

 

[MikeA3]

Not a fan fated box.

Thank you! Curious…how can you tell? And also. Can you tell if I would need a box with the cross bar or not?

 

[Norcal]

Thank you! Curious…how can you tell? And also. Can you tell if I would need a box with the cross bar or not?

A fan rated box will have writing stating it is fan rated, there is no way that Unionbox/Sylvania/Challenger (Manufacturer) box can support a fan, and there are retrofit the kits to replace box.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Fan rated boxes don't have 8-32 threaded holes where the "cross bar" attaches. They're larger, 10 or in some cases even 12.

 

[mm08822]

This style works very well for sheetrock. Once you blast out the old box, you can install this from below. (Not a good time for attic work!)

 

[nadogail]

Fan Rated Boxes usually, at least in my experience , have a cross bar to transfer the weight of the fan to Ceiling Joists. The weight of the fan should not be supported by the ceiling drywall.

i prefer, for retrofits, those boxes that have a turnbuckle that you can expand to clamp the box between two joists by using a wrench through the hole in the finish ceiling. When clients questioned if the box was strong enough to hang the fan from, i would tie a rope to the cross bar and hang my weight from it,

 

[snickers muncher]

Fan rated boxes don't have 8-32 threaded holes where the "cross bar" attaches. They're larger, 10 or in some cases even 12.

I installed a new ceiling fan a few weeks ago and it came with 8-32 screws to mount the fan. I asked on here about what code requires but didn't get an answer. It may fall under what the manufacturer specifies. I used my own 10s to mount.

I agree with you that 10s should be used for fans, but all fan boxes might not have them. All fan boxes I've installed in the past few years have had both 8 and 10.

 

[mm08822]

#10's for sure is desired. Add star washers whenever possible. Even a couple flat washers if the slots in the fan hardware are wide.

 

[dave*99]

If the hole is right next to a joist, these may be an option. Southwire Smart box.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I would get a bracketed box like what mm08822 posted

 

[75gmck25]

If you are lucky, you can remove all the visible screws on the existing box and it will drop out. Then you can use that hole to remove all the old pieces and mount a new crossbar.

If you aren't so lucky, it will be mounted on a bracket that goes on the left or right side into to a joist. You often can't reach the screws because the bracket is L or T-shaped and the mounting holes/screws are above the box. For that type of bracket you can usually get a reciprocating saw blade into the space between the bracket and joist, and just cut the screws.

 

[sparky 1971]

Looks to me like it's one of the old P.O.S fiberglass bar hangers. Take the screws out, and if it won't fall out, grab it with a pair of pliers and start breaking it into pieces. Then just reach through the hole with a screwdriver and pry the bars off of the joist, they are probably held on by a cable staple at each end. Then put a fan bar hanger in like what's posted in #6. If there's an attic above be prepared to be covered in insulation.

 

[BrandonV]

I used my own 10s to mount.

Always. I always use either the hardware that came with the box or quality known hardware.

You should see some of these fans that ship with junk screws that are metric.

 

[dscheidt]

Also, remember, you can attach the fan directly to structure, and just use the box for electrical connections. That's sometimes easier if there's a joist right next to the box. Good quality fans come with a bracket to mount this way, but you can buy one, if needed.

 

[mm08822]

Also, remember, you can attach the fan directly to structure, and just use the box for electrical connections. That's sometimes easier if there's a joist right next to the box. Good quality fans come with a bracket to mount this way, but you can buy one, if needed.

I use either of these if there happened to be a pancake box there first. PIA sometimes as you might have to go into the attic to free up the cable when the joists is blocking the 4" opening.


This style I don't care for as it tends to walk while anchoring....I suppose I could use an awl first but meh.

 

[dscheidt]

I use either of these if there happened to be a pancake box there first. PIA sometimes as you might have to go into the attic to free up the cable when the joists is blocking the 4" opening.


This style I don't care for as it tends to walk while anchoring....I suppose I could use an awl first but meh.

I meant a bracket not unlike this one. It screws to structure, you mount the fan to that, make the electical connections in the existing box, and the whole lot gets covered by the fan canopy. might mean the fan moves a couple inches over, but that's rarely a big deal, and canopies are usually designed for some offset . The Casablanca fans I put up in my house came with brackets like this, as well as a couple 4" long GRK-style screws to install them with.

 

[whateg01]

Always. I always use either the hardware that came with the box or quality known hardware.

You should see some of these fans that ship with junk screws that are metric.

What does metric have to do with being junk?

 

[Dagny]

the screws they send are just a little small.

 

[Dagny]

If the fan comes with a decent size base it is often easy to get some hefty size fasteners into structure

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I meant a bracket not unlike this one. It screws to structure, you mount the fan to that, make the electical connections in the existing box, and the whole lot gets covered by the fan canopy. might mean the fan moves a couple inches over, but that's rarely a big deal, and canopies are usually designed for some offset . The Casablanca fans I put up in my house came with brackets like this, as well as a couple 4" long GRK-style screws to install them with.

If you read the directions on those, youll see the directions state to mount that to a properly supported j box, not the structure itself.

And those only work for fans with drop balls.

The type with the escutcheon that clips onto the bracket will not work with that bracket

 

[mm08822]

I meant a bracket not unlike this one. It screws to structure, you mount the fan to that, make the electical connections in the existing box, and the whole lot gets covered by the fan canopy. might mean the fan moves a couple inches over, but that's rarely a big deal, and canopies are usually designed for some offset . The Casablanca fans I put up in my house came with brackets like this, as well as a couple 4" long GRK-style screws to install them with.

I've only seen those mounted to a box or directly and through a box and they are included as part of the fan hardware. The box still has to be secured to the structure. Anything less would be hack per US practices and NEC code. All wiring must be contained within a junction box....= all conductors from the fan and the line side.

Edit: added clarifications in red.

 

[PCustoms]

If you read the directions