What is this button for?

[Paul Friesen]

I found this button in a crawlspace (1975 house) the other day and wasn't able to trace the wires to its destination. It had a 12 gauge wire wire running to it and from it was armoured BX so I assumed it was a fan of some sort but never saw one. Any idea?
Thanks,

[Jack Feldmann]

Was it hot? Did you happen to take off the cover to see if it was just a junction box?

[Billy Stephens]

Hi Paul,

Whatever it needs to go as Lamp cord is not allowed .

[John Kogel]

Someday pulled a j-box cover out of his junk box.

Next question? :D

[Garry Sorrells]

PANIC BUTTON for the claustrophobic

[Scott Patterson]

It begs the question: Did you mash the button?

[Jerry Peck]

Room service? :)

[Nick Ostrowski]

Who doesn't put their garage door opener button in their crawlspace?

[Garry Sorrells]

Who doesn't put their garage door opener button in their crawlspace?

Now that makes more sense........................... The Bat Cave


Leaving the Batcave - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBe3QzVW5_8)

or

Entering The Batcave - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QbuOYW_rkM)

[Loren Sanders Sr.]

Now that makes more sense........................... The Bat Cave


Leaving the Batcave - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBe3QzVW5_8)

or

Entering The Batcave - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QbuOYW_rkM)

Why don't we emphasize the importance of labeling switches, particularly when they are in an unusual location? I am not an Electrician but sometimes we have a tendency to assume everyone else knows what a specialist knows... not so.

[Frank Norman]

1. If, as Paul says, it's 12 gauge then it's not lamp cord.
2. Hard to say without seeing it, but the button-like centre on the plate looks more like a plastic knockout for low-voltage wiring such as a hard-wired phone or speaker than a functioning button. If the hole is not knocked out then it's simply a blank plate. My guess is that the photo is simply of a junction box, nothing more complicted.


Hi Paul,

Whatever it needs to go as Lamp cord is not allowed .

[david shapiro]

My guess is that the photo is simply of a junction box, nothing more complicted.

It ain't the worst sin going, but whatever the cover is, its configuration is that of a flush cover, not a surface cover. So what? Well, it might not mate properly with a utility box--and if what's under it isn't a utility box but a gem/sectional switch box, that too is not designed for stable surface mounting.

[Frank Norman]

It ain't the worst sin going, but whatever the cover is, its configuration is that of a flush cover, not a surface cover. So what? Well, it might not mate properly with a utility box--and if what's under it isn't a utility box but a gem/sectional switch box, that too is not designed for stable surface mounting.

Agree that a metal cover plate with rolled over edges would be the right type to use and suggest an electrician's work rather than handyman's, but am not convinced that mating properly would be an issue with the plastic cover given that a utility box isn't air-tight anyway. I don't know about issues with a gem/sectional switch box as I never heard of them before here (maybe it's different terminology used in different places). Searched for gem/sectional switch box and the only relevant hit was "GEM" Sectional Switch Box--Patented April 2, 1907, March 1, 1910, February 13, 1912. Type "F" 2 1/4" Deep, beveled corners, knock-outs for loom, approved by the underwriters, takes all makes of switches and receptacles. Chicago Fuse Mfg. Co. sole manufacturers, Chicago, New York. There was a picture of the package but not the box. I believe that knock-outs for loom would be for the woven sleeves used with knob and tube wiring.
31165
Please dispel my ignorance and tell me what a gem sectional switch box is post-K&T.

[david shapiro]

Please dispel my ignorance and tell me what a gem sectional switch box is post-K&T.

It's the standard metal box used in residential walls other than square boxes when working with metal cables, or sometimes with NM. "Sectional" because you can remove a wall to make a 2-gang, 3-gang etc box. Gem is the slang alternative.

[Mbrooke]

Is this near a furnace? A heat sensor perhaps? No clue myself but that would be my bet.

[Lon Henderson]

For some reason, I just thought of the button that had to be pressed regularly on that old TV show, "Lost".

For God's Sake, whatever you do........DON'T PRESS THAT BUTTON!:o