Locks for J-Box

[dw1]

I need to come up with some way to put a lock (or 2) on a 12x12x8 PVC J box, Supply house was no help. I did a swing by for my sister in laws beach house, 700 miles away. This was for the security/ camera guy. He liked my set up but said the box needs to have a lock on it, I wish I new that before I fabbed this up, anyway, we are headed back down there in a few weeks and she wants to know if I can put locks on it. A hasp and pad lock would be out of the question, its on the beach, so would need to be weather stable, other than a desk/cabinet lock, I have not come up with much yet, anyone ever put locks on something like this?? Thks!

The box has 8 or 10 screws on the cover!

 

[malibu101]

Tamperproof screws to replace the cover screws???

 

[dw1]

Thanks, good idea. I will see what I can come up with.

 

[Falcon67]

Tamperproof screws to replace the cover screws???

Also my first thought. Tamper proof or safety screws

 

[awdblazer]

i forgot who made them maybe hoffman but they have a hinged cover and to hasps to close it and you punch out a hole and stuff a lock in

 

[tonyprovo723]

NEMA 3R box should have a lock hasp no? What type of riff-raff you looking to keep out? Can you put a bar across the front? Any pics of the current install?

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[dw1]

NEMA 3R box should have a lock hasp no? What type of riff-raff you looking to keep out? Can you put a bar across the front? Any pics of the current install?

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Well...... since you asked... sister in law built beach house. In comes security/camera guy. Personally I think he left a few wires/cables out, but this is not my rodeo. I build a box with all items he wanted. I install and though all was fine, he came unglued because no lock on box, he did not specify what exactly he wanted. Now he wants a lock(s) on box. Not sure why, a pair of side cutters will reach enough to cut most cameras out. This is a high dollar neighborhood, but they are not there all the time. We are going back down in a few weeks and she asked if I could lock the box. I think I will try the tamper proof screws, that all to throw him for a loop if he tries to get in. I am 700 miles away.

 

[Norcal]

The only problem w/ "tamper proof" screws is, the bits to remove them can be bought cheap at Harbor Freight. (Not slamming HF. ) The screws should be better then nothing though.

 

[dw1]

The only problem w/ "tamper proof" screws is, the bits to remove them can be bought cheap at Harbor Freight. (Not slamming HF. ) The screws should be better then nothing though.

Hell, if I was going to defeat the system, I would start cutting camera wires before I took all the cover screws out of the j-box. I just didnt want some gaudy looking lock (hasp) on this box. Sister in a law is more concerned about it now, but its another trip down south to the beach, wife is happy!!

 

[Orionrising]

Install a big switch in the box cover and labor it security system power. Connect said switch to alarm horn.

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[homebuilt burner]

Since everything is wired, can you purchase a larger box with appropriate locking mechanism and cut the back out of it and place it over the current one? Also, maybe a large strap over it but instead of a padlock use a seal similar to on an electric meter (that would secure and throw off intruders)?

 

[tab2]

Since everything is wired, can you purchase a larger box with appropriate locking mechanism and cut the back out of it and place it over the current one? Also, maybe a large strap over it but instead of a padlock use a seal similar to on an electric meter (that would secure and throw off intruders)?

Like a gutted disconnect that you could lock out easily

 

[matt_i]

NEMA 3R box should have a lock hasp no? What type of riff-raff you looking to keep out? Can you put a bar across the front? Any pics of the current install?

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I read beach house, so that means salt spray, anything not SS is going to rust in short order...

I like the idea of a stainless steel 304 or better 316 flat bar. You could drill out one of the cover screws for a thru-hole and place the small lock hasps there.

Padlocks are notoriously easy to defeat and my impression of thieves is a lower intelligence not trying to go online with a laptop and defeat your security system Rather fast brutal smash pry, the advanced guys have drills and grinders....

 

[SALIV8]

It's pvc.

Wouldn't a hammer easily break the plastic?

I think the locks wouldnt even help and draws attention

 

[bczygan]

Best solution is to install a fake system for thieves to smash/disable.

And then a totally hidden and invisible, but working system.

Is your aim to catch in the act or preserve evidence for later?

Bill

Think like a thief.

They've got a security system. They must have something valuable. I'll have to hit fast with a disguise. Smash and grab and have a getaway plan.

 

[rlitman]

It's pvc.

Wouldn't a hammer easily break the plastic?

I think the locks wouldnt even help and draws attention

That's what I'm thinking. If she has an alarm system, just have a contact switch put behind the box cover, and attach it to a "tamper" circuit.

 

[dw1]

This house is on the beach, they just built it last fall. A camera/security system was installed during construction but she wants to add more outdoor cameras. I built the box for the camera guy, he called and told me exactly what he wanted (Now he suggested that the box needs to be locked)??
It looks like it will get stainless/tamper proof screws The 12x12 box was the smallest I could incorporate what he wanted inside it. I am trying to keep this as small and out of the way as possible and still look somewhat ok or out of sight, out of mind. I think anything bigger and I will get some complaints from her. This will be our 3rd trip down there since May, my wife is happy!!
This whole system could be defeated with or without any lock on this box. They have not had any issues down there yet that I know of. I think she scheduled the camera guy to come by while we are there, I just didn't want to get in the middle of anything, I live 700 miles from it.

 

[rlitman]

... A hasp and pad lock would be out of the question, its on the beach, so would need to be weather stable...

When I had a cabinet in a chemical lab, we used ALL brass padlocks. We had locks that looked just like a laminated steel Master padlock, but the laminations and even the hasp were all brass. Looks like they still make them:
http://www.masterlock.com/business-use/product/2KAB
http://www.masterlock.com/business-use/product/2KABLF
http://www.masterlock.com/business-use/product/4KAB
http://www.masterlock.com/business-use/product/4KABLF

These are made specifically for marine corrosive environments.

Nowadays, there are a good number of quality stainless products that would probably be ok too.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Wilson Bohannan makes solid brass locks, I highly recommend them.
www.padlocks.com

 

[Muzzy]

Reasonably sure Hoffman sells a junction box padlock kit that will mount to your existing box.

 

[manwithtools]

You describe this as a screw cover box. You will need a minimum of two hasps (or padlock kits) and padlocks to make it secure. A strap that spans the entire cover would be a possibility as well.

A single hasp would just slow them down, they could just take out all the cover screws and the cover would then be easily removed.

 

[awdblazer]

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mGLsIHJy_U2qfx5Z1JZJsTQ.jpg
http://www.kele.com/Catalog/06 Enclosures/Web Images/NEMA12.jpg

 

[dw1]

So I went to supply house today, I had asked what size screws were in the J Box in got from them and installed, told them I was going to put tamper proof screws in there to replace the brass ones, he checked, called me back later, the supplier stated that if I alter the box, it cancels the listing and all warranties, I just wanted to know the screw size.....1/4x20 yay!!
Now the security/camera guy calls me this morning (I'm 700 + miles away) now he has several Cat 5 cables that are bad and wants to re-route and re-do some more wiring to make his job easier.
He wants to put in a "Nano switch" but it has to be fed out of a certain panel (Panel 1 inside the house) this I will have to check out? This is turning into the free job from He?$, ole well......