Home Site Map - Techniques - Electrical -
Electrical Outlets and Boxes
A
better way to mount the electrical boxes inside your house.
Electrical Outlets
All power outlets need to be tamper resistant to meet building code.
GFCI
All GFCI power outlets to meet building code must be tamper resistant. Typically you use a 20 amp GFCI as the first socket in a chain and then connect lots of regular power outlets to the load terminals of the GFCI.
Purchasing details are
here .
In bathrooms and other wet rooms (as well as outside) it is good to use a waterproof version. It does not have to be 20A (15A would do) but I use 20A).
Purchasing details are
here .
Typically regular power outlets are 15A. I prefer the more modern "Decora" rectangular style. To meet building code, they must be tamper resistant.
Purchasing details are
here .
You can get USB outlets for charging phones etc.
Purchasing details are
here .
Fill in blank positions...
Purchasing details are here
.
Decora with Cat-6 hole...
Purchasing details are
here .
It is best to use home automation switches (eg Insteon), but if you need a less expensive alternative then use regular Decora rocker switches. You can always replace these with home automation ones later.
Purchasing
details are here
.
Electrical boxes
Use plastic electrical boxes in the walls because it avoids having to ground them.
Use the deepest possible electrical boxes so you have plenty of room.
Label all wiring with labels designed for the purpose that will not fall off with age. Take photos of wiring before putting up the drywall. I also write in the Romex jacket using a ballpoint pen.
Details are here .
Available from Lowes or HomeDepot for under $1 each. Before using, need to perform the following operations on the box...
Pull out nails.
Cut off nail lugs with a chop saw.
Get rid of the little positioning lugs
using a chisel.
Measure
half way down the sides and draw a line with a square all the way up the
side to the top. Half way is about 1-13/15" from the edges, but
measure from both faces to get high accuracy.
(There is no need to drill holes or bend away the wire hole lugs.)
Screw the electrical box in place using 1-1/4" screws with the box center line lining up with center lines drawn on 2-by drywall supports. Needs to be 3/8" proud of the 2-by surface. Use a 3/8 thick piece of wood as a template.
Use a clamp too get the box positioned on the height line and with the right protrusion. Use a long extension on the screwdriver so the angle is not enough to cause the box to get pulled back by the screw tightening. The screw makes its own hole in the plastic and then into the wood. Two screws are used on each side so the box is rigidly supported.
Details of the screwdriver extension are here .
Bathroom GFCI...
