3 gang surface switch box...

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1793

1793

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Louisville, Kentucky
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Inspector
Does anyone know, and would like share, if WireMold makes a 3 gang switch box?

I have a situation where I need to surface mount three switches, two 3 ways and one single pole.

Thanks in advance.
 
I am finding a number of three gang wire mold boxes.
WM #V5744-3
WM #V5744s-3
WM #V5747-3
WM #V5748-3

Be carefull with raceway fill. Confirm your quantity of conductors vs the 500/700 wire mold raceway fill. If you need a larger raceway than 500/700, 2100 or more, you will need to look at box that will accept the larger raceway.
 
Wireit said:
I am finding a number of three gang wire mold boxes.
WM #V5744-3
WM #V5744s-3
WM #V5747-3
WM #V5748-3...
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Were these off of the WireMold web-site?

I intend to bring the cables into the back of the switch box.

Oh by-the-way thanks
 
1793 said:
I intend to bring the cables into the back of the switch box.
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Just curious: what is the wall surface that you can't sink a box into? I only ask because I love a challenge.
 
LarryFine said:
Just curious: what is the wall surface that you can't sink a box into? I only ask because I love a challenge.
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An "Interior Designer" has an opening for a Microwave sitting on the counter an the wall space will not allow for the three switches to me installed in the usual way. So her idea is to mount the switch box on the side of the Microwave opening with a smaller than 2-1/2" frame, so I can't use a standard cut-in in box so this is what I have come up with for a solution.
 
I wanted to keep the sides off of the Microwave area of the counter.

Just as you walk into the Kitchen, the counter is on your left. There is a trim around the door, 4" or so. The cabinet side above the Microwave will be extended down to the counter, making a side that faces toward the door. The WireMold box will placed on this face, side, of the cabinet.



The cabinet will butt right up to the trim of the door. The switches will face to the door.
 
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stickboy1375 said:
That is a problem, they do not make a 1 1/2 gangable box...
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Maybe your "they" don't, but this "they" does: http://www.orbitelectric.com/docs/Steel/GB.pdf

If you supply all three switches at this box, you only need six conductors: Hot, four travelers, and one leg.

Six #14 conductors @ 2 cu.in., plus two cu.in. per device, plus one EGC = 19 cu.in. that you need.

Three 7.5 cu.in. gangs = 22.5 cu.in. You're in like Flint. You could use two 14/3's or three 14/2's.
 
JohnConnolly said:
I cant beleve a designer would let wiremold fly.
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I can't believe half the things designers do, moving an entire kitchen 6 feet after the walls have been sheetrocked seems to be the highlight of my week.
 
Kessler4130 said:
I can't believe half the things designers do, ...
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I'm right there with you.

I appreciate all of the posts to this thread. I'll continue to look this over and see what we can come up with.
 
JohnConnolly said:
Sure they do. I have seen much wider boxes than that....5 or 6 gang @ 1 1/2 inches deep.
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You're probably talking about the boxes that look like 4" squares that have been stretched, and require separate rings.

The ones to which I linked are actually gangable switch boxes that don't require rings, which would add to the depth.
 
LarryFine said:
Maybe your "they" don't, but this "they" does: http://www.orbitelectric.com/docs/Steel/GB.pdf

If you supply all three switches at this box, you only need six conductors: Hot, four travelers, and one leg.

Six #14 conductors @ 2 cu.in., plus two cu.in. per device, plus one EGC = 19 cu.in. that you need.

Three 7.5 cu.in. gangs = 22.5 cu.in. You're in like Flint. You could use two 14/3's or three 14/2's.
Click to expand...

If I feed this set of switches I see a box fill problem:

14/2 feed is 3 con. X 2 = 6
14/3 Switch loop w/Neutral is 3 con X 2 = 6
14/3 Switch loop w/Neutral is 3 con X 2 = 6
14/2 Switch to light is 2 con X 2 = 4

Per 314.16(B)(4)
1device @ 2 x 2 = 4
1device @ 2 x 2 = 4
1device @ 2 x 2 = 4


I see this as a total of 34 in3

The three 1-1/2” would only add up to 22.5 in3

What have I missed
 
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1793 said:
What have I missed
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Actually, we both missed a bit.

As I mentioned above, if you supply all three switches in this shallow box, you can use as few as six conductors:

The single hot
The two pairs of travelers
The switch-leg

I goofed because I forgot to count each device as two conductors, instead of 2 cu.in.

The correct count:

The six conductors = 6
The three switches = 6
The EGC's = 1
Total = 13 @ 2" per = 26

So, the 1.5" deep 3-gang box is still a bit too shallow. If we reverse-engineer the box, each gang 1.5"-deep @ 7.5 cu.in., so that means each gang is 5 cu.in. per inch of depth.

If we need 26 cu.in. for the minimal conductor count and three switches, that means we need at least (26 / 3) 8.67 cu.in. per gang, or (1 / 5 * 8.67) 1-3/4" depth.

My link does also show a line of 2"-deep gangable boxes. Norb, do you have that much depth available?
 
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