I've been doing a lot of home renovation and have found that it's well worth digging into the details of every single item I am using. Stuff like this makes it possible. Thanks.
My 40 years as a general contractor in NYC rarely (never, actually) exposed me to the mysteries of non-metallic electrical supplies, methods, and materials. Even residential projects forbade the use of anything other than BX, EMT, and their associated boxes, etc. Now that I've moved to New England, the mystery of plastic boxes has been solved, thanks to your amazing video(s). If you have already produced content relating specifically to the installation of romex and BX in the same metallic box, serving general household power and lighting devices, could you please direct me to that video? Keep up the fantastic work; this is why TH-cam exists, at least for me.
You are by far the best TH-cam instructor. Your videos are simple, clear, and informative. I can’t thank you enough for your content. Keep making videos sir.
@@jovetj most of it comes down to fire rated for commercial buildings, the codes are stricter, because of fire rating we don't even run drywall the same as residential. I think in the 50s there was several nasty fires in NYC and in Chicago that changed things. I guess they figure in a nasty residential fire only a few will die, a family or two and friends maybe.
Excellent content, thanks! Given the professional nature and clear delivery of your videos, I suspect it will not be long before your channel takes off.
I'm surprised you didn't mention the 4¹¹/₁₆" square boxes (e.g. 11B boxes) since they're commonly found in home improvement stores, too. They're similar in size enough to a 4" box that someone uninitiated can grab one by mistake.
You should also mention that the outdoor weatherproof boxes "Bell Box" are threaded with 1/2", 3/4"or 1". They also come in different configurations such as 5, 3 & 1 threaded holes on a single gang. I wish you would put the part numbers for some of the boxes I've never seen before such as the non-metallic exterior new construction box and the Carlon shallow remodeling box.
I have an electrical box for my ceiling light that I can’t identify. It appears to not be compatible with any new fixtures. I’m no expert, could you help in identifying?
yeah i have a heck of a time with remodeling boxes trying to get the screws long enough some places the wall is about 1 1/2 inches thick i didn't realise the grey ones had longer screws
Wow thank you iam learning Alot from you about heat hot spots and what to look for I think I will heat guns and check all my boxes and breaker boxes and everything one of them is real hot I know I have something going on very helpful I like videos
surprised you didn't mention the fan saddle boxes. I remember then from my Menards days. Round PVC box that had a spot in it to sit on the bottom of a 1 1/2" wide ceiling joist .
I was retrofitting wired Smoke/CO in the hall and landed on a joist (lengthwise in the ceiling?). 12 wires (junction of 3 other locations and a pigtail to the detector) , so a pancake was out of the question. One of those to the rescue
Hi Joe, this is way off topic but hoping you'll know the answer Does a GFCI always needs to be fed directly through the panel ( a homerun), it's the first in your circuit and then your daisy chain comes off that ? Correct? If the GFCI is fed directly from the panel, can you daisy chain off of it in both directions?...so that 3 romex lines come out of your box ( total of 9 individual wires). I'm doing a kitchen which needs 2 circuits ( for my counter tops), my fed is coming 50 ft from the panel up through the basement in the middle of the kitchen to the GFCI and then I've daisy chained off of it to the right ( skipping every other one) but I'd like to continue the circuit to the left, so can I feed off the GFCI both ways ?
@@ElectricProAcademy My own kitchen. I do long term flips ( do the majority myself) and took about 9 months of electrical training but it's been over a year, so I'm having to refresh my memory, we also only practiced wiring a house once so I don't have a lot of hands on experience. Thank you so much for answering, I watched over two hours of videos last night, left numerous messages and could not find the answer to this question. Just for clarity, I would have to pigtail both the neutral & the ground, making sure they don't touch inside the box, but would this even be an issue as the nuetrals have the white shealth over them? I hope someday in the future, you'll concider making a short video on it. And thank you so much again for your response !!!
Yes you can. The load side can go any way you want. You do not have to daisy chain every receptacle. Just make sure they all connect to the load side of the GFI.
Hey saw your video and wanted to ask I’m replacing my old motion sensor flood light with a new one. The old motion sensor had a circular mount on a rectangular junction box so the gasket overlapped. I’m replacing the junction box with a octagon shaped since the new flood light has a circular mount as well. Is it ok to use a metal junction box?
