NM Box Supply Issues

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Bama_Electrical

Senior Member
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Electrician
I am running into supply issues for my electrical boxes. That being said, what kind do y’all use or like the most for residential. May change brands.
 
electrofelon said:
Allied moulded by far. Actually the pandemic has seemed to push big box into stocking these finally which is a good thing. Nothing ruins my day more than having to use carlon blue crappy boxes.
Click to expand...
Pandemic kind of pushed me into using whatever I can get at times and just forget about what I might prefer.

When nobody had any 1 gang plastic boxes at all a little over a year ago, I found there were some available on Home Depot site, I was pleased to get something even though I don't especially care for the Carlon blue boxes in general so I ordered 1 case of 100. Somebody at the warehouse read the ticket wrong and shipped me "one box". I was charged for a case of 100.

When I called customer service to discuss this it was no problem, they even noticed the shipping weight of what was sent was not enough to be what I was charged for to help confirm they were wrong with the order. However when rep was going to put in replacement order to make it right, "we have a problem - the online orders warehouse no longer has any in stock":(
 
Allied Moulded fiberglass
For me, it's not even "by far" I will use nothing else unless it's a special application (such as the horizontal boxes that get screwed in from inside

I have run into some issues with various items. Seems 15 places have no 2-gang boxes and no round nail-ons. Another 10 places have no 3 gangs or 4 gangs. Another 10 have no single gangs.

I just scour every supply avenue I can to come up with what I think I'll need, well ahead of time. Every time I'm inside any place that sells them, I see what's available. And I'll buy some.

Google the model numbers of what you want.
Keep in mind there are 2 different depths of multi-gangs and at least 3 depths of singles - all affecting the cu. in.

They cost more, but they save so much time
 
electrofelon said:
Allied moulded by far. Actually the pandemic has seemed to push big box into stocking these finally which is a good thing. Nothing ruins my day more than having to use carlon blue crappy boxes.
Click to expand...
In KC, fiberglass is for sure the pro choice and that makes a difference.

No supply house I know of stocks Carlon. A few stock P&S Slater boxes. Home Depot here has stocked fiber boxes for the whole 25 or 30 years they've been in town.
 
James L said:
In KC, fiberglass is for sure the pro choice and that makes a difference.

No supply house I know of stocks Carlon. A few stock P&S Slater boxes. Home Depot here has stocked fiber boxes for the whole 25 or 30 years they've been in town.
Click to expand...
Yeah I work in central NY and Seattle area, and haven't seen allied boxes at any big box in those areas until recently. I know big blue and orange do have different stock by regions
 
James L said:
In KC, fiberglass is for sure the pro choice and that makes a difference.

No supply house I know of stocks Carlon. A few stock P&S Slater boxes. Home Depot here has stocked fiber boxes for the whole 25 or 30 years they've been in town.
Click to expand...
why is fiberglass the pro choice. i have not used them are they new ?
 
electrofelon said:
They are not all mushy and flexi and they have tapped holes which is as pleasurable as a milkshake! 🥤
Click to expand...
Yes, they hold their shape. And they aren't spongy.

Another really big one for me is the clamps.

The blue boxes have clamps that guide the cable up or down, into the back corner. That brings 2 difficulties -

first, trying to get the wire to come forward without destroying its clamp-ability

Second, I like my makeup (wire nuts) behind everything else, in the back. The blue boxes force all the makeup in front of the cable sheathing. It's just not as clean.

In the other hand, fiber boxes guide the cable toward the front and out. Easy Peasy and makes for clean makeup
 
James L said:
Allied Moulded fiberglass
For me, it's not even "by far" I will use nothing else unless it's a special application (such as the horizontal boxes that get screwed in from inside

I have run into some issues with various items. Seems 15 places have no 2-gang boxes and no round nail-ons. Another 10 places have no 3 gangs or 4 gangs. Another 10 have no single gangs.

I just scour every supply avenue I can to come up with what I think I'll need, well ahead of time. Every time I'm inside any place that sells them, I see what's available. And I'll buy some.

Google the model numbers of what you want.
Keep in mind there are 2 different depths of multi-gangs and at least 3 depths of singles - all affecting the cu. in.

They cost more, but they save so much time
Click to expand...
Allied moulded 24 cu in . sg box will hold 3 # 12 and a device
 
acin said:
3 1/2 inch deep , 24 cu in stamped inside
Click to expand...
I thought I'd heard of that.
Do you know the part number?
I know the 1096, 1098 and 1099

I like the 1098 for #14 and the 1099 for #12
But my last 3 rough-ins I've used 1096 for #14 receptacles because of supply issues
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top