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Subject Author Date
Better Junction Boxes Aaron Fude 04-23-2008
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Posted by Aaron Fude on April 23, 2008, 2:31 am
Hi,

I have discovered a junction box where a wire splits into 4. What a
MESS! It's got these huge nuts to hold the wires together and
everything is twisted and barely fits. And, of course, one of the
connections is broken.

Why don't there (seem to) exist better junction boxes? I envision a
box that looks more like a small panel where you get to connect the
hot wires together by inserting them into connected individual slots
and tightening with a bolt like you do in most breaks - and same for
neutrals and ground. I think that something like that would be much
more secure and easier to work with!

If what I envision does exist, I would very much appreciate a link.

Thanks!

Aaron

Posted by Joseph Meehan on April 23, 2008, 7:51 am
That would be an interesting idea, but considering it would increase
cost, I don't see it happening any time soon.

Boxes are rated by size so only a given number of connections can be
made in a give size box. Frankly I think they tend to get over crowded well
before they reach the code max. You can get different size and shape
boxes. Many you should choose a larger or deeper box.

> Hi,
>
> I have discovered a junction box where a wire splits into 4. What a
> MESS! It's got these huge nuts to hold the wires together and
> everything is twisted and barely fits. And, of course, one of the
> connections is broken.
>
> Why don't there (seem to) exist better junction boxes? I envision a
> box that looks more like a small panel where you get to connect the
> hot wires together by inserting them into connected individual slots
> and tightening with a bolt like you do in most breaks - and same for
> neutrals and ground. I think that something like that would be much
> more secure and easier to work with!
>
> If what I envision does exist, I would very much appreciate a link.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Aaron


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Posted by Percival P. Cassidy on April 23, 2008, 9:17 am
On 04/23/08 02:31 am Aaron Fude wrote:

> I have discovered a junction box where a wire splits into 4. What a
> MESS! It's got these huge nuts to hold the wires together and
> everything is twisted and barely fits. And, of course, one of the
> connections is broken.
>
> Why don't there (seem to) exist better junction boxes? I envision a
> box that looks more like a small panel where you get to connect the
> hot wires together by inserting them into connected individual slots
> and tightening with a bolt like you do in most breaks - and same for
> neutrals and ground. I think that something like that would be much
> more secure and easier to work with!
>
> If what I envision does exist, I would very much appreciate a link.

This is the kind of thing I recall from UK a few decades ago:
>
http://www.hager.co.uk/images/products/ashley/Ceiling%20Switches/CeilingAccessoriesImage10_5.png

Wire nuts always struck me as a Rube Goldberg solution.

Perce

Posted by Aaron Fude on April 23, 2008, 9:57 am
Yes, that sort of thing.

Sure it would be a little more expensive, but I think it's necessary.
It can't be that much more expensive. I buy nice residential outlets
for $1.25 and those can essentially be used as junctions. In fact,
that's what I will probably do. Instead of a junction box, I'll put an
electrical box there with three outlets. I will use the home run wire
to power each outlet and use the remaining connections on the outlets
for the effective connections. Is this a bad idea for some reason.

Aaron

Posted by dpb on April 23, 2008, 10:20 am
Aaron Fude wrote:
> Yes, that sort of thing.
>
> Sure it would be a little more expensive, but I think it's necessary.
> It can't be that much more expensive. I buy nice residential outlets
> for $1.25 and those can essentially be used as junctions. In fact,
> that's what I will probably do. Instead of a junction box, I'll put an
> electrical box there with three outlets. I will use the home run wire
> to power each outlet and use the remaining connections on the outlets
> for the effective connections. Is this a bad idea for some reason.

You could simply use a split nut for solid connections or put a terminal
strip in an existing box or a deeper box to make it less crowded. There
are a myriad of terminal choices--check at your local electrical
distributor or look at Grainger or Square D or other online electrical
distributors to see catalogs.

Three outlets in one location simply for the terminals seems excessive
imo, but there's nothing specifically wrong about it. Don't know what
one would use all of them for, though...

--

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