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How to Install Electrical Boxes
Make sure to Account for the Finished Drywall
When Installing Electrical Boxes
By Mark J. Donovan
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When installing electrical boxes on
wall studs or ceiling joists it is important to account for the thickness of the
finished walls and ceilings when mounting them. Installing electrical boxes with
pre-marked tabs or reference lines on them is helpful for ensuring that they are
installed at the right depth on the wall studs. Make sure to buy switch and
receptacle electrical boxes that meet both local and national electric codes. In
addition, make sure to install electrical boxes of the right size and type for
the specific application.
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Electrical boxes have ratings
stenciled on them for how many cable wires that can be brought into them. If
more cables are brought into an electrical box than it is rated for there is the
risk of broken and shorted wires.
Electrical Box
Types
Non-metallic electrical boxes are the most prevalently used today by electrical
contractors. They are both inexpensive and easy to install. In addition, unlike
metal electrical boxes they do not have to be grounded.
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Non-metallic electrical boxes are
however a little flimsy and thus you have to be careful when nailing them to
wall studs to not crack them. With some of the larger non-metallic electrical
boxes it is wise to put some blocking behind them so that their front surface
remains parallel and rigid.
Metal electrical boxes on the hand are rigid and can be ganged together. However
metallic electrical boxes need to be electrically grounded and are more
expensive.
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How to Install
Electrical Boxes
To install electrical boxes, whether it be outlet electrical boxes or switch
electrical boxes, make sure you mount them straight and level, and at the proper
height per local and national electrical codes. Many of the most common
non-metallic electrical boxes come with nails already integrated into them and
with reference installation depth lines or tabs on them. With these electrical
box types all you need to do to install the electrical box is hold it in place
so that it protrudes out to the finished wall thickness and nail it to the wall
stud.
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Photo By Mark Donovan |
To install cables into an electrical box use a pair of lineman pliers or a
screwdriver to knock out the necessary knock-out tabs and feed the cables into
the electrical box. Make sure all ground wires associated with the incoming
cables are tied together per local and national electric codes. Finally properly
strip and connect the black, red, and white wires to the electrical outlet
receptacles and switches as specified by their particular manufacturers.
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