How to hide the extra gang

[al hildenbrand]

The other day, a friend was asking what to do at an opening in an existing wall where the wire count got too high to be contained in a single gang box.

Using an old work box is preferred, rather than hacking and patching. The old work box will expand the opening to two-gang.

He was thinking of a switch location, 48" high. He suggested two threeway switches, at each gang, hooked up like a normal threeway.

 

[1793]

How many cubic inches do you need the box to have?

 

[al hildenbrand]

Well, that's the hypothetical part.

Let's say its three more cubic inches than the largest single gang old work box I can get.

 

[ceknight]

Let's say its three more cubic inches than the largest single gang old work box I can get.

I know it's a hypothetical you're dealing with, but what if you could get your hands on a 22.5 ci single gang old work box?

http://www.contractor-books.com/RC/Images/SB22.gif

 

[al hildenbrand]

Thanks for the thought, Chris. Consider:

A bed wall switch that has two 14/2, one 14/3. NM with a nonmetallic box.

Say this is a bedroom switch controlling a remote receptacle outlet.

For whatever reason, it is now necessary to add two additional 14/2 to the location.

The wall surface is a hand painted mural. . .unpatchable. I can carefully expand the opening to two-gang, but I can't patch after inserting a junction box with plaster ring. The other side of the wall the switch is in is not available.

 

[ceknight]

A bed wall switch that has two 14/2, one 14/3. NM with a nonmetallic box......For whatever reason, it is now necessary to add two additional 14/2 to the location.

That makes things especially interesting, since not even the deepest single gang box is likely to have 5 clamps in back. Still, rather than try to hide a double gang on a wall mural, I'd try harder to find a way to distribute those cables across more of the room.

I have in overcrowding situations been known to add a new receptacle with a deep box, say, below the switch or else in an opposing room, just to give me another box to share the conductor load of a previously-overcrowded box. If those are new 14-2s being added to the old switch box, presumably you can get the cable length you'd need to re-route things to a different box.

Is that an option at all?

 

[1793]

Do I have the correct count of 24 cu in.?

 

[wirenut1980]

The wall surface is a hand painted mural. . .unpatchable. I can carefully expand the opening to two-gang, but I can't patch after inserting a junction box with plaster ring. The other side of the wall the switch is in is not available.

This is nothing a few art classes couldn't handle.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Do I have the correct count of 24 cu in.?

Yeah, before device or devices.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Is that an option at all?

For this one situation, there just isn't a way to avoid the second gang. . . .but there is nothing to use it for.

So, instead of ordering a custom switch/blank 2gang plate, what might I mount in that second gang?

Before my friend had suggested installing and wiring a classic threeway in the two gangs, I had suggested an electroluminescant decora style night light device.

Any thoughts?

 

[al hildenbrand]

This is nothing a few art classes couldn't handle.

LOL

Like all clients, this client wants the job done yesterday, and hasn't got time for me to learn art.

 

[ceknight]

So, instead of ordering a custom switch/blank 2gang plate, what might I mount in that second gang?

How about a switch for a lamp that highlights the mural?

Or else a good ol' dummy switch. Don't connect it to anything, and the client can let guests try to figure out what it's for.

 

[paul32]

So, instead of ordering a custom switch/blank 2gang plate, what might I mount in that second gang?

Custom? Not in Pass & Seymour. http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/S15.pdf
Try the TP113.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Or else a good ol' dummy switch. Don't connect it to anything, and the client can let guests try to figure out what it's for.

That's the reason for the extra switch being 3wayed with the original, then it does do something.

What creative things can I do with this extra gang?

 

[allenwayne]

If the cu. in. in a single gang old work box isn`t enough.Why not use a 2 gang box with a 2 gang plate one gang a blank and one gang a device.

 

[big vic]

carlon has a old work box, new on the market that has a side compartment and a rounded back. It is about 4x4 and retrofits in a single gang space. I saw one at Lowes. Guessing I would say it might be 30cu in

 

[1793]

carlon has a old work box, new on the market that has a side compartment and a rounded back. It is about 4x4 and retrofits in a single gang space. I saw one at Lowes. Guessing I would say it might be 30cu in

The only thing I can find at Carlon website in their Brochure section see this link Zip Box link, page 6. This is only a 17 cu in. box.

 

[al hildenbrand]

Big Vic,

That sounds real interesting! Like Norb, I poked around at Carlon's site, but came up dry. Can you recall any other details?

 

[al hildenbrand]

2 gang plate one gang a blank and one gang a device.

Allen,

You're an outside the box kind of a thinker, what, besides a blank, would be novel to do with this extra gang. . .?

So far we have:

1. Blank
2. Night light device
3. 3 way connected to first switch
4. Dummy switch
5. Receptacle

What else. . . anyone?

 

[1793]

Thanks for the thought, Chris. Consider:

A bed wall switch that has two 14/2, one 14/3. NM with a nonmetallic box.

Say this is a bedroom switch controlling a remote receptacle outlet.

For whatever reason, it is now necessary to add two additional 14/2 to the location.

The wall surface is a hand painted mural. . .unpatchable. I can carefully expand the opening to two-gang, but I can't patch after inserting a junction box with plaster ring. The other side of the wall the switch is in is not available.

What are the two new 14/2's going to do? Could you get to the feed or switch loop(s) and set a j-box? This would help with your fill issue.