How to Choose an Electrical Box | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House master electrician Heath Eastman explains the uses and purposes of different types of electrical boxes [https://amzn.to/2tfriLq].

SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Cost: $10 and up

Steps:
1. Heath breaks down electrical boxes into a few categories and explains their differences.
2. Heath starts by explaining that new work boxes are used whenever the walls are being opened up for work. This could be in new construction but also in renovations. They come with brackets on the side to nail directly into a stud from the side.
3. Old work boxes are used whenever the walls are closed up and small additions to the wiring are required.
a. Most of these have tabs that will pop out when pushed into the wall so that they can hold onto the drywall or plaster from the back.
b. They also make some old work boxes that come with angled brackets on the inside of the box that will allow you to screw through the box and into a stud without opening the wall.
4. Plastic boxes are most common and should be used with non-metallic cable wiring.
5. Metal boxes are used when the wiring is sheathed in a metal jacket.
6. Single-gang boxes are intended to hold one electrical device, like a switch or a receptacle.
7. Double-gang boxes are intended to hold two electrical devices.
8. Round electrical boxes are used for lighting fixtures on the wall, like a sconce.
9. Fan-rated electrical boxes are meant to hold ceiling lights with a substantial amount of weight. They do sell other types of boxes for ceiling lights, but Heath recommends always installing fan-rated, metal boxes so that any type of ceiling light can always be safely installed at that location.

Resources:
Heath described the best style of electrical box for various uses. In general, he recommends plastic boxes for switches and receptacles and metal boxes for light fixtures. Metal boxes are required when the existing wiring in the home is metal clad cable and must be bonded to the ground wire.  

All of the boxes Heath demonstrated are available at home centers and electrical supply houses.

Special assistance with this project was provided by Eaton and Eastman Electric (http://www.eatonandeastmanelectric.com).

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House INSIDER to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH

Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet:
https://bit.ly/34RYEP5

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG

Watch the full episode:
https://bit.ly/2TMq58g

How to Choose an Electrical Box | Ask This Old House
   / thisoldhouse