Deeper resi switch boxes

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Arlington makes a screw-on plastic box that has 22 cubic inches in the single-gang and 41 cubic inches in a two-gang. They are not grey, but black. They also come in three and four gang which are also quite roomy. (They are especially nice if wood is going on the walls because you can adjust them to be flush with the finished surface if they are not quite right.)
 
electriciangirl said:
Arlington makes a screw-on plastic box that has 22 cubic inches in the single-gang and 41 cubic inches in a two-gang. They are not grey, but black. They also come in three and four gang which are also quite roomy. (They are especially nice if wood is going on the walls because you can adjust them to be flush with the finished surface if they are not quite right.)
Click to expand...

Actually, the 2-gang Arlington One-box is 42.1 cu in:

http://www.aifittings.com/whnew78.htm

I have always used the Smartbox because that's what
my usual distributor carries, but the One-box looks pretty
interesting.
 
Is there any reason to choose the Smart Box vs. One Box other than availability? They look pretty darn similar.
 
jdsmith said:
Is there any reason to choose the Smart Box vs. One Box other than availability? They look pretty darn similar.
Click to expand...

Size, and to some degree # of styles, but that is debatable
as the "extra" Smartbox styles (ceiling/fan and low voltage
are also available in other old work styles like support rods
to place fans where wanted or ears for low voltage cut-in
boxes). A quick survey seems to indicate that these are
all pretty much a buck or two each, so price doesn't seem
to be a big differentiator. The Smartbox gray plastic seems
a little more durable to me than the Arlington black plastic,
but that is a purely subjective opinion on the plastic.
Even given that I'd probably go Arlington if availability
were equal (which in my case it isn't, as I know where
to get Smartbox, but not OneBox) On the other hand
you can put 10 x 12 AWG in the large or horizontal single
gang Smartbox.

WRT Size/style:
Smartbox / OneBox
1-G 18.5 cu in / 22 cu in
22.5 cu in
Horiz 22.5 cu in / 22 cu in (horizontal one-gang)
2-G 38.5 cu in / 42.1 cu in
3-G 57 cu in / 62.1 cu in
4-G 74 cu in / 80.5 cu in
LV 1G Yes / No (1 gang low voltage)
LV 2G Yes / No
Fan Box 24 cu in / No
/Ceiling 50 lbs

Voltage divider is available for Arlington OneBox but not
for Smartbox, which is arguably useful if you like to put
power right next to phone/data/tv or other LV.
 
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