why did they replaced metal outlet boxes with plastic Metal electrical boxes were used long before plastic (PVC) electrical boxes were introduced. Strong, fireproof, and incapable of melting, metal boxes offer the greatest level of . Buy precision turned parts in bulk online from 77 verified wholesale precision turned parts suppliers, manufacturers (OEM, ODM & OBM), distributors, and factory lists on Global Sources.
0 · why plastic electrical boxes
1 · replace electrical boxes with plastic
2 · plastic vs metal electrical boxes
3 · plastic junction boxes vs metal
4 · plastic electrical box problems
5 · plastic boxes vs metal
6 · metal electrical box problems
7 · electrical box vs plastic box
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why plastic electrical boxes
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replace electrical boxes with plastic
Although these junction boxes are a convenient place to protect the wiring system, they will require the appropriate cover to help keep everything in working order. Suppose you are a home or property owner searching for the best electrical box cover. In that case, you likely already know there are loads of . See moreAn electrical box should be able to withstand harsh or unusual conditions to ensure the safety of the electrical equipment as well as anyone who accesses the box. . See more Homeowners can replace their metal electrical box with plastic if non-metallic cables come in and out of the box. However, the downside of plastic electrical boxes is that they .
Metal electrical boxes were used long before plastic (PVC) electrical boxes were introduced. Strong, fireproof, and incapable of melting, metal boxes offer the greatest level of .If you’re wondering if it’s beneficial to replace your metal electrical box with a plastic one, the answer is yes! Here are some reasons why: Plastic electrical boxes are cheaper than metal ones. Replace metal electrical box with plastic. My unfinished basement only has outlets on the ceiling. For convenience I'm adding a wall outlet, running it from one of the ceiling .
If you intend to leave the basement unfinished with the wiring exposed, I'd be using MC cable, drawn metal boxes, and ensuring the boxes are grounded with a grounding screw. If you . Metal boxes are better when you need the strength and volume to make up a ton of wires. The blank covers fit better than a plastic box. The holes are easily used by adding a romex connector of the right size. I use plastic .
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You will find that a plastic consumer unit installed to 16th edition (10-15 years old) may look new, but actually require a few upgrades to gain a satisfactory outcome on a EICR. Common items are RCD protection missing . In your old metal box it should be connected to the box (your green circle) AND to the outlet. In your new plastic box it would not be connected to the box. You have two ground wires entering the box. Metal Electrical Boxes. Metal electrical boxes have been in use for a long time and offer distinct advantages over their plastic counterparts. Here are some reasons to consider using metal boxes: Superior Strength and .But you've blocked the hole entirely, so you're pretty much going to have to replace the box. Replacing the box isn't hard, it's just a pain in the ass if you don't have enough slack on the Romex to pull it out of the integrated cable .
The non metallic boxes are deeper and have up to about 23 cubic inches. They are more accommodating for deep devices like gfis, dimmers, and smart switchers (although a deep 4 square bracket box with a mud ring is very accommodating as well, but costs 5x what a deep plastic nail on costs) . Once the boxes became non-conductive, the devices that REQUIRED grounding needed to have grounding screws. When I started as an electrician in the mid 70s, the code stated that for metallic boxes, you had to . I've hunted online and it seems "they" don't seem to make any metal outlet boxes (other than going 2 gang with one of those single cover plates over it, but I have to check the width of the metal plate) that are as wide as the Carlon/blue/plastic boxes.
If you don't connect to the plug then there is no grounding to whatever you plug in. The ground prong on the devices connects to that internally. With light switches you are allowed since the metal of the switch touches the metal of the junction box. If a plastic junction box, then you need to connect to the ground prong of the switch
I agree 100 percent. Metal boxes are better in almost every aspect besides resistance to corrosion and they're not conductive. Plastic boxes come in so many different variations and break easily especially if I'm trying to cram a bunch of wires with a super thick gfci into a single gang.
No they're not. They're only expensive at big-box stores lol. I don't pay anywhere near a box. But I didn't come here to disabuse you of your beliefs about shopping. They're my mainstay box, I use them all over the place, mostly for junctions and 2-gang outlets and like I say, they work great with GFCIs. Where I'm feeding them from 2 .
Thanks for all the detail! I'll take the outlets out and examine the boxes more closely over the next couple days and post back here. I'm not opposed to replacing the boxes - the one is reachable from inside as previously shown, and the other might have an interior outlet/box directly opposite and possibly access from a crawlspace.
