Pancake Boxes

Jimmy7

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Occupation
Electrician
One of my guys has been installing pancake boxes on exterior lights. The problem is that there are two 14-2 cables in some of these. I just found out about this recently, and some of these jobs are done. Would you move on, or try to go back and fix it? Everything has been inspected.
 

infinity

Moderator
Staff member
Location
New Jersey
Occupation
Journeyman Electrician
Isn't the fixture required to be marked with a volume for it to be added to the box volume?
 

wwhitney

Senior Member
Location
Berkeley, CA
Occupation
Retired
I have never seen a fixture with a marked canopy volume.
314.16 only requires that the volume be "durably and legibly marked by the manufacturer" for boxes that don't appear 314.16(A). So for a canopy, just do your own volume calculation and throw a label in there with the results. : - )

Cheers, Wayne
 

nizak

Senior Member
One of my guys has been installing pancake boxes on exterior lights. The problem is that there are two 14-2 cables in some of these. I just found out about this recently, and some of these jobs are done. Would you move on, or try to go back and fix it? Everything has been inspected.
Is it possible to coordinate with the General Contractor that provisions be made in the way of mounting to always allow for a 1 1/2” deep octagon box for instance?
 

wwhitney

Senior Member
Location
Berkeley, CA
Occupation
Retired
I put 2 14-2's in 4" pancake boxes all the time. That said I Try to avoid a pancake if possible. Sometime I will recess the pancake back a bit to give a little more room.
I guess even the 1/4" allowed per 314.20 when the surface is non-combustible would be a 50% volume increase for a pancake box.

Cheers, Wayne
 
I guess even the 1/4" allowed per 314.20 when the surface is non-combustible would be a 50% volume increase for a pancake box.

Cheers, Wayne
I wish they would make something like a 1" deep fixture box. Sometimes there is not enough real estate for a 1.5" octagon, but you've got more than .5" and dont want to deal with the potential hassles of a pancake box. For example 5/4 fixture blocks on the sheathing. Many times in those situations you just end up using a pancake but it sits back .5" and all the kittens and nuns die, oh well. 😿
 

letgomywago

Senior Member
Location
Washington state and Oregon coast
Occupation
residential electrician
I wish they would make something like a 1" deep fixture box. Sometimes there is not enough real estate for a 1.5" octagon, but you've got more than .5" and dont want to deal with the potential hassles of a pancake box. For example 5/4 fixture blocks on the sheathing. Many times in those situations you just end up using a pancake but it sits back .5" and all the kittens and nuns die, oh well. 😿
They make a 1/2 in 3o pancake extension to build your own.
 
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