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ceiling box help pls.

1078 Views 8 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  joed
Hi:

I have four 14/2 cables going into a 1 1/2" deep light box. How many wires can you stuff into one extremely tiny box? I can't get four connected and in the box. Are there alternatives? I can't use a separate junction box. I want to bury everything in the ceiling.

:icon_confused:
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You must leave your box accessable you can't just bury everything in the ceiling. They do make deeper boxes than 1 1/2, try an electrical supply store.
A 4" x 1 1/2 octagon box is rated for 7 #14 conductors minus clamps, hickys and such. Can you switch the box and install a 4" x 2 1/8" box which is rated for 10 #14 conductors?
I don't even think that box would be big enough. They count wire nuts as box fill in Canada.
You must leave your box accessable you can't just bury everything in the ceiling. They do make deeper boxes than 1 1/2, try an electrical supply store.
Thanks Dave:

Yup, that's why I'm trying to get all of the wiring in the box so as not to bury a junction box in the ceiling.
A 4" x 1 1/2 octagon box is rated for 7 #14 conductors minus clamps, hickys and such. Can you switch the box and install a 4" x 2 1/8" box which is rated for 10 #14 conductors?
Right on! Now, I'm having enough trouble getting 4x NMD90 in a 4" octagon 1 1/2" deep. How in tar nation does one get 7 in there????? Do they sell electrician's shoe horns :)
I don't even think that box would be big enough. They count wire nuts as box fill in Canada.
Hi Jim:

Thanks. I can certainly understand why wire nuts (Marettes, here) are counted as well. I can't even bend the wires in to get them into the box. I'm going to have to experiment with larges boxes.
Right on! Now, I'm having enough trouble getting 4x NMD90 in a 4" octagon 1 1/2" deep. How in tar nation does one get 7 in there????? Do they sell electrician's shoe horns :)
For this post I am going to assume that NMD is like our NM (romex).

When Electures states 7 #14's he doesn't mean 7 14/2's. Each current carrying conductor counts as one, then all the grounds count as a total of one.

So, in your case, 4 14/2's would actually be 9 #14's in that box.

You are overfilled by one cable.

Again, this is by NEC rules.
And in Quebec you are NOT permitted to do your own electrical work. You must hire an electrician.
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