Arc Shields or Add a Depth Rings

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JOHNEO99

JOHNEO99

Senior Member
Location
Northern Illinois
Hello

Anyone ever use Arc Shields or Add a Depth rings when a drywall ring is too far back from the finished wall?

I am looking for a good product to use. I have used RACO add a depth rings (6 years ago) and didnt like them. Anyone know of a comprable product?

Thanks

John
 
Arlington makes a great "arc shield." I think they call it a "box extender". They make them in 1 gang and 2 gang. For 3 gang you combine the 2.
 
IMO if it is an all metal wiring method job the plastic Arlington's are not acceptable.

We use the Raco steel extenders.

If it is a NM job with plastic boxes I would defiantly use the Arlington ones
 
iwire said:
IMO if it is an all metal wiring method job the plastic Arlington's are not acceptable.
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Bob, I know it's only your opinion but if you're using self grounding devices doesn't the screw effectively bond the device to the metal box ?

There's also another product called a "box gadget". It is made in a 1 and 2 gang versions and various thicknesses from 1/4" to 3/4" and they are stackable. If I can find a link I'll post it here.

Phil

Found it :

http://www.receptxtenders.com/
 
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goldstar said:
Bob, I know it's only your opinion but if you're using self grounding devices doesn't the screw effectively bond the device to the metal box ?
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Phil that was not what I was thinking as we always pigtail the grounding conductor onto receptacles even though they are self grounding.

If the building is of a type that requires non-combustible wiring methods IMO using a plastic box extender is a violation.

I would say that would be like using a plastic plaster ring on a metal 4" square box.
 
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goldstar said:
Found it :

http://www.receptxtenders.com/
Click to expand...

I followed your link, I still feel these may be a code violation depending on the buildings construction type.

I notice they say they are UL listed, but they don't say what they are listed for. I don't have time to look these up at UL right now.

They say they 'work with metal boxes' but they do not say they are listed for metal boxes.

But regardless of the listing just because something is UL listed does not mean for all uses.

A plastic device box is UL listed, I still can not use them in some building types.
 
Bob, I understand what you're saying with respect to building construction. However, I don't believe that an arc flash shield has to be metal even in your scenario. The sheetrock is more combustable than the plastic extender is. The plastic shield and the box gadgets also serve another purpose. They give the device a means of stability when installed properly. From what I remember, I don't believe the metal shields offer that feature and I believe they present a more dangerous situation in the way of possible short-circuiting.
 
mdshunk said:
Yep, I typically use the Arlington BE-1. They're pretty nice, non-metallic, and the price point is great.
http://www.aifittings.com/m_9.htm
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Carlon makes one as well, p/n B1EXTB.

B1EXTB.JPG
 
Mike03a3 said:
Carlon makes one as well, p/n B1EXTB.

B1EXTB.JPG
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Isn`t that a LV cut in ring???? I seem to remember that this came up awhile ago and they were used for cable/phones etc and not as box extenders.I personally like the arllingtom plastic spark guards,easier to use no taping required and our inspectors don`t have a problem with them even in a emt roughed install
 
Mike03a3 said:
Carlon makes one as well, p/n B1EXTB.

B1EXTB.JPG
Click to expand...

Isn`t that a LV cut in ring???? I seem to remember that this came up awhile ago and they were used for cable/phones etc and not as box extenders.I personally like the arllingtom plastic spark guards,easier to use no taping required and our inspectors don`t have a problem with them even in a emt roughed install. BTW the plastic arlingtons can even be used with a gfci device without a problem.Lets see what you have to do to use the all metal type.#1 tape the heck out of the device,#2 struggle to fit it in the p ring.#3 pull the hair out of your head when the screws refuse to line up :) Arlington plastic extenders are the way to go
 
goldstar said:
Bob, I understand what you're saying with respect to building construction. However, I don't believe that an arc flash shield has to be metal even in your scenario.
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We will have to agree to disagree.
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I can't see why using that plastic extender would be any different than using a plastic raised ring on a metal box.

The sheetrock is more combustable than the plastic extender is.
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I have no idea how you figure that.

Would you use a plastic old work in a Fire rated wall?
 
allenwayne said:
Isn`t that a LV cut in ring???? I seem to remember that this came up awhile ago and they were used for cable/phones etc and not as box extenders.I personally like the arllingtom plastic spark guards,easier to use no taping required and our inspectors don`t have a problem with them even in a emt roughed install
Click to expand...

No, it's a box extender. The front portion probably used the same tooling as an old work box (and maybe their LV ring as well), but this is deeper than their LV ring (which is also orange, IIRC).

The two screws are the long replacement device screws, similar to the ones Arlington includes. Functionally, it's the same as an Arlington. The advantage both offer over the hard spacer rings is that they slide inside a box, so one size can be used over a wide range of depth adjustment. This particular one is also scored so you can break out a side and multi gang it.

Wait, I found a pic of the LV ring:

SC100R.jpg
 
j_erickson said:
Sheetrock is not combustible.
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Sorry. Both Bob and I used the wrong word here. I believe the word we meant to use was flammable.

Bob, we've gone from using plastic arc flash extenders to using plastic boxes inside fire rated walls. Maybe I'm not understanding your scenario correctly but I can't understand why you believe you can't use a plastic arc flash extender to make up a half inch of space between the face of the sheetrock and the face of a metal 1-gang gem box. You've pig-tailed all your wires, the EGC is bonded to the back of the metal box so grounding is not an issue. BTW, plastic nail-on boxes do have a fire rating (not as high as metal but thay are rated).

iwire said:
I can't see why using that plastic extender would be any different than using a plastic raised ring on a metal box.
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There is a difference. If you use a plastic 1-gang mud ring on a metal 1900 box, when you attach the device to the mud ring there is no metallic attachment between the strap and the metal box. You're screwing into plastic. In the case of the arc flash extender you're screwing through the holes in the plastic extension collar and into metal.
 
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Mike03a3 said:
No, it's a box extender. The front portion probably used the same tooling as an old work box (and maybe their LV ring as well), but this is deeper than their LV ring (which is also orange, IIRC).

The two screws are the long replacement device screws, similar to the ones Arlington includes. Functionally, it's the same as an Arlington. The advantage both offer over the hard spacer rings is that they slide inside a box, so one size can be used over a wide range of depth adjustment. This particular one is also scored so you can break out a side and multi gang it.

Wait, I found a pic of the LV ring:

SC100R.jpg
Click to expand...

I do see the diffence one has drywall wings and one doesn`t and the color is different.I like the arligtons though.tapered bottoms easy to manipulate when multi ganging.very flexible not stiff.Guess that`s my opinion though.
 
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