An electrical box, in addition to ensuring safety and reliability, should also make it easier for the electrician to install internal elements of switches, branches and sockets. Although the boxes themselves are not complicated in terms of construction. Their proper selection should depend on the specific application. What types of electrical boxes are there? What to look for when buying an installation box ?
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Types of electrical boxes
An electrical (installation) box is one of the elements of electrical equipment. It is a plastic container mounted in or on walls.
There are some exceptions floor boxes . They are installed in public buildings, especially in open space offices, where all cabling is usually placed under the floor surface.
The number and method of mounting electrical boxes are established at the stage of the installation design. Their location determines the safety of users, their comfort, and above all the possibility of using electrical devices in each room.
The most popular types of electrical boxes:
Surface-mounted box
The surface-mounted box is mounted on the wall. The material from which it is made is characterized by greater durability and resistance to mechanical damage. The structural properties of the surface-mounted box significantly facilitate technical and service maintenance. Due to the fact that surface-mounted boxes are visible, they are installed mainly in facilities where aesthetic considerations do not play a significant role (industrial plants, workshop rooms, technical buildings, basements, garages).
Flush-mounted box
The flush-mounted box is mounted inside the wall, making it invisible. The exception is the cover that masks the inside of the container, and the rich palette of colors allows you to choose a product that matches the colors of the interior finish of the room. Flush-mounted box requires prior preparation of the wall in the form of precise dimensional holes. For this reason, installation of boxes is usually carried out during the construction of a renovation or reconstruction facility.
How deep should an electrical box be?
The depth of the electrical box should correspond to its dimensions, which are standardized. In other words, the dimensions of the individual types of installation boxes are unchanged in percentage terms. A box with a diameter of 66 mm is characterized by a depth of about 42 mm. Deepened boxes are also available commercially, the dimensions of which are as follows: length / width / height: 65 mm / 65 mm / 63 mm.
The dimensions of electrical boxes should include:
Destiny;
Installation method;
Installation location;
Cable type;
Installation purpose;
The conditions in which the box will function.
When drilling a hole for a box, it is recommended that the diameter of the hole saw be larger by about two millimeters on average. This will allow you to freely manipulate the box to adjust its position to the cables installed under the plaster. When working on a raw wall, you should take into account the thickness of the plaster, which is usually in the range of 5 to 7 mm.
Multiple cans
The multiple box is characterized by several interconnected chambers, in which – depending on the box you have – you can install from two to even five sockets or switches. Thanks to this solution, there is no need to install several separate boxes, and the entire structure is stable, convenient and aesthetic.
The speed of installation is also important. The electrician does not have to pay attention to the distances between compartments or the uniform depth of individual holes. Perforations around the places intended for holes through which cables pass through the set facilitate installation activities. Multiple boxes work well wherever work efficiency and its aesthetics are important.
Also available for sale installation boxes characterized by an unusual composition of the material from which they were made and their application ( halogen-free cans , external boxes ). We invite you to follow our subsequent publications , reading which will help you choose the most appropriate equipment and facilitate the difficult work related to the design, installation and maintenance of electrical lines.