Most Commonly Used Electric Boxes.

Before you take on any electrical work, make sure you know what electric box you need.

Check out this short summery about the most commonly used boxes and their purposes.

You can by the boxes mentioned below in all the hardware stores and even online!

First things first! Let’s talk about safety.

Always turn off the power in the fuse box before starting to work on any electrical project at home. You can double check that there is no power in the switch you are working on by using a tester.

Never try to make repairs near the service head. Call a professional.

Do not drill into walls before checking if there are wires in them (with detector) or shutting down the power.

If you have small children, we suggest you  cover the switches and electrical boxes in your home for safety. Locate electrical boxes high on the walls out of kid’s reach.

The wall box:

This box is used for house switches and receptacles. It is called a wall box because it is usually mounted to the wall. It can also be mounted on a stud. It is usually made out of plastic or metal. Note the knockouts - the holes at the side where the conduit enters the box. There is also a shallow box available if there is not room to mount a standard box.

A handy wall box is mounted on the surface and has round edges for safety.

A drywall has expandable arms that enable mounting it on a dry wall.

A Gern box is the same size as the standard box (2"x3" and 2.5" deep) but is made of metal. Deeper boxes are available.

A plastic box is best for new installations; it often has a nail or screw built into it to simplify attachment.

The Ceiling box:

Is usually attached to the ceiling, hence the name. It is also known as the junction or splice box.

It is used to anchor ceiling fixtures and serves as a junction where wires can meet. These boxes are usually round or octagonal and may be 1.5 to 2.12" deep.

They may include adjustable mounting hangers, so look if the box you are buying is suitable to your needs. The hooks allow hanging of rafters in the ceiling, so that the box can be flexibly placed. The hooks also serve to secure lighting bodies.

The weather proof box:

This box is also known as the outside box. This is a covered box that is used for external switches and receptacles. These boxes are thicker than normal interior boxes and have a rubber gasket between the box and the cover, to keep water out. The plastic cover is transparent or opaque and it can be removed and remounted onto the box with snaps or screws.

Wall plates:

These are also known as covers or face plates for switches or receptacles. These are made of plastic metal or wood and can be plain or decorated.

Their purpose is to cover the hole in the wall that is made by the wall box. The number of holes in the cover matches the number of switches or receptacles being covered. The face plate can also be blank.