Grounding a box flush against the studs

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Irving LaRue

Irving LaRue

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Location
Fairfax, Virginia
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Electrician Apprentice
Hello everybody! My first post here.

I’m using a 4in metal octagonal box to install keyless light fixtures in my garage. The location dictates that I screw the boxes directly into the wooden studs.

Because the back of the box will be flat against the wood, I can’t get a green metal grounding screw in the box. (Note: the metal box doesn’t have a hump for grounding screw)

Is there any other method of grounding the box than using the green grounding screw in the back?
 
I would just put the box in place and mark out the spot on the wood where the screw is going though the hole. Then make a small hole in the wood so that the screw can get installed. Back in the day we used a grounding clip on the side of the box.
 
electrofelon said:
I quick trick is just drive a drywall screw in the ground screw hole then the ground screw will go in without much trouble.
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Most "ground screws" I have purchased past 20-30 years are designed to be self tapping. I usually just drive a #10 wood screw in than back it out and then put the ground screw in - if the first one damaged threads any the ground screw will straighten them back out. If the wood is pretty soft I just put the ground screw in and it will displace the wood on it's own.

When fastening boxes on masonry, have always had to mark the ground hole then drill behind it before fastening the box. Never used to see any boxes with the ground hole raised but majority now do have that.
 
Back in the day when I carried an awl in my pouch I would hold up the box and push the awl through the EGC hole. Then I would remove the box and enlarge the hole by hitting the awl a few times with a hammer.
 
Mounting boxes years ago on hard steel

I would install screw and jumper and cut off the screw flush to back of the box

Must have been a lot of years ago because used hacksaw
 
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