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11-21-2012, 09:03 AM #1
How many conductors can we get in one box?
Found this at an inspection yesterday, actually there were about 4-5 such junction boxes in the attic, crawl space and semi hidden behind bench seats. One box had 12 conductors entering the box. There are days when I am glad to be able to spot such defects and tell my clients; gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
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11-21-2012, 10:30 AM #2
Re: How many conductors can we get in one box?
There are pretty specific limitations in the NEC about conductor fill in boxes. A more nimble data provider than I, ( like hisbobness ), will probably provide chapter & verse for you. The good news is that all of the ground wires can for wire fill count purposes be counted as only one conductor, ( I think ). The first photo may not exceed code limits because the dark conductors are most likely single wire knob & tube conductors. The second would probably pass muster w/ a full depth extention ring. It is amazing how many conductors you can jam into a box if you are diligent about organizing, splicing lengths, laying / packing in orderly etc. Oh yea; those boxes need to be secured as well as the cables.
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11-21-2012, 10:47 AM #3
Re: How many conductors can we get in one box?
I did not bother measuring the box but it was somewhere around a 4x4+ size and 1-1/2 deep+-. These conductors were either 12 or 14 gauge 3 wire or an older 2-wire (no ground wire) no knob and tube. that would make the box contain about 24 countable wires (not counting any connectors or such inside as I did not remove the lid to see-did not trust it)..way more than the 13-15+- that would be allowed for box fill calculations.
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11-21-2012, 09:14 PM #4
Re: How many conductors can we get in one box?
When you say "conductors" do you mean cables? Because there are a lot of cables entering those boxes, and consequently far more conductors than are allowed by NEC 314.16. The solution is a $20 J-box and about an hour or two for each undersized box.
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11-21-2012, 10:01 PM #5
Re: How many conductors can we get in one box?
Or how about just using a box extension?
http://0.tqn.com/d/homerepair/1/0/O/...ender_text.jpg
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11-21-2012, 11:27 PM #6
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11-22-2012, 09:56 AM #7
Re: How many conductors can we get in one box?
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