thru the wall box question


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Old 02-28-16, 07:26 AM
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thru the wall box question

Hope this makes sense.

Double, thru the wall box. Accesible on either side of a wall. Switch installed on both sides to control light in each room (different circuits). At some point someone removed one switch and installed a cabinet over one side. They removed the switch and installed a double switch on the other side so the lights can still be used.

However, they did not use a blank cover on the side with the cabinet. So if you look into the box from the side with the double switch, you can see the exposed wood of the underside of the cabinet.

Is that a hazard?
 
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Old 02-28-16, 07:33 AM
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I wouldn't say that it's a hazard but it's a cheap way to do things.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 08:23 AM
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I will assume there are still wires in the covered box.

It is a hazard because it is a code violation. All junction boxes are required to be accessible. Accessible means that you do not need to remove the wall finish (IE: take down a cabinet) in order to gain access.

The easy fix is to cut the back of the cabinet where the box is and install a blank plate, which is what the lazy cabinet guy should have done in the first place.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 08:27 AM
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Am I reading correctly that this is one box, (previously) open on both sides of the wall? I don't think Tolyn read it that same way.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 08:46 AM
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I read it as 4x4 two boxes, back to back, with a nipple between them. AFAIK there is no box that is open on both sides of a wall.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 08:58 AM
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Please post pictures. http://www.doityourself.com/forum/li...rt-images.html It is best if the width of the picture is 1000px or less otherwise it may not post.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:06 AM
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Sorry I don't have a camera.

Its like stickshift describes.... Its not the standard 2 separate boxes with a nipple as Tolyn describes. So yes the wiring is accessible of course thru the side with the double switch.

There are boxes like this correct? Just making sure its not some sort of hack job on the box itself.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:11 AM
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The link to one in this thread is bad but it apparently exists....
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...cal-box.html#b
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:18 AM
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Its certainly is something vintage to the house.... which is 60 years old. Nothing I have ever seen at the store these days.

I looked again, its one piece... I was thinking they snapped together but its indeed one piece and I think has 4 knockouts on the top, maybe the bottom too.... no knockouts on the sides.

Bottom line, do I have to rotozip the cabinet to add a cover plate or don't worry about it!?
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:29 AM
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do I have to rotozip the cabinet to add a cover plate
Or if this is cable remove the two sided box and replace with an old work box.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:39 AM
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I would rotozip the cabinet, install an extension if needed, and install a blank. Next week you will likely have a failure and the source will be in the buried box.

The link to one in this thread is bad but it apparently exists....
Most of the info in the thread is about the already mentioned two 4x4" boxes chase nipped together. Not sure what the link was but I suspect it was not legal.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:43 AM
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The hazard is that the cabinet back is not listed to potentially contain an arc or spark and could allow hot metal to fall into the wall where it could start a fire.

I suspect a double sided masonry box was used.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 09:44 AM
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Old 02-28-16, 10:39 AM
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Not a box, that is an extension ring. 2-1/2" and 3-1/2" Deep Extension Rings / Masonry Boxes
 
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Old 02-28-16, 12:21 PM
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I went ahead and cut the cabinet. The box was flush with both sides, no extension ring needed. I would say its an old version of the masonary box you pointed out.

Of course when I took it apart the wires that were pulled from one side to the other were very short.... had to extend the wires. Put a 30 cent plastic cover on the otherside (inside cabinet) and calling it good now.
 
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Old 02-28-16, 01:02 PM
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I have two of those two sided boxes in my house.

It's almost 6" deep, and yes accessible from both ends. Not put together from two boxes, a single 1 gang metal box, open on both ends, about 6" deep. It was an original box to the 1955 house.

Additionally, I have purchased what they called "Dual Access" 4X4 boxes in the past for some real messy situations. The dual access metal boxes are not extension rings, because you can mount mud rings on both sides of it. Here is the link to a video. Garvin makes it,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EHdFi6_NLM
 
 

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