CANTEX PLASTIC SWITCH BOX

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petegomez

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canton, georgia, cherokee county
we have an electrical inspector that has stated the the nails that come on a three gang non metalic pvc box can not support the box and some other form of support needs to be used to support the weight. I mean we are talking about 3 single pole switches and the three gang plate. What weight is he worried about???
 
I feel your pain, sometimes you cannot overcome stupid. Was this person ever an electrician?

Welcome to the forum. :)
 
petegomez said:
we have an electrical inspector that has stated the the nails that come on a three gang non metalic pvc box can not support the box and some other form of support needs to be used to support the weight. I mean we are talking about 3 single pole switches and the three gang plate. What weight is he worried about???
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The box is listed for the weight so either go over his head or educate him/her.
 
I guess he has run into the ones with the bar.
This is a extra item the choice of the contractor, it helps to keep the box aligned better when the stud twists or the drywall overcut.

again the choice not the required.
 
I thought I have seen one before. :slaphead:


I think that inspector should be tarred and feathered.
 
petegomez said:
we have an electrical inspector that has stated the the nails that come on a three gang non metalic pvc box can not support the box and some other form of support needs to be used to support the weight. I mean we are talking about 3 single pole switches and the three gang plate. What weight is he worried about???
Click to expand...

Pete your profile says that you are an electrical distributor. Did you have problems directly with the inspector or is this feedback from one of your customers ?
 
Sierrasparky said:
I guess he has run into the ones with the bar.
This is a extra item the choice of the contractor, it helps to keep the box aligned better when the stud twists or the drywall overcut.

again the choice not the required.
Click to expand...

Does anybody have a link, or image of this bar support?
 
Backing behind multi gang boxes is just good electrical work. Yes, the boxes are listed to be installed without any backing . Yes they will wobble, especially since the common nails that come with the blue boxes are almost as bad as the ones that are built into Halo recess six inch fixture cans. I usually use either a GU spreader bar or just cut some 1/2" plywood and mount it stud to stud behind the box using drywall screws to hold it to the studs. Takes hardly any time and ensures the box being held in place at the non supported end by the faceplate. If you haven't seen a multi gang box push into the wall on the non supported end , you haven't been around long enough. Plumbers always support their stuff with backing, are you better than a plumber? Or worse?
 
petegomez said:
we have an electrical inspector that has stated the the nails that come on a three gang non metalic pvc box can not support the box and some other form of support needs to be used to support the weight. I mean we are talking about 3 single pole switches and the three gang plate. What weight is he worried about???
Click to expand...

macmikeman said:
Backing behind multi gang boxes is just good electrical work. Yes, the boxes are listed to be installed without any backing . Yes they will wobble, especially since the common nails that come with the blue boxes are almost as bad as the ones that are built into Halo recess six inch fixture cans. I usually use either a GU spreader bar or just cut some 1/2" plywood and mount it stud to stud behind the box using drywall screws to hold it to the studs. Takes hardly any time and ensures the box being held in place at the non supported end by the faceplate.
Click to expand...

The inspector may have been giving an opinion of what is good practice. He can do that.

If he red tagged a job because a box was supported by nails that's just wrong.
 
This is a P & S 4 gang. The small metal piece sticking out on the right side gets remove and added on the back side so that the box doesn't go back in the wall on the unsupported side

PASSEME03056_WB_1_PE_001.jpg
 
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