New Sconses on Existing Brick at Front Door

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Jimmy7

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Occupation
Electrician
I have a customer who wants to have two sconses installed at their front door which is brick. They're going to have a mason who is already on site to cut in the boxes. My question is what type of box would you recommend? Looking at the size of the house, I'm sure they're going to want something more weighing more than 6 lbs installed.

Thank you
 
Either a regular mason box or metal octagon box is what I would use. Easier on the mason with a masonry box. But the light mount bar bracket/plate needs to either be adjustable or put in the correct orientation when the box is set. You would need the lights on site to know that. What I mean by this is some lights have two studs/screws that are on the bracket and stick through the housing, and decorative nuts hole the light on. If a single bracket is used with the studs, the holes on the housing would need to be left & right. If they are stacked vertically, this wouldn't work in a rectangular box.
 
A mason box would be much easier, but can I use it, it only has 6-32 screws, correct? Do they make something similar with 8-32 screws? I don't think I've seen one. I hate to have them cut in an octagon. I'm concerned about possible weight of the fixtures
 
If there is only one cable in the box then use a pancake box. The mason won't need to remove too much material for a 1/2" or 5/8" deep box.
 
We have drilled brick with a 4" carbide grit hole saw. Just did this a couple of months ago for a new office building. Brick was actually new but owner forgot to tell anyone he wants wall sconces before masons finished.
 
I appreciate all of the information. Could I also drill and tap the masonry box to 8-32, is that permissible?
 
I appreciate all of the information. Could I also drill and tap the masonry box to 8-32, is that permissible?

Why don't you get the fixtures first before jumping to conclusions? If they are heavy fixtures they should have provisions for mounting. Our industry has a standard for boxes and the fixtures should be designed to work with them. (Unless they are some unlisted offshore garbage.) You shouldn't have to modify anything.

That said, I would probably use an octagon box. Those have 8-32 screws anyway.

-Hal
 
You can use a switch box if the fixtures weighs 6 lbs or less

314.27 Outlet Boxes.
(A) Boxes at Luminaire or Lampholder Outlets. Outlet boxes
or fittings designed for the support of luminaires and lampholders,
and installed as required by 314.23, shall be permitted
to support a luminaire or lampholder.
(1) Vertical Surface Outlets. Boxes used at luminaire or lampholder
outlets in or on a vertical surface shall be identified and
marked on the interior of the box to indicate the maximum
weight of the luminaire that is permitted to be supported by
the box if other than 23 kg (50 lb).
Exception: A vertically mounted luminaire or lampholder weighing not
more than 3 kg (6 lb) shall be permitted to be supported on other boxes
or plaster rings that are secured to other boxes, provided that the luminaire
or its supporting yoke, or the lampholder, is secured to the box with
no fewer than two No. 6 or larger screws.
 
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