Old work plastic boxes

[Paul B]

I was working on a modular home today adding some lighting and switch circuits. I fished the wires up the walls from the basement and out the holes in the drywall. Then I realized the walls are 2 x 3's not 2 x 4's. The old work boxes are too deep for the wall. I had to use metal and madisons. Anyone know of any shallow old work boxes?

 

[peter d]

Yes, I've seen one at HD from Carlon that is meant for very shallow walls, but since I hate using Carlon's website I'll leave finding a link to someone else.

 

[stickboy1375]

# Carlon Home Products Model # B117RSW
# SINGLE GANG - OLD WORK
# Cu. In. Cap. 17
# 2" depth x 4-1/4" width x 4" length.

 

[Paul B]

Thats the ticket, thanks for the quick replys. I have never ran into this situation before. I don't think I ever saw those at the HD, then again I was never looking for them either.

 

[mdshunk]

Many of those modular homes use devices that don't even take a box. They self-strip the Romex, and have a back clips on. The device itself has "wings". Made by some company called American something or other, most of the time.

 

[480sparky]

Many of those modular homes use devices that don't even take a box. They self-strip the Romex, and have a back clips on. The device itself has "wings". Made by some company called American something or other, most of the time.

I've also seen them under the Eagle and Slater brand names. :smile:

 

[mdshunk]

I've also seen them under the Eagle and Slater brand names. :smile:

Eagle is Cooper's low line, and Slater is P&S's low line (I think, anyhow).

On an aside, I find it interesting that certain P&S devices, combination switches chiefly, say P&S on the box, but have Slater embossed on the switch yoke.

 

[peter d]

On an aside, I find it interesting that certain P&S devices, combination switches chiefly, say P&S on the box, but have Slater embossed on the switch yoke.

Yeah, I've noticed that too. I would think that the tooling that stamps "Slater" would have worn out by now. Of that someone didn't get the memo that they need to update the tooling.

 

[480sparky]

Eagle is Cooper's low line, and Slater is P&S's low line (I think, anyhow).

On an aside, I find it interesting that certain P&S devices, combination switches chiefly, say P&S on the box, but have Slater embossed on the switch yoke.

I've never seen any of them new, let alone installed them.

All I've seen are ones installed already.

 

[mdshunk]

I've never seen any of them new, let alone installed them.

All I've seen are ones installed already.

I have a couple receptacles and a couple switches kicking around. I got ahold of a catalog once upon a time that has all the weird stuff they put in trailer homes and modular homes, and ordered a few of these switches and receptacles. A lot of the real old trailers only had 2x2 walls, so your hand is sorta forced into using something like these oddball switches and receptacles for service work.

 

[ItsHot]

I have a couple receptacles and a couple switches kicking around. I got ahold of a catalog once upon a time that has all the weird stuff they put in trailer homes and modular homes, and ordered a few of these switches and receptacles. A lot of the real old trailers only had 2x2 walls, so your hand is sorta forced into using something like these oddball switches and receptacles for service work.

I remember getting caught up in working in some old trailers that had plastic door hardware, plastic toilet flush tanks and even plastic tubs! Oh and even plastic luminares!

 

[mdshunk]

I remember getting caught up in working in some old trailers...

If you do service work, mobile homes are gravy work. There are a great many electricians, even among those who normally do service work, that simply won't work on a trailer or double-wide. I find them to be technically unchallenging to work on, and the occupants normally pay promptly, desptite what you might think at first. Sorry, I guess I derailed this thread.

 

[e57]

Then I realized the walls are 2 x 3's not 2 x 4's. The old work boxes are too deep for the wall. I had to use metal and madisons. Anyone know of any shallow old work boxes?

Some older Victorians are like that too....

And why do you fear or dislike metal boxes?

 

[LarryFine]

# Carlon Home Products Model # B117RSW

B = box, 1 = 1 gang, 17 = volume, R = remodel, SW = shallow wall. (I'm guessing.)

The 2" includes the wall-thickness portion, so they will fit within a 1.5" inside depth.

One neat thing about these boxes is that the front of the in-wall part snaps off and on, so it's easier to work on connections.