How is my box?

Irving LaRue

Member
Location
Warrenton, Virginia
Occupation
Electrician Apprentice
4th year apprentice here. My first time attempting a junction box bigger than a 11B. It's a 24x24 box with 29 MC cables. 20 of those MC cables are 12-3.

What are your thoughts? Any constructive criticism? Or just normal criticism? Or general hatred and disgust? I'm hoping to find a few things I could have done better, so don't hold back.

A few things for me to note:

Circuit colors don’t exactly match the numbers… not my design. I just played the hand I was dealt. Some of those numbers will change when we land the panel. We also had limited colors of MC cable ordered by our PM. Electrical tape on the side of the box is temporary as some of the circuit numbers will change.

My foreman told me to use self tappers in the box for the ground bar because his tap kit. I'd have preferred to install it per design. There's also to 1/2' KOs that I'm going to fill when those come in our next order. It's a small project so we don't have everything on hand.

In hindsight, I’d avoid the zip ties for ease of access in the future.

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4th year apprentice here. My first time attempting a junction box bigger than a 11B. It's a 24x24 box with 29 MC cables. 20 of those MC cables are 12-3.

What are your thoughts? Any constructive criticism? Or just normal criticism? Or general hatred and disgust? I'm hoping to find a few things I could have done better, so don't hold back.

A few things for me to note:

Circuit colors don’t exactly match the numbers… not my design. I just played the hand I was dealt. Some of those numbers will change when we land the panel. We also had limited colors of MC cable ordered by our PM. Electrical tape on the side of the box is temporary as some of the circuit numbers will change.

My foreman told me to use self tappers in the box for the ground bar because his tap kit. I'd have preferred to install it per design. There's also to 1/2' KOs that I'm going to fill when those come in our next order. It's a small project so we don't have everything on hand.

In hindsight, I’d avoid the zip ties for ease of access in the future.

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Curious. How long did it take you to terminate this?
 
What are your thoughts? Any constructive criticism? Or just normal criticism? Or general hatred and disgust? I'm hoping to find a few things I could have done better, so don't hold back.
IMO it looks pretty good. I would have spent a few extra minutes and straightened out the wires by removing the twists but that's just me being anal. Neatness will always help the next guy if someone needs to get in there and troubleshoot something. Typically that next guy is you.
 
IMO it looks pretty good. I would have spent a few extra minutes and straightened out the wires by removing the twists but that's just me being anal. Neatness will always help the next guy if someone needs to get in there and troubleshoot something. Typically that next guy is you.
I'm not sure what you mean by "removing the twists". Do you mean the twists where the wires are spliced together near the wirenut?
 
looks fine. But I want to know why you're splicing all those cables. Is it a remodel? The only time I've had to splice more than ten cables/wires like that was when I moved a FACP.
 
NEC states that the screw from ground bar must engage at least veto full threads do self tapers are a no no.Not difficult to drill & fap 10/32 holes in panels.
4th year apprentice here. My first time attempting a junction box bigger than a 11B. It's a 24x24 box with 29 MC cables. 20 of those MC cables are 12-3.

What are your thoughts? Any constructive criticism? Or just normal criticism? Or general hatred and disgust? I'm hoping to find a few things I could have done better, so don't hold back.

A few things for me to note:

Circuit colors don’t exactly match the numbers… not my design. I just played the hand I was dealt. Some of those numbers will change when we land the panel. We also had limited colors of MC cable ordered by our PM. Electrical tape on the side of the box is temporary as some of the circuit numbers will change.

My foreman told me to use self tappers in the box for the ground bar because his tap kit. I'd have preferred to install it per design. There's also to 1/2' KOs that I'm going to fill when those come in our next order. It's a small project so we don't have everything on hand.

In hindsight, I’d avoid the zip ties for ease of access in the future.

View attachment 2580101View attachment 2580102View attachment 2580103
The NEC states that agreed from ground bars must engage st least two full threads so self tapers along with sheet rock screws are a big No No. Old school and work in too many locations that boxes & panels had water intrusion so always installed pressure connector ( yea wire nuts ) like an umbrella. Opening always towards the floor. Better then most boxes that I opened up. I always made extra 1/2" KO'S in boxes especially ones up in ceilings because sooner or later you will install more cables. Probably not legal but more then once when I ran out of KO plugs used 11/4" fender washers with a 1/4" hex headed bolt and a lock washer. Great job marking circuit #'s at cable entrance. We always marked the panel & circuit breaker #'s on all box covers. If conductors were for 277 &/or 480 volt circuits would paint with orange spray paint. Emergency circuits feed from Generators would paint the covers red. Suggest that apprentices and rest if our trade look st Mike Holt's daily code graphic alk g with code question of the day & look at his huge code forum.Also take a minute to look at Charlie Trouts code daily code auction thru NECA.
 
looks fine. But I want to know why you're splicing all those cables. Is it a remodel? The only time I've had to splice more than ten cables/wires like that was when I moved a FACP.
It’s for a museum. They plan on changing the exhibits every few years, so they wanted a box at the entrance to the room so it could be changed without pulling new home runs.
 
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