JUNCTION KNOW HOW

Is it necessary to install a junction box? And if so, How?

The National Electrical Code (aka NEC) dictates that no wiring splices are allowed outside of an approved enclosure. Any standard outlet, switch box, or light fixture box can serve as an approved enclosure, but where a wiring splice needs to occur in other locations along the circuit, the approved enclosure is usually a junction box.

A junction box is simply a standard electrical box that is mounted securely to the house framing or another structure, containing the connection (splice) of two or more circuit cables. The cables are secured to the box with cable clamps (or conduit connectors, if the circuit includes conduit), and the box must have a removable cover to create a complete enclosure. Junction box covers must remain accessible; they cannot be covered with drywall or other surface material.

Types of Devices That Don't Need Boxes

The first clue that a device is designed to be used without a junction box is that it has its own complete housing. And it generally will not have any wire leads extruding from it, because these wires are contained inside a wire connection compartment. Common examples of electrical devices that require no junction boxes include:

  • Recessed lights ("can lights")

  • Bathroom ventilation fans

  • Wall-mounted heaters

  • Fluorescent tube-style light fixtures

  • Garbage disposers

  • Baseboard heaters

Many permanently installed appliances, such as kitchen vent hoods, dishwashers, and hot water heaters, also don't require junction boxes.

For those that DO require one, proper installation is key. This can be a DIY project, or if you don’t feel comfortable, call in the experts. A Licensed Electrician in your state can help.

Choose the Right Junction Box

Make sure to buy a junction box appropriate for your installation. Outdoor locations, for example, require a weatherproof junction box with gaskets to prevent moisture intrusion. And make sure the junction box is large enough for the number of wiring connections you will be making. For example, the smallest 2-by-4-by-1-1/2-inch-deep box can comfortably splice only two cables (four or five conducting wires), while the largest 4-by-4-by-2-1/8-inch-deep boxes can handle as many as four to six cables (up to 18 individual conducting wires). For easy installation, many DIYers choose the largest box that is practical for the application.

Before You Begin

Turn off the power to the circuit you'll be working on by switching off the appropriate circuit breaker in your home's service panel (circuit breaker box). Test all of the wires you'll be working on with a non-contact voltage tester. The test should confirm that no voltage is present in any of the wires.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Non-contact voltage tester

  • Screwdriver

  • Hammer (for a metal box)

  • Pliers (as needed for a metal box)

  • Drill-driver and screwdriver tip

  • Wire strippers (as needed)

Materials

  • Code-approved electrical box with cover

  • Cable clamps (as needed for a metal box)

  • Wood screws

  • Wire connectors

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Roxanne Beretta