PVC Remodel Box Variant

T

TwistLock

Senior Member
Location
California
Occupation
Electrician
The plastic toggle ears on a blue Carlon PVC old work / remodel box broke. Both. Never happened before, I don’t over tighten. Both just cracked around where the sheet metal screw threads through ears to draw the plastic tab to the wall. This occurred after being set in place a week. Plug, with box attached, pulled right out of wall on client.
My trust is completely gone for these boxes.
In the past I have seen grey PVC remodel boxes with ‘metal’ ears / toggles that the sheet metal screw threads through (now I understand why). Searched everywhere online but don’t remember brand nor can I find any reference to them even though I have seen them occasionally within the past two years. Did I hallucinate?
 
TwistLock said:
The plastic toggle ears on a blue Carlon PVC old work / remodel box broke. Both. Never happened before, I don’t over tighten. Both just cracked around where the sheet metal screw threads through ears to draw the plastic tab to the wall. This occurred after being set in place a week. Plug, with box attached, pulled right out of wall on client.
My trust is completely gone for these boxes.
In the past I have seen grey PVC remodel boxes with ‘metal’ ears / toggles that the sheet metal screw threads through (now I understand why). Searched everywhere online but don’t remember brand nor can I find any reference to them even though I have seen them occasionally within the past two years. Did I hallucinate?
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Possibly a defective run of product.

I have never had an issue with Carlon . Use both round and rectangular boxes daily.

One thing I always do before installing is to run the screw once through the tab just to ensure it doesn’t bind up in the “slide” once it’s in the wall or ceiling.
 
Friends don't let friends buy Carlon boxes. Mostly junk that I would not use even if it was free.

The few exceptions:

Adjustable boxes, while they could use some improvements they are the best of the available adjustable boxes. Carlon actually had nothing to do with the design. A startup designed and was selling them before getting gobbled up by Carlon/T&B/ABB.

The 4/0 bars, with the heavier bar. B620KG.

The single and 2 gang retro boxes. B125 and B249
 
I don't like most of the blue Carlons. I've seen that too, with the toggle breaking off. Also seen the 6-32 threads get brittle and break out when replacing a switch or receptacle. A major pain to fix, sometimes have to replace box. Had to do this in my own house. Fortunately was when I was already having patching & painting done. I cut out the wall enough to put in a gray nail up box.
 
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