33
votes
Accepted
"Old Work" electrical box: should it be screwed into the stud?
Junction boxes are not to have additional holes drilled into them for securing them to studs. The box you have shown can be used and mounted fairly secure if you take the time to cut the opening as ...
- 86.4k
17
votes
"Old Work" electrical box: should it be screwed into the stud?
No, and you'll crack the box if you try.
Plastic is not metal. Plastic boxes are flimsy things. They don't have any strength except where they have been gusseted specifically to have strength.
This ...
15
votes
Accepted
Safe, easy way to tap into taut NM cable in wall?
A new splice in the wall is not needed in your case (and not desirable)
You're too focused on splicing into the cable in the wall at your drywall cut-out. While that is needed under some circumstances,...
- 521
10
votes
Safe, easy way to tap into taut NM cable in wall?
For practical reasons, you would replace the whole section of cable from the new sconce location to the existing outlet, so that each junction is at a junction box that you'd have anyway. Adding in a ...
- 226k
9
votes
Accepted
How do I keep a GFCI outlet with tight clearance from shorting inside a steel electrical box?
So those metal cut-in boxes are really designed to be gangable switch boxes, but there's nothing wrong with using them as long as you don't violate wire fill allowances. They are a design from an ...
- 1,823
8
votes
How to remove old-work ceiling light fixture box attached to conduit pipes
You need to stop destroying stuff right now.
Since your project is this light, you are assuming the universe is gracious enough to have ALL the wires in these conduits be ONLY about this light. That ...
8
votes
How to remove old-work ceiling light fixture box attached to conduit pipes
Removing this box is not a good solution when there are rigid conduits bringing wires into this existing box. The main reason for this is that those wires would still need to terminate into an ...
- 66.5k
8
votes
Can I use an old-work box on an exterior wall?
Yes you can mount an outside outlet on an old-work box cut into the wall.
Here are some tips:
You can buy an outside outlet kit that includes a GFCI outlet, a wet-in-use cover and a foam gasket. ...
- 45.6k
7
votes
"Old Work" electrical box: should it be screwed into the stud?
When I've had to do this, here's how I did it: Cut the new opening to size for the new box. Then cut 2 pieces of 1/2" plywood about 2" x 8" or so. Apply glue and slip them into the ...
- 23.3k
7
votes
Stapling cable inside of a box when there is no room
Try harder. You don't have a lot of room to swing a hammer there, but a staple can be tapped in by getting the head of the hammer into the ceiling and then moving only as far as the hole permits the ...
- 226k
6
votes
How can I remove foamboard insulation from behind drywall so electrical box tabs have clearance to grab?
I'd try a rotary (drum) rasp of a suitable diameter in a drill. The radius should be slightly larger than that of the swinging part on the box.
You should be able to work it in behind the drywall with ...
- 149k
6
votes
Accepted
Can I ground only part of my house?
Yes you can leave some circuits ungrounded and GFCI protected (either at the breaker or at the first outlet in the circuit).
And you can have proper grounded circuits in places where it is easier to ...
- 13.7k
6
votes
Safe, easy way to tap into taut NM cable in wall?
There are some splices available for in-wall use, but they are really, as I understand it, meant for repairs where there is no other practical option.
A splice normally is done inside a junction box, ...
5
votes
How do I safely extend electrical wiring without replacing it entirely?
You are sunk
Wire that short can't be spliced or extended. The wire must be able to come out beyond the surface of the box at least 3".
You will need to reroute these cables to a different junction ...
5
votes
How do I keep a GFCI outlet with tight clearance from shorting inside a steel electrical box?
From the added information in the comments, this 2-gang box is only 3-5/8" wide which is insufficient for the two modern outlets which are installed in the photo. Standard device boxes are 2&...
- 1,373
5
votes
How do I keep a GFCI outlet with tight clearance from shorting inside a steel electrical box?
Why bother using boxes at all? Reasons. When you get down to the reasons we use junction boxes, metal is better at every single one of them. All that to say, don't let this deter you or make you ...
3
votes
Accepted
How to remove old-work ceiling light fixture box attached to conduit pipes
The existing answers are correct in that you should not, in all likelihood, be attempting to remove this box or the wiring or the conduit.
However, to actually answer the question you asked, since ...
- 48k
3
votes
Accepted
Grounding recommendation at a remote receptacle/ground rod?
If you do want to retain that auxiliary ground rod and connect it to the whole system there are some rules to follow. One is that this "grounding electrode conductor" must be continuous from ...
- 33.5k
3
votes
"Old Work" electrical box: should it be screwed into the stud?
Buy a better box if you want it to be sturdy. Partially because there's a shortage, I couldn't buy a 2-gang old work plastic blue box like the one you pictured in the question. Nearby, there was a ...
- 26.3k
3
votes
Tips for replacing a wire inside a wall?
It's significantly more likely that the first "working" outlet or the first "dead" outlet is bad, rather than the wire being bad. Outlets are inexpensive. Try replacing one or both ...
- 21.4k
3
votes
Accepted
Possible to attach an external electrical box to an old work box?
Consider surface mount boxes.
These are designed for line current, but are fine for low voltage. Just swap out your connectors and faceplates. They can mount over an existing old work box and have ...
- 33.9k
3
votes
Replacing old 60's junction box with recessed lighting
I would go with a flat panel LED fixture.
It is Not recessed but it is very thin and unobtrusive. No modifications to ceiling would be required.
The other option is to cut a new hole adjacent to ...
- 13.7k
3
votes
How do I safely extend electrical wiring without replacing it entirely?
I'd use a push-in splice like this one. It should attach to your existing wires and let you attach another piece to bring up up to a better length.
As for size, you can't go wrong with 12 gauge. It ...
- 26.3k
2
votes
Old Work Box for Vanity Light?
Make sure the box doesn't show around the fixture. They usually do and makes it unsightly for the homeowner. I made that mistake as an apprentice once and made a huge mess for the drywall guy/boss man/...
- 71
2
votes
Switch outlets to permanently hot. Switch to control new recessed lights
You are in luck for making the outlet always hot. It looks to be wired as a simple switch loop.
The only change required to make the outlet always hot is to separate the existing wirenut and replace ...
- 13.7k
2
votes
How to fix broken screw hole in ceiling box? (re: ceiling light fixture; how to replace the box?)
The box up there is similar to the one below.
If you have attic access, you can remove the old box and replace it fairly easy.
If you don't have access, then you'll have to cut the tabs the nails are ...
- 86.4k
2
votes
Tips for getting cables through old work box knockouts and into wall
I'd use a different style of clamp for this job
Given that you're in an old-work situation and dealing with fragile cables, I'd use a style of clamp such as a Raco Insider or Arlington White Button ...
- 86.1k
2
votes
Accepted
Tips for replacing a wire inside a wall?
Thanks for the responses, but it was indeed a bad wire. Replacing the wire between the two outlets fixed the problem. I lucked out I think on the wire placement, as each outlet ran straight down to ...
- 608
2
votes
Accepted
Old Work Box for Vanity Light?
Yes, an old work box is completely safe for what you're using it for. Just make sure the dogs are snug against the drywall.
- 1,234
2
votes
Install old work low voltage bracket in too big hole
Repair the drywall, cut a new opening. Possibly move the opening while you are at it.
Change to a double-gang ring. Have some blank spots in your faceplate, no big deal.
Depending on the details of ...
- 226k
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