314.16(A) & Gangable boxes

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madpenguin

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Quick question for you guys. Being rather inexperienced with regards to all the different boxes available, I'm not sure which ones listed on table 314.16(A) are allowed to be ganged.

If someone has a spare minute or two, could you enlighten me with this? It's confusing to me because they make it a point to explicitly say "masonry box/gang", leading be to believe that those are the only boxes on that table allowed to be ganged.... Why do they specify cubic inches "per gang" for the masonry boxes but nothing else?

Thanks all for your help.
 
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If we knew what FS and FD stands for it might help you under stand it better.
I like the masonary boxes that are not gangable. The ones with the top and bottom lips turned in. So the 6/32 screw is contained in the box. Other wise the screw hits the concrete or mortar.
 
You're reading the table incorrectly. Masonry boxes can be purchased in one gang or multiple gangs. The table is giving you the per gang volume for a given depth. So a 2 gang box would have 2X the volume listed in the table. A 3 gang, 3X the volume listed, etc.
 
infinity said:
You're reading the table incorrectly. Masonry boxes can be purchased in one gang or multiple gangs. The table is giving you the per gang volume for a given depth. So a 2 gang box would have 2X the volume listed in the table. A 3 gang, 3X the volume listed, etc.
Click to expand...

O.k. That makes sense but my original question still stands. Which boxes in that table can be manually ganged together?

Here's why I ask in case anyone is interested. Had a test last night. Got this one wrong. Might be interesting if some people gave their answers:

Code: 
A 3-gang switch box is to be [b]constructed[/b] using metal device (switch) boxes.
The box assembly will contain two three-ways and one dimmer switch.
External connectors will be used on the MC cables entering the box.
Three 12-3 cables plus one 12-2 enter the box assembly. The shallowest
[b]boxes[/b] you can use are _____" deep.

a) 2
b) 3.5
c) 2.75
d) 2.5
e) 2.25

Calculating box fill is easy enough but that "/gang" on the end of the masonry section is very misleading. If you say the entire table is talking about "per gang", then why even bother putting "/gang" on the end of the masonry ones? I find it confusing.... ;)

Thanks guys for your help and knowledge. I appreciate it.
 
madpenguin said:
Which boxes in that table can be manually ganged together?
Click to expand...
The 3" device and 3-3/4" masonry boxes can be bought as gangable.
Code: 
A 3-gang switch box is to be [b]constructed[/b] using metal [b]device[/b] (switch) boxes.
The box assembly will contain two three-ways and one dimmer switch.
External connectors will be used on the MC cables entering the box.
Three 12-3 cables plus one 12-2 enter the box assembly. The shallowest
[b]boxes[/b] you can use are _____" deep.

a) 2
b) 3.5
c) 2.75
d) 2.5
e) 2.25

3+3+3+2+1+2+2+2 = 18 @ #12
18*2.25 = 40.5 min cu in required
40.5 / 3 = 13.5 min cu in each gang required
Standard 3x2x2-3/4" device box = 14 cu in each gang provided.
c).
 
madpenguin said:
Calculating box fill is easy enough but that "/gang" on the end of the masonry section is very misleading. If you say the entire table is talking about "per gang", then why even bother putting "/gang" on the end of the masonry ones? I find it confusing.... ;)

Thanks guys for your help and knowledge. I appreciate it.
Click to expand...

As mentioned previously a masonry box can be bought in a 1 gang, 2 gang, etc. They are not gangable but premade in the desireable sizes. In order to not have to list each size in the table it was easier to add gang.

I agree it is confusing esp. since the standard device boxes can be ganged.
 
Dennis Alwon said:
As mentioned previously a masonry box can be bought in a 1 gang, 2 gang, etc. They are not gangable but premade in the desireable sizes. In order to not have to list each size in the table it was easier to add gang.

I agree it is confusing esp. since the standard device boxes can be ganged.
Click to expand...

Steel City does make gangable masonry boxes. They are the only masonry box my local supplier stocks. They look just like a non-gangable masonry box with the device screw hole inside the box. I think they are flimsy and don't use them.
The Steel City number is GW125G
 
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infinity said:
That question is about device boxes not masonry boxes.
Click to expand...

Your absolutely right and I over looked that part when answering (as well as getting confused by the "masonry/gang" issue). So guess what I picked? It wasn't c..... Oh well..... I could care less about the 2 points it cost me, I just would like to know which boxes can be ganged.

My instructor gave me the lame answer that every electrician should know that. While that may be true, technically, I'm not an electrician, thus the whole reason for 4 years of schooling and work. I'm pretty sure the 100x54 mm's are 'handy boxes' and can't be ganged but I have no idea about the rest.... Well, pretty sure you can't gang the round/octagonal boxes either ;)

Honestly, the whole idea of ganging boxes together sounds rather absurd if you ask me.... If I want a 3 gang box, I'm going to go buy one on my way to work. I'm not going to waste my time slaving boxes together. But.... To each his own I guess.

Thanks guys.
 
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