Minimum box depth for a receptacle

[steve66]

Can you mount a receptacle in a 1.5" deep box?

Can a receptacle be mounted in a "switch" box?

http://www.tnb.com/ps/fulltilt/index.cgi?part=LXMOW-25

 

[steve66]

I realize now that a box fill calculation requires an 18 cubic inch box if I have a #12 AC cable in and #12 AC out to the next duplex.

However, I am still wondering if a 1.5" deep double gang box would work?

 

[infinity]

I realize now that a box fill calculation requires an 18 cubic inch box if I have a #12 AC cable in and #12 AC out to the next duplex.

However, I am still wondering if a 1.5" deep double gang box would work?

A box with one AC cable in, one out and with one device, would require a box with 13.5 CU inches.


2.25(6)=13.5

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

I realize now that a box fill calculation requires an 18 cubic inch box if I have a #12 AC cable in and #12 AC out to the next duplex.

However, I am still wondering if a 1.5" deep double gang box would work?

A box with one AC cable in, one out and with one device, would require a box with 13.5 CU inches.


2.25(6)=13.5

I count 7

 

[iwire]

I count 7

Is that 'New Math'? :lol:

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

I count 7

Is that 'New Math'? :lol:

All the AC we buy has a green ground

 

[tonyi]

If you go 2-gang with a ring, don't forget that the ring buys you some volume too...

 

[iwire]

I count 7

Is that 'New Math'? :lol:

All the AC we buy has a green ground

Two possibilities

Your buying MC, it has plastic wrap under the armor, no paper.

Your buying Hospital grade AC which has a paper wrap and a small aluminum bonding strip.

If its Hospital AC and your using it for everything you might as well throw money in ocean.

 

[tom baker]

AC cable does not have an equipment grounding conductor.
AC has a paper wrap with an aluminum bonding strip
MC has an insulated equipment grounding conductor

Its "paper or plastic"

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

AC cable does not have an equipment grounding conductor.
AC has a paper wrap with an aluminum bonding strip
MC has an insulated equipment grounding conductor

Its "paper or plastic"

Tom,
"The times they are a-changin"

There is AC cable with an equipment ground conductor - HFC & the plain version available.

There is MC cable without an equipment ground and a 10 AWG aluminum bond strip, and it is listed. The sheath qualifies as an equipment ground.
Available is sizes 14, 12, 10

 

[infinity]

I realize now that a box fill calculation requires an 18 cubic inch box if I have a #12 AC cable in and #12 AC out to the next duplex.

However, I am still wondering if a 1.5" deep double gang box would work?

A box with one AC cable in, one out and with one device, would require a box with 13.5 CU inches.


2.25(6)=13.5

I count 7

Ok so you have 7. Still doesn't add up to 18. 2.25(7)=15.75

 

[steve66]

I got 18 cu inch from:

1 for ground wire
4 for 2 neutral wires and 2 hots landing on the recept.
2 for the device
1 for two AC clamps

which gave 18 cu inches from the 99 code. See about half way down on this link:

http://www.hubbellcatalog.com/raco/RACO_boxes.asp?FAM=RacoBoxes

But on the box fill table, #12 has a (2.25) behind it. Does that mean 2.25" is the minimum depth for a box with #12 wire in it?? (#18 has a 1.5 behind it.)

And why do they call the boxes "switch" boxes?

Steve

 

[iwire]

2.25 is the cubic inches required for a 12 AWG.

If you had a box not listed you would use the 2.25 inch to figure your fill.

A 12" x 12" x 6" J-box has a volume of 564 cu in.

It can contain 384 - 12 AWGs

 

[steve66]

thanks Bob. That makes sense. I couldn't figure out what the 2.25 was.

 

[izak]

steve66

counting 1 for two ac cable clamps... are those clamps built into the box?

or did you buy them seperately and install them in a knockout?

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

2.25 is the cubic inches required for a 12 AWG.

If you had a box not listed you would use the 2.25 inch to figure your fill.

A 12" x 12" x 6" J-box has a volume of 564 cu in.

It can contain 384 - 12 AWGs

New math BOB ?

 

[iwire]

2.25 is the cubic inches required for a 12 AWG.

If you had a box not listed you would use the 2.25 inch to figure your fill.

A 12" x 12" x 6" J-box has a volume of 564 cu in.

It can contain 384 - 12 AWGs

New math BOB ?

:lol:

Good catch Jim.

Not new math....bad fingers. :roll:

Should have been 864 cu in.

Spell check should also check my math...

 

[George Stolz]

Re: Minimum box depth for a receptacle

Can you mount a receptacle in a 1.5" deep box?

314.24 Depth of Outlet Boxes. No box shall have an internal depth of less than 12.7 mm ( 1 /2 in.). Boxes intended to enclose flush devices shall have an internal depth of not less than 23.8 mm ( 15 /16 in.).

Ha ha, I beat everybody and I'm a day late! What do I win? :twisted:

I pulled a box out of a homeowner basement finish a while back that was barely 15/16" deep, it was this style. The reason this box was used was because they built the walls with 1x4's nailed to the basement wall, and then paneling over that. The romex entered a (unprotected) knockout, and went straight into the receptacle. To say the least, it was a tight fit. :shock:

 

[iwire]

Re: Minimum box depth for a receptacle

Can you mount a receptacle in a 1.5" deep box?

314.24 Depth of Outlet Boxes. No box shall have an internal depth of less than 12.7 mm ( 1 /2 in.). Boxes intended to enclose flush devices shall have an internal depth of not less than 23.8 mm ( 15 /16 in.).

Ha ha, I beat everybody and I'm a day late! What do I win? :twisted:

Nothing! Absolutely nothing! :lol:

If you have a 15/16 device box you may well be able to mount a receptacle in it.

You will not be able to wire it, box fill limitations prevent it.

A 15/16" deep device box would be required to have it's volume marked but we can figure it roughly as 2 x 3 x .9375 = 5.625 cu. in.

With one 14/2 NM and external clamps

Hot, 2 cu in

Neutral, 2 cu in

Ground, 2 cu in

Device, 4 cu in.

Looks like 10 cu in is the bare minimum.

Now if you used a shallow 4" sq with a single gang ring you could do that.

 

[allenwayne]

What gets me is these boxes are produced and sold on the open market and the can`t legally be used due to code compliance for power anyway.The big O has boxes of these and those small blue bracket boxes and they also are to small to be used.