Too Much Stress Over Neatness?

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Too Much Stress Over Neatness?

  • Boxes should be neat in order to be efficient.

    Votes: 22 88.0%

  • Just put the device in and move on.

    Votes: 3 12.0%
  • Total voters
    25
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360Youth

360Youth

Senior Member
Location
Newport, NC
It has been pretty boring here today so I will post the question:

How much do you emphasize a "neatness" quality when you or your crew rough in outlet boxes?

Sometimes I feel like I stress over it a little too much, but it bugs me to have to untangle wires and trim them to same lengths in order to (1) know what you are putting in (ie, SP, 3-way, etc.), (2) be able to fit wire and device neatly back in the box, and (3) installing devices in a timely manner.

There was a recent thread about how much time is too much time for a panel in order to mave it right and neat vs a. work of art, but to me having "neat" boxes are more about speeding up the process of installing devices at trim. Like most, I want it right above everything else, but there is something to be said for organized and workable, also.

It takes me as long to install this....

IMAG0211.jpg


...or this...

IMAG0213.jpg


as it does either one of these multi-gangs...

IMAG0212.jpg
.
 
First, if you are saying that the forum has been boring, you are entirely wrong. Today was great. Grab a code book and jump into the CEE threads.

Second, do what you have to do to get all the wires in the box and move on.
 
crossman said:
First, if you are saying that the forum has been boring, you are entirely wrong. Today was great. Grab a code book and jump into the CEE threads.

Second, do what you have to do to get all the wires in the box and move on.
Click to expand...

No, not the forum, just unpredictable weather, so too much time indoors.
 
I think you save allot of time when the boxes are done in the last pictures especially on multi gang boxes. Nothing worse trying to figure things out what someone else did when they could of did it right the first time
 
In rough in I try to be as neat as possible when making boxes up, actually consistently organized is a better wording (I THINK) makes S&Ping go sooooo much easier.
 
brian john said:
In rough in I try to be as neat as possible when making boxes up, actually consistently organized is a better wording (I THINK) makes S&Ping go sooooo much easier.
Click to expand...

I agree 200% with this.

Plus, if the boxes are done neat, you can actually (successfully) have a helper switch and plug, and while he's doing it he's actually learning how to rough them in right (as opposed to the alternative - tracing down ckts he wired wrong cause the boxes weren't roughed nice and the helper miswires while s&p'ing)
 
I believe if you always work neatly, speed will come through repetition. neatness makes it easier for everyone involved which increases production.
 
No wall repairs for me, please!

No wall repairs for me, please!

I try to do as much as I can on the rough, the more you have to move wires to devices, the more chances you have for chipped paint or drywall at the edge of the box. I hate painting and I hate drywall repair even worse!:grin:
 
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