Electrical outlets in pvc junction boxes

[Mtech74]

Question: Which section of the NEC covers the proper type of enclosure that can house an electrical outlet? Found a handy box installed inside of an 8x8x8 pvc junction box outside of the home. Not sure if this is acceptable.

 

[suemarkp]

Code doesn't work that way. Generally, it tells you what you can't do. Sometimes it reiterates what you can do (e.g. uses permitted). I've seen device boxes in larger outside enclosures many times. If there is a section that prohibits that, I don't know what it is. That receptacle probably needs to be GFCI protected though.

 

[retirede]

It could be argued that the in-use cover requirement is not met, presuming the box is in a wet (not damp) location.

 

[jap]

Take the lid off the PVC box to access the receptacle and the PVC box has lost it's rating,,,, put the lid on to satisfy the rating of the PVC box and the receptacle becomes inaccessible,,, take the lid off to access the receptacle and the PVC box has lost it's rating,,, put the lid on and the receptacle becomes inaccessible,,,

Grab a chair and some popcorn,,, this is going to be comical,,,


JAP>

 

[raberding]

Take the lid off the PVC box to access the receptacle and the PVC box has lost it's rating,,,, put the lid on to satisfy the rating of the PVC box and the receptacle becomes inaccessible,,, take the lid off to access the receptacle and the PVC box has lost it's rating,,, put the lid on and the receptacle becomes inaccessible,,,

Grab a chair and some popcorn,,, this is going to be comical,,,


JAP>

Schrodinger's receptacle.

 

[jap]

Schrodinger's receptacle.

If we're talking about my house, the state of the receptacle inside the box would generally be determined by the tripped GFI breaker feeding it.

JAP>

 

[suemarkp]

Usually the purpose of these is to power a cord and plug item that resides in the box, or as a receptacle for temporary use when the j box lid is off.

We had giant roof boxes with many coax cables coming into them. When we would use various antennas for a test, the receptacle in the giant 3R box was used to power transmitters or spectrum analyzers. When the test was done, the cord and plug items were taken away and the 3R box was closed up. Yes, that receptacle could have been mounted outside the big box using its own device box and in use cover. But it didnt work as well and was less safe because the cords would have to go over the lip of the box to reach that outside receptacle.