What's this little hole for?

Status
Not open for further replies.
mdshunk

mdshunk

Senior Member
Location
Right here.
From time to time I've wondered what the little hole near the edge of a 4 square blank cover is for? Most brands have this little hole. I've never had occasion to use it for anything.

On a related note, 4x4 boxes also have two small holes very near the front edge on each side, spaced about 2" apart. What are these used for? I've seen some "creative" box mounting with these little holes, but surely they have a real purpose.
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

I allways cover those holes up with a little tape so the electricity dont leak out of the box. ;)
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

It was common practice around here to use the little holes in the 4" sq box to mount via zip screws to metal studs. Recently I'm seeing the use of 4 sq's with integral mounting brackets used. I have no idea what the littles holes in cover were all about. I'm not sure about the effectiveness of applying duct tape to prevent the electricity from leaking out. Seems to me it would just follow the path of least resistance and go out of one the holes in the boxes instead. :p

[ August 04, 2005, 06:19 AM: Message edited by: kentirwin ]
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

I have always wondered about those little holes, but using them to mount a box to a stud makes a mud ring not go on just right, my guess is its part of the manufacturing process, maybe a machine utilizes these holes to hold the box as the KOs and ground threaded holes are cut in the back side of the box. :cool:
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

Originally posted by Jhr:. . . maybe a machine utilizes these holes to hold the box as the KOs and ground threaded holes are cut in the back side of the box.
Click to expand...
Sometimes the simple answers elude us, as we look for the complex ones. I like this answer. I don't know if it is right, but it really sounds right. :D
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

Same reason they have holes on the prongs of some cords. It has to to with the manufacturing process and serves no purpose to us as electricians.

[ August 04, 2005, 02:49 PM: Message edited by: GG ]
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

As for "4x4 boxes also have two small holes very near the front edge on each side, spaced about 2" apart": I have heard that these holes were originally intended to mount some sort of bracket for to which being to attached said box to the stud or something. I got that from the ECN forum but it seems to make sense.
An interesting discovery is that these holes are the right size to accept a self threading ground screw such as the Dottie 1032ST. Also Buchannan makes a similar screw that I haven't tried yet. This is useful when some nimcompoop installs the box on a concrete wall and doesn't think to create a dimple for the ground screw behind the normal, pre-tapped hole.
~Peter
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

Originally posted by peter:
This is useful when some nimcompoop installs the box on a concrete wall and doesn't think to create a dimple for the ground screw behind the normal, pre-tapped hole.
Click to expand...
Hey! That's hitting a little close to home. I don't care if a 100 years passes by. I still do that accidentally from time to time. It's nice that some handy boxes and 5x5's have a raised bubble area for the ground screw.
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

From time to time I've wondered what the little hole near the edge of a 4 square blank cover is for? Most brands have this little hole. I've never had occasion to use it for anything.
Click to expand...
Maybe it's for a ground screw. :)
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

The hole are for rivets or spot welds. When brackets are attached to the 4 squares look at where they are attached.
 
Re: What's this little hole for?

Those little holes are there so we can have 9 different people, over three days discuss whats the little holes for ? :D :D

Edited for spelling error

[ August 06, 2005, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: luckyshadow ]
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top