ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area smaller/thinner j-box?

Thanks for all your suggestions... those special sockets would be perfect if I could use them... but according to the manufacturers they are for use with a plug mould type system, which I am told can only be used in an external situation as is the case with the outlet strip too. this makes not a whole lot of sense to me, however I am sure they have their resons... I understand the problem with the depth of the outlet box... one needs space for the wires w/o crimping and such... I am ok with a deep box, as long as the width could be thin... as thin or just slightly thicker than the outlet recepticle. this however does not seem to exist... I guess there is not much use for something like this in standard construction.
I am curious though.. what does the 15/16 depth box look like? perhaps I can get a flat plug to plug into the 15/16 deep box... the 1/2 thick i assume is just for use as a junction... or can you get an outlet recepticle into something that thin?

These are the closest boxes I can find.

[This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 11-22-2002).]

Thanks Joe,

Can you put an outlet recepticle into the pancake box?

No, that type of "pancake" box is not designed to be used for receptacles.

Maiya,

Is the "frame structure" the wall or other wall-like partition? From your description, it sounds like there is branch circuit wiring in the frame structure.

What about using a recessed outlet in the wall, such as a clock outlet? Locate the outlet at the bottom of the monitor low enough to be accessible through a removable portion of the bottom of the cover.

Al

Joe - Is there any permitted use for the box in your first picture? I believe it has a cubic inch capacity of around 6". Even a single 14-2 NM cable with a receptacle or switch would require 12 cubic inches. I frequently see boxes like this at hardware/home improvement stores and have wondered whey they even make them.

Would it be acceptable to use the box in the top picture for low voltage devices like speaker/data/phone/TV & radio antenna jacks....or maybe even for a splice? Such things don't require a lot of depth.

At home, duplex receptacles were fitted in 4x4 squares with a mud ring. Plenty of space to spare for the wires and the device.

Although I think using the first box Joe pictured as a junction box is also not right. Things would be too tight in there and I'd worry about hurting the conductor insulations....

I think pancake boxes are for fitting small, lightweight luminaires (like a standard porcelain lamp holder) in places where you can't put a full-size box in. There's not enough depth to fit a receptacle in, like Joe said.

Have any of you pros ever seen a need to use a pancake?

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 11-22-2002).]

The rule cited above includes NECH commentary that supports the comments here and the cubic inch capacity will have to be considered.


[This message has been edited by Joe Tedesco (edited 11-22-2002).]

A) the Pancake box, is for hanging light on ceiling studs. the 1/2 inch size is right for the thickness of drywall.

As for wire count, conductors for luminaries smaller than #14 dont count. Sorry I dont have the code.....anyone????


B) as for the monitors. your "BOX" for the monitor has sides, install a recesed box like sugested earlyer....

The "Box" for the monitor is attached to a stainless steel frame which is in turn suspended from the ceiling... there is nothing to recess the box into... the only possibility to fit the standard type box in it is to make the box bigger, or add an appendage on to it... both of which are un-appealing to the client, however... i think they will have to warm up to it. thanks for all the help