That's why they give you a bunch of "GFCI Protected" and "No Equipment Ground" stickers in the box, those are for the downline outlets! In fact, the way most people wire the GFCI when they're not paying attention, ends up protecting all the downline outlets even though they don't intend that. Hilarity often ensues.It works better for wood, but I've used it in plastic in a pinch. You might want to apply some superglue to the toothpick before inserting it in the hole. The other option is to cut the box out entirely and replace it with an "old work" box, but that might require some drywall repair as the current box is likely nailed into the stud.The boxes are shallow and have to be replaced in order to be able to install new receptacles. Problem is, I can't find any electrical boxes that would work. Ideally, it would be 1.5" deep, made of plastic, no cutout lines or designs on boyd, and the box is perfectly rectangular and sides flat. So far, all the plastic boxes I've found are pretty .The screws must’ve been loose enough to touch the metal outlet box. Sparks flew, but then I noticed this and wondering if that’s a thing. . I’ve replaced outlets before but it never looked like that. I’m sure I could’ve figured out the right way to do it but just ended up hiring an electrician, felt like it wasn’t worth the time .
Fortunately, all the runs back to the fuse box were fairly short. Back in the days when it was built it was assumed that all the neutrals would be connected to a ground bus in the box. So we made sure they were bonded and attached to a utility company-provided ground rod. We had to replace all the receptacles with 3-prong outlets.
Yes, you can use a plastic back box in wall, but you should only do so if it is the correct and safe option for your particular project. Before making the decision to use a plastic back box in the wall, it is important to consider the full scope of the project, such as the specific wall material, wiring requirements, and other project-specific variables.Plastic is cheaper and probably more easier to work with (don’t need to ground the box), but it flexes more - if it’s for myself I’d probably use the metal and make sure it gets solidly mounted so that it doesn’t flex when you insert/unplug cables - but also like others have said, use single or double gang boxes, not these octagon boxes You cannot use metal covers on plastic boxes unless the cover is bonded in some fashion. Some of the round plastic boxes will have a ground screw connected to a metal sleeve for one of the screw mounting holes for this reason. They do make round plastic covers. _____
Why would I choose a large 4x4x2.5 metal box (this is what my brain tells me to use) vs plastic box. The plastic looks like they are all designed for installing switches or outlets and not covers but they are larger and cheaper. .The box is supposed to be tied to ground so that if there is a miswire and something touches the box then it will short to ground and trip the breaker, cutting the power and making everything safe again.. The wires in the box should be properly insulated as well, this keeps them from touching things they aren't supposed to and keeps the electricity only in the wires that it is supposed to .
Unfortunately I didn't realize that these outlets come with a self grounding clip. almost all the boxes in my house are metal but I don't know if any of them are grounded correctly if any. My question is this: is it safe to use self grounding outlets in a questionably or un-grounded metal box or do I need to find some GFCI outlets that are not .
The statement: “You should replace the metal electrical box with plastic if there are non-metallic (NM) cables leading in or out of the box, as plastic does not conduct electricity like metal does. However, it is important to note that plastic boxes should not be used with metal-sheathed wiring, as this type of wiring relies on bonding with .
Plastic boxes were fairly new in 1986. I used metal boxes on outside block walls. So have had no issues with them. I purchased a Old Work box and cut the nails with a hacksaw blade. Replace the box with a Old Work box. It came out fine but was a real pain in the butt. Surely a easier way to repair a plastic box then replacing it. Larry
They are very flexible and really suck if you have need for a double or triple gang box for 2 or 3 or more switches/outlets. Constant plugging/unplugging makes them very loose. And for multiple gang boxes, the further the outlet or switch is from the stud, the more flexy and out of alignment the switch/outlet is.If you get a metal box, make sure you get either some grounding pigtails, or make your own with grounding screws and a spare piece of bare romex. This should be screwed into the junction box, and pigtailed in with the rest of the grounds in the box. With a metal box, you'll also need some romex clamps to lock the wire into the box.Metal outlet covers may be used on outlets installed in metal boxes which are properly grounded and on outlets installed in plastic boxes, when the Outlet is properly grounded and the Outlet cover is secured with a metal screw securing the cover to the Grounded Outlet Strap. . Replaced flickering T12 lights and this is what the new ones look like
They are in-wall but facing the exterior of the home. Attached to them are brackets by which the post-mounted lamps next to the door are attached. So my real question here is: are metal outlet boxes required for in-wall, externally facing use? Can I use the blue plastic ones? Also. any concerns about mounting the lamp on a plastic outlet box? Is it beneficial to replace the metal electric box with plastic? Metal boxes were the standard in the market before the advent of plastic electrical boxes. However, with the introduction of inexpensive and easy to work with plastic electrical boxes, several homeowners wonder whether they should replace their old metal electric boxes with . Electrical - AC & DC - Plastic cover on a metal surface mount box - In my garage (which is essentially just an extension of my basement) I have a switch and an outlet in a surface mount box with an exposed work cover. I would like to change the switch to an occupancy sensor switch, but the GFCI and outlet exposed
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why did they replaced metal outlet boxes with plastic|why plastic electrical boxes