Need outlet, no place to mount box

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01-27-14, 12:28 PM

ardmi

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Need outlet, no place to mount box

I would like to place an outlet next to my water heater for a possible upgrade to a fan assisted gas wh at some point. In the meantime it would serve as a utility outlet/junction in the basement.

There is no wall surrounding the water heater to mount a box. A joist above is the closest member to attach too.

What options do I have besides building a wall!!?!

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01-27-14, 12:35 PM

Nashkat1

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Quote:

I would like to place an outlet next to my water heater... There is no wall surrounding the water heater to mount a box. A joist above is the closest member to attach to... What options do I have besides building a wall!!?!

Standing up a single stud; hanging a cripple with a brace; and mounting to the joist are three options that come to mind.

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01-27-14, 03:01 PM

ardmi

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Quote:

hanging a cripple with a brace

Please explain..... Sounds like something some skinheads might do on a Saturday night.

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01-27-14, 03:29 PM

aka pedro

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A cripple being a short piece of lumber, in this case long enough to extend straight down from the joist to a convenient working height, and a brace being a kicker, or second piece of lumber, at something like a 30-45 degree angle to a second joist, as a matter of stabilizing the cripple. Or you construct something out of unistrut, although that would probably be overkill (a term used to describe going above and beyond practical).

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01-27-14, 04:46 PM

ray2047

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But Nash's way is a lot cheaper. Those strain reliefs are expensive.

.

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01-28-14, 12:30 PM

ardmi

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Thanks. I understand what your describing I am just having a hard time visualizing what hanging a cripple would look like. The hanging box likeRay mentioned came to mind but I would prefer it to be attached.

Fan assisted and condensing water heaters use a cord and plug correct? Or are they hardwired?

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01-28-14, 04:23 PM

Nashkat1

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Quote:

Fan assisted and condensing water heaters use a cord and plug correct? Or are they hardwired?

That may vary with manufacturer and model. Some may offer the option of doing it either way.

You also need to determine whether the one you get requires an in-reach disconnect.

Last edited by Nashkat1; 01-28-14 at 04:38 PM.

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01-28-14, 04:54 PM

ray2047

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Sorry very crude but hopefully it will help you understand one way Nash suggested mounting it.

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01-31-14, 07:55 AM

md2lgyk

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I'd mount a surface outlet on an outside wall.

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01-31-14, 08:10 AM

ardmi

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Quote:

md2lgyk

I'd mount a surface outlet on an outside wall.

yeah ok, so would I if that was an option.

As stated in the original post, there is no wall surrounding the intended place within a reasonable distance. Its in the middle of an unfinished basement.

I will be exploring the options that were already suggested for this intended installation.

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01-31-14, 09:16 AM

Astuff

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You could come down 18" if you use two threaded conduits to support the box.

Otherwise get an 8' length of Kindorf or similar. Secure at top and bottom then you can attach EMT and a box to it.

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01-31-14, 11:47 AM

CasualJoe

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Quote:

Otherwise get an 8' length of Kindorf or similar. Secure at top and bottom then you can attach EMT and a box to it.

I wasn't even going to speak up in this thread, but it seems to keep going on and on. I like the idea of using strut with a foot bolted to the concrete floor. The water heater could even be tied to the strut for seismic support with steel pipe strap. I prefer B-Line strut with the proper catalog number so the THHN wiring can be run inside the strut with no conduit at all. Feed the wiring from a 1900 box mounted to a floor joist with 1/2" greenfield. Mount a 1900 box to the strut and install a GFCI receptacle with a 4" raised cover.

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#13

01-31-14, 02:58 PM

ardmi

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im not familiar with a "strut".... other than the one I put on a Saturday night.

Sounds intriguing.

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01-31-14, 03:29 PM

ray2047

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Quote:

im not familiar with a "strut"

Often called Unistrut after a major manufacturer of it.

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01-31-14, 04:04 PM

pcboss

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Strut is good, but it is expensive. Sometimes also called, Kindorf.

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#16

01-31-14, 04:32 PM

Mr.Awesome

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Mount a 4x4 by the water heater. You can then also use it to hang up any inspection papers or junk like that for the water heater.
Strut is a good idea but I think it would look funny in a home.

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01-31-14, 06:21 PM

CasualJoe

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Quote:

Strut is good, but it is expensive. Sometimes also called, Kindorf.

Kindorf, by T&B, is a manufacturer as is Unistrut and B-Line. I think the technical name is structural channel. Yes, it's expensive, but we are only talking about one piece. I have seen older homes with strut used to support copper plumbing with copper plated strut straps. The straps probably cost more than the strut.

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