Convert for pull box

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stevenj

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Converting Enclouser.


Im wondering if I can convert a metallic Squard D switch enclosure 3R to a pull box. I looked up 314.40 A-D in the 2002 NEC and found what is should be made of etc.. but not converting a box to a pull box. I never converted one before, never had to. I just buy them off the shelf. The situation is I'm working on house that the phone lines have been cut before , catv lines etc. anything that has to do with cutting off communications for an alarm system . I checked my supplier and they don?t have any hinged type outdoor pull box enclosures, just screwed on faces for the 3R.. which anyone can screw off. So I looked in my truck and found these Squard-D box with a hinge that can be locked; it?s for an AC disconnect. It would make and excellent pull box. I don?t want to use an LB , because that also can be screwed off.
The box I have is 7"h x 5"w 3"deep. I would have to punch some hole through the back. I took the guts out of it. now it?s just a plain box with knock outs and ground bar which I can use to bond the boxes. This will be going from a detached garage to the main house. of course this will have to be inspected since I pulled the permits.

Any thoughts on this, any one done it.
 
I can not think of any reason why not. If you think about it, every box can be used as a pull box, unless cutting and/or splicing of the cables or conductors passing through it is a requirement.
 
Steve,
If you are going to try an lock the enclosure with a lock in the little cover tab, do you really think that will make any difference? The same tools used to cut the wires could be used to cut the lock tab off and then cut the the wires. A screw cover box with a couple of lock hasps may work better. They would take good bolt cutter or hacksaw to open. Is there any way to run the wires in rigid and make the terminations inside of the building?
Don
 
As Don and Jim pointed out, there doesn't seem to be much of a point. Is this simply vandalism or is someone trying to circumvent the central station communications?

Yes, the Square D box will work fine and be more difficult to defeat. If there is large amounts of jewelry or cash, pros may be involved. In which case axes have been used to defeat rigid pipe and the best defense is just don't be anywhere around!
 
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don_resqcapt19 said:
Steve,
If you are going to try an lock the enclosure with a lock in the little cover tab, do you really think that will make any difference? The same tools used to cut the wires could be used to cut the lock tab off and then cut the the wires. A screw cover box with a couple of lock hasps may work better. They would take good bolt cutter or hacksaw to open. Is there any way to run the wires in rigid and make the terminations inside of the building?
Don
Click to expand...

All a lock does is keep honest people honest :).If someone wants in there is almost nothing you can install,short of a time locked fort knox door that will keep them out.Use it and forget it.
 
Lock hasps, thats could be better don. I'll check that out. it seems these people got broken into 3 times. every time they have cut the lines. and every time they call they call an electricain to replace or fix the line again. here's what I think might work from all the suggestions. Im going to put the put a 12 ft riser on the untility pole so they can't be cut at the utility pole, unless they have 12ft ladder too. run it under ground to the garage and keep the conductors below the surface and enter the garage. get rid of the riser on the garage since there climbing up and cutting the lines there at the weather head. that seems like a plan so far, I know i get get below the surface of the garage wall. Now I looked at the house yesterday and was thinking the same thing for the house , going directly below the surface, with rigid. turns out it has a stem wall below that is 7" thick. I guess I have call the building inspector on this. If I can do it great ' I'll break out the SDS drill. if not back to the pull boxes.

I know why they keep getting broken into. big apparmant complex down the road looks like like a rough hood, but the homes are at leat 500K, and 3 blocks away. strang city planning is all I can say. Im going to ask if I can use the garage, feaing my truck might get broken into while im there.

thank for all the help.
 
Of course you could always isolate the box and hook it up to an electric fencer, but you could get in trouble for doing this.
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
... do you really think that will make any difference? The same tools used to cut the wires could be used to cut the lock tab off and then cut the the wires. A screw cover box with a couple of lock hasps may work better ...
Click to expand...
Adding tamper-resistant screws to the enclosure might help too.

There're a lot of bolt cutters in circulation "out there" ... but relatively few security screwdrivers.
 
If I were the homeowner, I would have you put a box in the usual place, but it would be linked to a silent alarm next to my bed. The real alarm circuits would be somewhere else.

Then I would load my 12 Gauge Browning autoloader (chamber and full magazine) with 00 buckshot and keep it by my bed. When they are facing in my direction (don't want to shoot them in the back), I would blow them to kingdom come.

After the DA concludes that no charges will be filed, I would contact the NRA with a first-person report of a homeowner successfully defending his life and property.

Unfortunately, they probably won't let him mount the heads on the wall in his den.
 
There're a lot of bolt cutters in circulation "out there" ... but relatively few security screwdrivers.
Click to expand...
In past years I did a lot of prison work and the inmates had a easy way to make their own security screw drivers that worked on most of the standard security screws.
Don
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
... In past years I did a lot of prison work and the inmates had a easy way to make their own security screw drivers that worked on most of the standard security screws.
Don
Click to expand...
I can only imagine. With nothing but boredom and time on their hands, prisoners can (and have) come up w/ almost anything.

You make a good point, but I still doubt if common neighborhood "hoods" would have one, or invest the money/time to buy/make one. (or maybe I'm just being naive)

No defense is perfect ... but multiple layers tend to make the ne'r-do-wells move on to an easier target.

That said, given the OP's history of this premises, sounds like going UG w/ a cell-connected alarm system would be a wise move.
 
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How about this.Install a box within a box.Then have security people wire a contactor on first box.When they open first box alarm goes off .They run just like the guys on TV.Now ask yourself why you need them to call you and say this is ----- from ------- security.They ran you no longer have problem.
 
stevenj said:
I know why they keep getting broken into. big apparmant complex down the road looks like like a rough hood, but the homes are at leat 500K, and 3 blocks away. strang city planning is all I can say.
Click to expand...

Hey, it's call "mixed income neighborhoods". All the planners in the county Land Use Dep't here think that it's a good thing. 'very trendy. ;)
 
How about, make it look just like it always has looked, as a decoy, then run

everything underground (DEEP) just like you planned and make sure the riser

at the pole is real tuff.

When they come agian and see the same thing they will be "I can't believe

these people just keep fixing this", but not this time, maybe you'll catch them.

Closed circuit camera is always good.
 
Got the Riser up today 12" on the pole ran the telco and catv underground at that point, then continued and kept it all underground when entering the building below grade. they are putting in a wireless connection as a backup. Also got the boxes insalled in the wall garage to house, buliding inspector said no way can I drill through the foundation stem wall . but the garage is ok to do it sits on flat foundation. well so much for that. I was hoping for the below grade install, but oh well , just more hours of fun for me. I think I will wire the boxes with alarms, I like that idea. open it and it wil go off. I asked how many breakin-ins there were on there street, " One about every 2 weeks", get this the people at these aparments 3 blocks away will somtimes sell the stuff they just ripped off at an apartment yard sale, their neighbor told me this today when asking what I was doing. I think she thought I might have been a bugler in disguise as an electrician, really. I was wondering if anyone has bought their items back. funny but scarry.. what a neighborhood this is. the neighbor wants the same done to her house. thanks for the tips, loading up the shot gun in the truck tomarrow. haha..
 
Thiefs will often work harder than if they had a job.Copper thiefs are going wild here.They are breaking off the 3 foot stubs the AC people have on roughs for the outside units.They get $5 worth of copper and make a back charge of maybe 100.I refuse to live in places this bad.Have worked in places where locking truck was a must.
 
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