Mud ring question


  #1  
Old 12-04-19, 10:25 AM
Q
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,657
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
Mud ring question

First time I've used a mud ring as opposed to a standard gang box.
usually you screw the receptacle into the box but how do you work with the mud ring?
You attach the ring to the 4" box then screw through the mud ring to attach the receptacle but from the inside?
 

Last edited by qwertyjjj; 12-04-19 at 10:43 AM.
  #2  
Old 12-04-19, 11:11 AM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: welland ontario
Posts: 8,036
Received 515 Upvotes on 420 Posts
The mud ring has holes same as a box to fasten your device.
 
  #3  
Old 12-04-19, 11:16 AM
Q
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,657
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
Not from the front though? The mud ring has to go on top of the device. So I have to remove the screws from the device first?

Also, how do you separate the devices? A 2 gang mud ring just has one hole. Do I need to put tape on the devices to prevent them touching? There is no device separator in the middle:
Junction box https://imgur.com/gallery/4uVdqSA
 

Last edited by qwertyjjj; 12-04-19 at 11:57 AM.
  #4  
Old 12-04-19, 11:57 AM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,045
Received 1,905 Upvotes on 1,711 Posts
Maybe you should stop thinking and listen to Joed. There are 2 types of 2 gang mud rings. Single and double device.
 
  #5  
Old 12-04-19, 11:58 AM
Q
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,657
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
Useful.
if I attach the receptacle from the front to the mud ring then it sticks out. There is also no separation between devices.
Junction box https://imgur.com/gallery/4uVdqSA

This has 4 holes to attach 2 receptacles?
 
  #6  
Old 12-04-19, 12:01 PM
J
Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: welland ontario
Posts: 8,036
Received 515 Upvotes on 420 Posts
You are not installing the mud ring properly.
The box goes on the stud.
The mud ring goes on the box.
The drywall goes on and covers the mud ring except the raised portion device hole.
The device goes onto the mud ring as if it was any other box.

If the mud ring is sticking out too far then you mounted the box too close to the front. The front of the mud ring should be flush with the wall finish surface.
 
  #7  
Old 12-04-19, 12:02 PM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,045
Received 1,905 Upvotes on 1,711 Posts
The word mud ring means the wall gets mudded around the ring so as to be flush with the wall. If it sticks out its because you put the box too far out.
 
  #8  
Old 12-04-19, 12:08 PM
Z
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 6,086
Received 419 Upvotes on 372 Posts
The mud ring you have pictured is too large for that box.

You'd use some type of square box (there are different options based on what you're attaching it to). It gets attached to the stud at the edge of the stud (even with the stud):


The mud ring then gets screwed into those two screws in the corner.

Then the drywall is installed, leaving just the rectangular section open, the drywall covers the flat metal portion of the mud ring.


Lastly, the device gets installed like any other box. Leave the ears on the device, and screw it into the upper/bottom tapped screw holes.

You have a double-gang mud ring. There's no issue that the devices are close together, once they are mounted, there will be the standard 1/2" or so between them.

This is what it looks like before the drywall is installed (and before the devices)



(sorry for the big pic links)
 
  #9  
Old 12-04-19, 12:18 PM
Q
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,657
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
The perspective on the picture is not great.
the mud ring has space for 2 devices but it doesn't separate the devices like a plastic cover.
Shouldn't there be a metal strip running vertically to stop 2 duplex receptacles from touching each other?

Edit: oh I see, you're saying I should have another cover plate to go over the mud ring? I thought the ring was the cover.

I'm trying to find a flat metal plate as the cover for use in a basement with power tools so don't want a plastic cover as it will likely break with no wall behind it... Wanted a metal plate that isn't wider than the box
 

Last edited by qwertyjjj; 12-04-19 at 12:49 PM.
  #10  
Old 12-04-19, 01:24 PM
Q
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,657
Received 1 Upvote on 1 Post
I need this instead:
https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/356be95d-b9e8-460d-bbc7-accbcdf90e2c/svn/raco-covers-809u-4f_1000.jpg
 
  #11  
Old 12-04-19, 04:49 PM
CasualJoe's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: United States
Posts: 9,871
Received 185 Upvotes on 166 Posts
I need this instead:

So use that! It's not a mud ring though, it's a 2-gang 1900 raised cover for 2 GFCI receptacles for a surface mounted box.
 
  #12  
Old 12-04-19, 05:12 PM
XSleeper's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,045
Received 1,905 Upvotes on 1,711 Posts
Not instead... you need that also.

you're saying I should have another cover plate to go over the mud ring? I thought the ring was the cover.
yes. The piece with the divider is the cover.
 
  #13  
Old 12-04-19, 06:20 PM
Tolyn Ironhand's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 14,319
Received 874 Upvotes on 737 Posts
A mud ring is used when drywall or some other finish material is installed. The mud ring should close to flush with the finished surface of the wall for the devices to be installed.

The industrial cover is used when there is no finished material on the wall, or the box is surface mounted.

As mentioned, the mudring you have is for a 4 11/16" x 4 11/16" box (aka 11b) not a 4" x 4" box.
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: