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Box fill and wire nuts

11K views 7 replies 3 participants last post by  HouseHelper 
#1 ·
Hello:

I have a question amout box fill with wire nuts and pigtails. I have a 2 gang box with 12/2 coming in and two 12/3 wires going out. The box is for 2 switches. I was having problems getting 5 wires under one wire nut so I pigtailed them to another wire nut. So what it looks like in the box now:

-3 white wires under 1 wire nut
-3 green under 1 wire nut pigtailed (4 in total under the first wire nut) to another wire nut with 2 grounds running to each switch (so 3 in that wire nut)
- 3 blacks under 1 wire nut pigtailed (4 in total under the first wire nut) to another wire nut with 2 more wires running to eache switch

So there are 5 wire nuts in the box. This box is in a shallow wall and is only 25 cu. inch. Is this acceptable for box fill?


Here is a rough sketch of what it looks like:
 

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#2 ·
Your box is too small. For box fill you have 13 #12's x 2.25 cubic inches = 29.25.

Under the NEC pigtails and wire nuts do not count towards fill. Under the CEC wire nuts count towards fill.
 
#6 ·
How shallow is the wall? What is behind it? Is there a wall covering?
You may be able to use a 4" square box (metal) with a deep mud ring to gain enough room, or a three gang box with one space in the cover blanked.
 
#7 ·
I was using an old work box since I didn't want to tear out a portion of the wall. The new work box I just picked up will fit and it is 32 cu. in. and states 14/12 wires on it. So I should be ok with the box fill now.

Is how I connected it in the diagram inpost 1 a problem? Or is it acceptable to use multiple pigtail and wire nuts since they son't fit under 1 nut?
 
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