What's your favorite way of anchoring to sheet rock

[bjp_ne_elec]

What's your favorite anchoring method when mounting surface mount panel to sheet rock. Looking at a job in a commercial building and they don't want to go through me working a recessed panel and then getting a rocker in to patch. They say they're fine with a surface mount panel - so I'd be surface mounting the panel and putting a piece of Unistrut at spots I'd need to support the conduit. Only two supports will be required.

I like Toggle Bolts, but don't like the hole you've got to blast in the rock. Not bad behind the panel as it gets covered.

 

[Lcdrwalker]

If I had my druthers, I would mount a piece of plywood stud to stud and mount my panel to that. An alternative is Zip-Its. I've had pretty good luck with the metal ones in 5/8 board.

 

[bjp_ne_elec]

Just want to reiterate that this is a commercial building, and although I like the idea of plywood, that's one more thing "mucking" up the wall. I'm not familiar with a Zip-it so I'll go on a hunt to see what they look like and if I can get them locally.

Thanks for the suggestion

 

[iwire]

When I have to mount surface panels on dry wall I run two pieces of strut horizontally so I can catch some studs with screws if wood or toggle bolts if metal studs.

For metal studs I locate them precisely and take my 7/8" hole saw and drill thru the Sheetrock and the face of the metal stud, once you put a toggle bolt in it catches the stud and you have support as solid as the wall.

 

[Lcdrwalker]

Zip-It is a brand name. Go to Lowes.com. They call it an E-Z Anchor item#169756 model#25216.

 

[electricmanscott]

When I have to mount surface panels on dry wall I run two pieces of strut horizontally so I can catch some studs with screws if wood or toggle bolts if metal studs.

For metal studs I locate them precisely and take my 7/8" hole saw and drill thru the Sheetrock and the face of the metal stud, once you put a toggle bolt in it catches the stud and you have support as solid as the wall.

Can't think of any other way I'd do it. Certainly would not rely on the sheetrock alone.

 

[tkb]

When I have to mount surface panels on dry wall I run two pieces of strut horizontally so I can catch some studs with screws if wood or toggle bolts if metal studs.

For metal studs I locate them precisely and take my 7/8" hole saw and drill thru the Sheetrock and the face of the metal stud, once you put a toggle bolt in it catches the stud and you have support as solid as the wall.

That is the way I always try to do it.

 

[mattsilkwood]

When I have to mount surface panels on dry wall I run two pieces of strut horizontally so I can catch some studs with screws if wood or toggle bolts if metal studs.

For metal studs I locate them precisely and take my 7/8" hole saw and drill thru the Sheetrock and the face of the metal stud, once you put a toggle bolt in it catches the stud and you have support as solid as the wall.

ive done it like that many times.
if i know ive got mor stuff going in the area ill stand up a full sheet of plywood and screw directly to the studs.
it makes a handy spot to mount time clocks, contactors, phone equiptment.
imo it makes for a clean install

 

[480sparky]

Plywood would be my first choice. If the owners cringe, I'd offer to paint it to match the wall. Wouldn't be the end of the world.

 

[iwire]

FWIW plywood is often a fire code violation unless your buying fire treated plywood.

 

[220/221]

Find a stud, drill 3 or 4 holes dead center in the panel and use a pair of pig dicks (hollow wall anchors) on the outsides.

A steel stud will hold a panel nicely if you use the right screws and dont over tighten them. Steel studs hold drywall and that is heavier than a panel.

Anchor it first with dwall screws then pull them out and install flat headed SMS.

 

[tkb]

FWIW plywood is often a fire code violation unless your buying fire treated plywood.

The fire rated plywood that I have used is not very pretty.
It doesn't have a very good finish.
I had to put some up in the security room at Foxwoods once and had to paint it with fire retardant paint, but had to leave the UL label unpainted.

 

[tonyou812]

If I had my druthers, I would mount a piece of plywood stud to stud and mount my panel to that. An alternative is Zip-Its. I've had pretty good luck with the metal ones in 5/8 board.

I do it this way too. And if you dont like the plywood then use strut. But I wouldnt mount it with just toggles.

 

[growler]

They say they're fine with a surface mount panel - so I'd be surface mounting the panel and putting a piece of Unistrut at spots I'd need to support the conduit. Only two supports will be required.

How big is the panel we are talking about here. I started to answer the question and realized that we don't know if this is a little 100 A or something much bigger.

If it's something large and heavy I go with the plywood or strut but for a little panel then it's toggle bolts and some self tappers in the center shot to the stud.

By the way toggle bolts hold better if you use large fender washers with them and this will also cover the 1/2 hole you need to cut.

 

[ivsenroute]

If you want to recess the panel I just use the Oatey snap in access panels above or below, depending on where I am coming from. This way, you always have access and they don't look bad either.

They come in various sizes.

 

[R Bob]

How big is the panel we are talking about here. I started to answer the question and realized that we don't know if this is a little 100 A or something much bigger.

If it's something large and heavy I go with the plywood or strut but for a little panel then it's toggle bolts and some self tappers in the center shot to the stud.

By the way toggle bolts hold better if you use large fender washers with them and this will also cover the 1/2 hole you need to cut.

Had a job where we surface mounted a bunch of large panels.
Mounted panels to 2-10LF lengths of strut in vertical postion secured to concrete floor w/angle brackets. The upper portion of the strut above the floor was secured to metal studs through drywall w/self taping screws.
Used horiz. pieces of strut to support/secure conduit.
Weight is distributed directly to the deck.

 

[quogueelectric]

Had a job where we surface mounted a bunch of large panels.
Mounted panels to 2-10LF lengths of strut in vertical postion secured to concrete floor w/angle brackets. The upper portion of the strut above the floor was secured to metal studs through drywall w/self taping screws.
Used horiz. pieces of strut to support/secure conduit.
Weight is distributed directly to the deck.

This is exactly what I do for a heavy panel is transfer the weight to the floor I would toggle through the studs with the vertical strut. A medium weight panel Bobs method is a great way. Under no circumstances would I fasten a panel using zip-its.

 

[infinity]

Had a job where we surface mounted a bunch of large panels.
Mounted panels to 2-10LF lengths of strut in vertical postion secured to concrete floor w/angle brackets. The upper portion of the strut above the floor was secured to metal studs through drywall w/self taping screws.
Used horiz. pieces of strut to support/secure conduit.
Weight is distributed directly to the deck.

That's similar to what I would do. If you can't hit the studs use 4 or 5-1/4" toggle bolts in each piece of strut. All of the weight will sit on the floor and the wall will only support the tip weight. To save a few bucks I would skip the angle knees at the bottom. Two short horizontal pieces of strut the width of the panel can support your raceways out of the top and bottom.

 

[bjp_ne_elec]

How big is the panel we are talking about here. I started to answer the question and realized that we don't know if this is a little 100 A or something much bigger.

If it's something large and heavy I go with the plywood or strut but for a little panel then it's toggle bolts and some self tappers in the center shot to the stud.

By the way toggle bolts hold better if you use large fender washers with them and this will also cover the 1/2 hole you need to cut.

To clear it up - it's a small 100A 240V/Single Phase twelve circuit panel.

 

[electricdave]

sleazy anchors!