This box fail to pass inspection

[Ford2001]

Electrical inspector said that the 4"Sq. x 2-1/8 deep junction box what
to small for the number of conductor inside it.

Before I rip this box apart and replace it with a 4-11/16"sq. x 2-1/8 deep,
why can't I just add 4"Sq. x 1-1/2" box exteneion ring?

You should also know, that I plan to use a 4"Sq. box cover, 2-gang,
raise 1".

There is no local code in my area, all inspection are done by the State.
The State used the NEC code 2008 editiion, with do not have a copy
of at this time.

Thanks

[Speedy Petey]

why can't I just add 4"Sq. x 1-1/2" box exteneion ring?

Who said you can't?

[Jim Port]

How many and what size conductors are in the box?

Did the inspector also add the volume of the raised ring?

[Cass]

If the inspector told you you needed a larger box then add the box extention...

BTW...how many wires are in the box?

[Jim Port]

The volume allowance is for a device, not an outlet. See the NEC definition of an outlet. The correct volume is for 2x the wire gauge attached to the device, ie 2 #14 = 4.

Regardless of being insulated or not the ground still only counts as 1 volume allowance.

[Speedy Petey]

15 conductors I think is the limit if you are using 12 gauge wire in a 4"x2/18" square box, but that's just a guess based on common sense. I am not an electrician..........

I guess it is the 2 gang that is killing you here........

I guess 2 duplex receptacles might count as four, depending on how an "outlet" is defined.............

And your grounds might be insulated. That will push the number up. All uninsulated grounds count as one but each insulated wire is one..............

All guesses, some wrong, and mostly erroneous.

But again, I don't really know what I am talking about.

This part is mostly true.


Ian, PLEASE try to refrain from posting stuff like this if you are not sure if what you are saying is correct.

[Ian Gills]

Sorry Petey I got carried away and made some awful and dangerous assumptions. Thank you for calling me out.

I just checked some of my boxes and thanks for the ground wire clarification.

But the whole process can be summarized this way, I think. But again, I don't really know what I am talking about and I am not an electrician.

1. If conductors are the same size, add them together and size the box using the AWG size columns of Table 314.16(A). Your conductor equivalents will all be the same size as the conductors.

2. If the box contains different sizes of conductors, use Table 314.16(B) to find the area of each conductor, add them up, and size the box from Table 314.16(A) using the cubic inch column.

But please remember:

1. Calculating box volume is a matter of adding up individual volumes of assembled parts [314.16(A)].

2. Calculating conductor volume is a matter of adding up individual conductor equivalent volumes and there are five of these: 314.16(B)(1) through (5) [conductor volumes, cable clamp volumes, supporting fixture volumes, device yolk volumes and equipment grounding conductor volumes].


If box fill exceeds box volume, then you need to reduce the number of conductors or use a larger box. You can add to the box volume the sum of individual volumes of assembled parts, such as plaster rings, extension rings, etc. You should however only include only those parts that are marked with their volumes in cubic inches [314.16(A)] or included in NEC Table 314.16(A).

Keep in mind that these are minimum requirements. There's no penalty for using a box that's too big, other than the additional cost of that box versus a smaller one.

[Ford2001]

Your guys are great.

I just got over a cold.

But I want to give a big thanks to all, who took the time to reply to
my Thread.

Now I just new to replace all the brain cells I burn out when I was
down with the cold. But your answer have really help me out. (humor)