@@izzo4231 There should be nothing wrong with the original arrangement. The gasket in question is intended to contact the siding or whatever surface is installed around the light, yes?
@@izzo4231 So is there a siding light block? A fancy piece that surrounds the light and is designed to provide a plumb surface that interfaces to the surrounding siding? Does the light you have not seal onto it?
They make ground bushings if you must convert bx/mc to a plastic box. Always make sure to test if the metal armor sheathing is properly grounded though.
Why do some double gang metal box have 4 threaded tabs to screw in the receptacle/switch and cover plate while others only have 2 treaded tabs on opposite corners and others don't even have any threaded tabs at all? Im going to rewire an old house and want to use double gang boxes for all switches and outlets so I wont have to worry about wiring folding space but I noticed the treaded tab differences. Thanks for your reply.
I prefer fiberglass boxes over the POS blue light special wall cases. A little more money but are easier to deal on exterior walls, a lot stronger and never had the 6/32 threads strip out.
@@ElectricProAcademy Maybe 45 years ago when the large box stores started selling blue light special one gang deep wall cases for only about 35 cents purchased some. Had them in my van in a cold winter day and first couple of boxes split before I set the two nails. Tried them on warmer days and maybe only one out of 25 cracked but managed to strip screw holes. Carlon does make quality products.
I've been doing a lot of home renovation and have found that it's well worth digging into the details of every single item I am using. Stuff like this makes it possible. Thanks.
My 40 years as a general contractor in NYC rarely (never, actually) exposed me to the mysteries of non-metallic electrical supplies, methods, and materials. Even residential projects forbade the use of anything other than BX, EMT, and their associated boxes, etc. Now that I've moved to New England, the mystery of plastic boxes has been solved, thanks to your amazing video(s). If you have already produced content relating specifically to the installation of romex and BX in the same metallic box, serving general household power and lighting devices, could you please direct me to that video? Keep up the fantastic work; this is why TH-cam exists, at least for me.
we use plastic here since the 1930s...
but its Europe....
You are by far the best TH-cam instructor. Your videos are simple, clear, and informative. I can’t thank you enough for your content. Keep making videos sir.
@@ElectricProAcademy why do commercial Buildings don't use plastic boxes
@@rickyperkins232 Why do commercial buildings don't use wood studs?
@@jovetj the absolute number one reason is the fire rating of metal studs and extremely better than wood studs.
@@rickyperkins232 There's your answer. It's also a lot harder to connect conduit to plastic boxes.
@@jovetj most of it comes down to fire rated for commercial buildings, the codes are stricter, because of fire rating we don't even run drywall the same as residential.
I think in the 50s there was several nasty fires in NYC and in Chicago that changed things.
I guess they figure in a nasty residential fire only a few will die, a family or two and friends maybe.
Excellent content, thanks! Given the professional nature and clear delivery of your videos, I suspect it will not be long before your channel takes off.
Excellent review of the mounting/application options available
OMG.... YOU ROCK! LOVE YOUR INPUT AND EXPLANATIONS💯✌️
I'm surprised you didn't mention the 4¹¹/₁₆" square boxes (e.g. 11B boxes) since they're commonly found in home improvement stores, too. They're similar in size enough to a 4" box that someone uninitiated can grab one by mistake.
This is excellent information!
Thank you
Great channel, subbed, came here from your cameo on Everyday Home Repairs
Excellent video. Thanks
Amazing thank you so much.
What would be the right box to use on exterior brick for hanging Wall lanterns
Would you use a plastic box or metal box for a free standing gas stove/oven range ?
You should also mention that the outdoor weatherproof boxes "Bell Box" are threaded with 1/2", 3/4"or 1". They also come in different configurations such as 5, 3 & 1 threaded holes on a single gang. I wish you would put the part numbers for some of the boxes I've never seen before such as the non-metallic exterior new construction box and the Carlon shallow remodeling box.
what is that in metric??
4:05 This is NICE! very NICE!
Any other differences between the blue and gray plastic box?
I have an electrical box for my ceiling light that I can’t identify. It appears to not be compatible with any new fixtures. I’m no expert, could you help in identifying?
Great content. Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much for all your videos!
yeah i have a heck of a time with remodeling boxes trying to get the screws long enough some places the wall is about 1 1/2 inches thick i didn't realise the grey ones had longer screws
I've replaced the screws with longer before, that helped, but still not as good for really thick material as the grey boxes. Might help.
