Romex electrical boxes

[green.bubbly]

Lets start this project off better than my shop electrical.

Getting ready to start the electrical on my house. I used the double metal boxes and mud rings on the shop with flex cable. Will be using Romex in the house.

So which box, metal or PVC? Give you real world suggestions on box material and size.

 

[BigJohn20]

Lets start this project off better than my shop electrical.

Getting ready to start the electrical on my house. I used the double metal boxes and mud rings on the shop with flex cable. Will be using Romex in the house.

So which box, metal or PVC? Give you real world suggestions on box material and size.

Arlington One-Box, Smart Box, or equivalent.

There's no reason to give yourself extra work by using metal boxes. Metal boxes require a clamp connector, pigtail for grounding the box, and a mud ring.

Using a product like the One-Box or Smart Box, you never have to worry about a mud ring, or tile, or anything else. The boxes are fully depth-adjustable even after the drywall/tile goes in.

Another nice thing about the Smart Box/One-Box is 10 years down the road when you want to tap into an existing receptacle for a new one, they're so damn easy to take out of the wall and add in a new line. You unzip the screws and can pull the box clean out of the wall. You won't need a sawzall or multitool to cut the screws/nails mounting the box to the stud or mess around with the existing box.

Here's some links:

http://www.smartboxinc.com/smartboxes.php

http://www.aifittings.com/catalog/fan-specialty-boxes/one-box-non-metallic-outlet-boxes/

 

[AussieDan]

Those boxes look great BigJohn20! I'm a huge fan of the Arlington InBox for exterior weatherproof-in-use installations, will have to check out the OneBox.

 

[BigJohn20]

Those boxes look great BigJohn20! I'm a huge fan of the Arlington InBox for exterior weatherproof-in-use installations, will have to check out the OneBox.

The InBox is awesome. I greatly dislike bubble covers, and throwing in a horizontal InBox is such a better option for exterior receptacles.

The only downside to the OneBox/Smart Box type products is that they're considerably more expensive, which adds up on large jobs. Compare to $1.50+ for the Smart Box/OneBox vs. < $0.30 a box for your standard Carlon Blue or P&S nail-ons.

 

[Steevo]

Those smart boxes are nice. I can recall at least a dozen times when having those would have saved me a LOT of work.

 

[BigJohn20]

Also, Allied Products makes an even niftier version of the One-Box/Smart Box:

http://www.alliedmoulded.com/index....gory/template/products_sub_res/categoryid/222

 

[mtne]

Those are cool, I've never seen them before.

Now for a whole house full of boxes, I'll stick to nailers that cost a quarter. If in 10 years I change my mind where I wanted something inside the house I'll deal with the challenges then. Meanwhile I'll just add extra stuff where I think it could be used and still spend less then the extra buck a box would cost.

 

[Teken]

Also, Allied Products makes an even niftier version of the One-Box/Smart Box:

http://www.alliedmoulded.com/index....gory/template/products_sub_res/categoryid/222

Where were you with this information 2 years ago when I needed this?? This is a most excellent product, much thanks for sharing!

 

[Zeke]

Cheap blue boxes are fine for switches but the pulling force of plugs on new receptacles flexes the box. Metal was better for me until I saw these rigid plastic boxes. Still, a lot of electricians like a 4S metal box with a single ring for all the space it allows. Deep boxes for 2 gang where there is space. I've had my fill (pardon the pun) of cramming a GFCI into a 2 gang box with another circuit present and allowable in wire count. It is a PITA every time.

 

[BigJohn20]

Cheap blue boxes are fine for switches but the pulling force of plugs on new receptacles flexes the box. Metal was better for me until I saw these rigid plastic boxes. Still, a lot of electricians like a 4S metal box with a single ring for all the space it allows. Deep boxes for 2 gang where there is space. I've had my fill (pardon the pun) of cramming a GFCI into a 2 gang box with another circuit present and allowable in wire count. It is a PITA every time.

One of the things that Leviton did that was far overdue was come out with their "slim-line" GFCIs. The smaller footprint is much appreciated.

Also, something that manufacturers have come out with to combat the 4S + Mudring (besides having a plastic 4S + Ring) are products including the Carlon RD-30R:

 

[green.bubbly]

Oh my, those slider boxes are sweet! Kind of expensive but I think I will get some for my kitchen as we do not know if we will install ceramic tile on the walls or not. This is a perfect solution.


Thanks for the input.

 

[Adrien]

Those slider boxes are awesome.

Adrien

 

[ishiboo]

I either use an old work box for a 4-space, or if its a new install put a couple 2x4 leftovers on the opposite side so its supported both places.

For loose boxes, which my current house had a bunch, I use orange closed cell foam in the gap which tightens them up quite a bit. Just have to use a little bit or you'll bend the box and/or wall

If an outlet is going to get a lot of abuse, I also sometimes foam the box in between the box and the wall behind it. I never foam the wires in or anything.