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#98801 06/07/06 09:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,507
G
Member
Are the inspectors allowing 3" pancake boxes for mounting light fixtures? Remember the cu. in. fill for this size box is 4 cu. in.


George Little
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#98802 06/08/06 09:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
Sure- and why not?

Indeed, they are often used for ceiling fans as well.

The only problem is wire fill... if the circuit continues on to another fixture, then wire fill is violated. There's only enough room (legally) for one set of wires.

#98803 06/08/06 11:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 399
A
Member
Short answer NO
4 cu inches ( 65 cm cubed) allows for the end of a 14 / 2, no ground, nothing else.
Fixture canopys add space but, unless they are marked with the Cu. In. they should not be counted.
Almost anyplace that a pan box can be used an L shaped box, i.e. pan with a wiring compartment on one side, would do better.
I once asked an engineer at Raco why they kept making the 3" pans and he said, Because inspectors kept allowing them to pass inspection. [Linked Image]
Alan--


Alan--
If it was easy, anyone could do it.
#98804 06/08/06 10:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
B
Member
reno you must be thinking he said 4" pancake like I did at first.

#98805 06/09/06 01:54 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,273
T
Member
Use listed #18 lighting whips in 3/8" Flex.

Problem gone....

You will need to have a junction box within 6 feet for the listed whip.

Alternately, for lighting only you can use the tap rules to run your own #18 even longer.

Look at NEC 2005 table 240.5

[This message has been edited by Tesla (edited 06-09-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Tesla (edited 06-18-2006).]


Tesla
#98806 06/09/06 07:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 2
Cat Servant
Member
Big B, I bet you're right. I'm not sure I've ever seen the smaller one!

#98807 06/12/06 09:06 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,374
R
Moderator
I let people use them if there is only one 14-2 in the box.


Ryan Jackson,
Salt Lake City
#98808 06/13/06 02:19 AM
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 32
G
Member
Doesn't the fixture canopy add to the capacity?

Quote
410.10 Space for Conductors.
Canopies and outlet boxes taken together shall provide adequate space so that luminaire (fixture) conductors and their connecting devices can be properly installed.

If the luminaire had a flat base that effectively stopped the box fill at the face of the box I could see the concern but if this is a bell canopy there should be plenty of room, even for two sets of #12s.


Greg Fretwell
#98809 06/13/06 07:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,507
G
Member
410.10 makes no mention of using the canopy of a fixture as space for branch circuit conductors, only the fixture conductors and their connecting devices. The branch circuit conductors are poperly housed in the box. If it were a 4" pan box it would properly house a single 14/2 WG NM cable and the fixture wires could be housed in the canopy. A 3" pan box is quite clearly not suitable for 14/2 WG NM cable but most of us, like Ryan would accept it.

Typo's

[This message has been edited by George Little (edited 06-13-2006).]


George Little

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