Thank you for your video, I helped me a lot
enjoying your videos , great job
Wow thank you iam learning Alot from you about heat hot spots and what to look for I think I will heat guns and check all my boxes and breaker boxes and everything one of them is real hot I know I have something going on very helpful I like videos
surprised you didn't mention the fan saddle boxes. I remember then from my Menards days. Round PVC box that had a spot in it to sit on the bottom of a 1 1/2" wide ceiling joist .
I was retrofitting wired Smoke/CO in the hall and landed on a joist (lengthwise in the ceiling?). 12 wires (junction of 3 other locations and a pigtail to the detector) , so a pancake was out of the question. One of those to the rescue
Hi Joe, this is way off topic but hoping you'll know the answer
Does a GFCI always needs to be fed directly through the panel ( a homerun), it's the first in your circuit and then your daisy chain comes off that ? Correct?
If the GFCI is fed directly from the panel, can you daisy chain off of it in both directions?...so that 3 romex lines come out of your box ( total of 9 individual wires).
I'm doing a kitchen which needs 2 circuits ( for my counter tops), my fed is coming 50 ft from the panel up through the basement in the middle of the kitchen to the GFCI and then I've daisy chained off of it to the right ( skipping every other one) but I'd like to continue the circuit to the left, so can I feed off the GFCI both ways ?
@@ElectricProAcademy My own kitchen. I do long term flips ( do the majority myself) and took about 9 months of electrical training but it's been over a year, so I'm having to refresh my memory, we also only practiced wiring a house once so I don't have a lot of hands on experience.
Thank you so much for answering, I watched over two hours of videos last night, left numerous messages and could not find the answer to this question.
Just for clarity, I would have to pigtail both the neutral & the ground, making sure they don't touch inside the box, but would this even be an issue as the nuetrals have the white shealth over them?
I hope someday in the future, you'll concider making a short video on it.
And thank you so much again for your response !!!
Yes you can. The load side can go any way you want. You do not have to daisy chain every receptacle. Just make sure they all connect to the load side of the GFI.
Hey saw your video and wanted to ask
I’m replacing my old motion sensor flood light with a new one. The old motion sensor had a circular mount on a rectangular junction box so the gasket overlapped. I’m replacing the junction box with a octagon shaped since the new flood light has a circular mount as well. Is it ok to use a metal junction box?
Do you mean the old box was a 4" square and the figure was mounted to a round adapter ring (mud ring) that was affixed to the square box? Or...?
@@jovetj yes
@@izzo4231 There should be nothing wrong with the original arrangement. The gasket in question is intended to contact the siding or whatever surface is installed around the light, yes?
@@jovetj ok and yes
@@izzo4231 So is there a siding light block? A fancy piece that surrounds the light and is designed to provide a plumb surface that interfaces to the surrounding siding? Does the light you have not seal onto it?
The round old work boxes are not rated for ceiling fixtures only wall fixtures at 6lbs.
They make ground bushings if you must convert bx/mc to a plastic box. Always make sure to test if the metal armor sheathing is properly grounded though.
I question the need for all these boxes. We don't use boxes at all here in Australia and we don't have issues. We also don't sheath our houses.
You also omit foundations on things like street lights and traffic signals, or when present you bury them. **confused look**
Why do some double gang metal box have 4 threaded tabs to screw in the receptacle/switch and cover plate while others only have 2 treaded tabs on opposite corners and others don't even have any threaded tabs at all? Im going to rewire an old house and want to use double gang boxes for all switches and outlets so I wont have to worry about wiring folding space but I noticed the treaded tab differences. Thanks for your reply.
Awesome
I prefer fiberglass boxes over the POS blue light special wall cases. A little more money but are easier to deal on exterior walls, a lot stronger and never had the 6/32 threads strip out.
@@ElectricProAcademy Maybe 45 years ago when the large box stores started selling blue light special one gang deep wall cases for only about 35 cents purchased some. Had them in my van in a cold winter day and first couple of boxes split before I set the two nails. Tried them on warmer days and maybe only one out of 25 cracked but managed to strip screw holes. Carlon does make quality products.
From the northeast? All your terms are the same I use.
Plastic is not legal in chicago
USA Electric Pro? Academy.....here we wouldnt let you close to just a switch in a wall...!