Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [junction-box]

A junction box is a container used to enclose electrical connections (junctions). Use with the [electrical] tag. Use with [wiring] if your questions involves wires.

When you need to connect two wires together, that is called a junction. By code, all junctions must be made within a junction box. This protects the junction and contains any electrical arcing.

The most common use for a junction box is to install a or .

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junction_box

Related Tags:

434 questions
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What's the minimum depth that an electrical box can recess into a finished wall? Does it have to be flush?

Do electrical boxes have to be flush to the finished surface? Can they recess any depth into the wall by as much as 1/8" or 1/4"? Edit: I appreciate everyone offering alternative solutions to making a non-flush, already-installed box flush to the…
oscilatingcretin
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In a multi-gang box, are neutral wires paired with specific hot wires?

I have a four-gang box that I'm installing new dimmers in. Currently all of the neutral (white) wires coming into the box are connected together (and not to the dimmers). The new dimmers require connections to the neutrals. There are three bundles…
drs
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What is the proper way to install a junction box above a dropped ceiling?

I'm doing some remodeling in my basement and part of that work involves moving a switch. When I was tracing the wires for the switch I found this above my dropped ceiling: Now, I'm no electrician, but this does not look up to code to me. Further…
heavyd
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How do you mount conduit to a wall so that it stands off a standard box distance?

I'm running 1/2" EMT conduit between single-gang surface-mount boxes. The holes for the boxes are slightly set away from the wall so that the conduit does not mount flush against the wall. I have found various types of single screw and double screw…
KJ7LNW
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Are these pigtails inside the panel and outside a junction box allowed?

I am concerned about a newer electrical panel's installation, where one of the older load wires, at the main electrical panel, appear to be shorter in length, appear not reaching the desired circuit breaker's location, as a result, the Electrician…
H1991
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12
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7 answers

Outlet screwed directly into stud

I was replacing old outlet in my house and came across an outlet that is screwed directly into the studs. Also the stud and the junction box were cut to fit the outlet. The new outlet is too big to fit in this space. I am afraid to put a new…
mkuce23
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What is this thing on my junction box?

This thing is on my junction box but i don't know what it is or what it's for.
hack3rfx
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11
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3 answers

How can I install a ceiling fan that needs a 4" box where I only have a 3" box?

As part of a home renovation project I discarded my old ceiling fan and have bought a new one. When installing the new one the electrician tells me that I have a 3" junction box and that I'll need a 4" junction box to install the fan. Now, this is a…
FanInstall
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1 answer

What is / was the purpose of these old openable-cover junction boxes?

1940s apartment in New York City. It has two of these junction boxes high up on the wall (just below ceiling level). We're in the process of planning remodeling and I'd like to just understand what these were originally used for, if possible. We may…
StayOnTarget
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What is the proper way to remove a receptacle from a wall?

What is code or proper way to remove a plug receptacle from a wall? If the plug has 2 black wires and 2 white wires, can the respective wires be connected together with wire nuts and tape then pushed into the wall? The box is going to be removed and…
Bill
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4 answers

What is this "loose faceplate ring" and is it something that should be fixed?

I was hoping to replace an old yellow faceplate for a coaxial connection with a nicer white one, but when I took off the faceplate I was greeted with this sight: I can only imagine that the cable company installed this coax connection using some…
brubsby
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How should I rewire this situation?

In my dinning room, I have this: There is a wire run going up through the floor from the basement. It then goes outside the wall, around a stud (or studs, I'm can't tell there is more than one), back into the wall, and down to the switch. It then…
Scribblemacher
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5 answers

Removing knockouts in old work metal boxes

I recently had an existing old work box (metallic, installed with the supports that look like 'F') where there was a cable coming in from the top and another from the bottom. I wanted to add a third cable from the back of the box. So I took my…
David Doria
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10
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How to open NM box knockouts?

I've found the knockouts in NM boxes hard to fully open. I've had trouble with both Carlon boxes and Madison Smart Boxes. The plastic molded to make the knockout is very resistant to actually being knocked out. My current approach is to whack the…
Jeremy W. Sherman
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I modified a nail-in electrical box to use screws instead of nails. Is there some code that prevents that?

Ever since I dove into the electrical side of things with my project, I've encountered a bunch of code restrictions. One thing that wouldn't surprise me if it was a violation of code is what I've done here: I did this because I have to install…
oscilatingcretin
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