ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Do you US guys have an option?

I'm sure I saw an electrician on an American tv show several years ago, bend two metal tabs into a hole in the the sheetrock to fix a receptacle?
Alan

Alan are you talking about a "Madison bar". It is a flat metal strip, used in pairs yto hold a box in a hole on old work.
The long part sits behind the hole against the back of the wall and the 2 tabs bend over the box edge to hold it.

Often the 4X4 box is a "bracket box" with mounting onto the side of the wood 2X4 (most construction here is wood-framed with drywall). That leaves one side of the box firmly mounted, but sometimes the other side moves or hinges. The tabs were probably "steamboats" which can help firm the loose side to the wall. Usually though, the steamboats are used for "rework" boxes whose only support is the drywall. The top and bottom tabs of the rework box keep it from pushing into the wall, and a steamboat on the two sides keep the box from pulling out of the wall.

Now you're probably REALLY confused. Pictures anyone?

Dave

Dave

Like Bob said, we have 4 options, installing them whichever direction we want. Of course, most are vertical since the single gang nail-on box is vertical, but for some reason most of the receptacles in the Chicagoland area are installed horizontally. When I worked there, they were all that way, except if they were ganged together whith a switch, or another receptacle. And most of them are in 4-square, or 1900 boxes, with mud rings.

We have a lot more than 4 options.

We've got all 360° of options.

In Mexico we have this device made by Grupo IUSA:


It's a horizontal version of an American-style "decorator" receptacle.

Mexican wiring uses the same type wall boxes and devices as USA/Canada.

Unfortunately a lot of the stuff made down in Mexico by Mexican companies doesn't see the light of day here in the USA market. Some of it is pretty innovative.

Only Mexican stuff I see sold here is Leviton and Cooper (USA brands that are manufactured down there).

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 08-21-2005).]

How about hot up/down for the horizontal mounting?

Ducks for cover.....

ROFL....

Incoming!!!

It is used in Canada as well.

How about twistlocks.. you can get dizzy going around in circles..