Some typical branc h circuits.

This box contai ns 9 #14 Box size required

Min. box size required 3 x 2 x 1. 5 in. deep.
wires and 3 insulated caps. ( 3 x 2 x 1.5 in. deep.
Min. box size required is 4 x
1.5 in. deep.
c:a
• •
CD CI:J
CD CI:J Circuits A & B.
CD CI:J
CD CI:J A 3 wire cable \ B l
CD CI:J
CD CI:J
CD CI:J A3
§gg§l
• •

Circuit C & D. This is a

3 wire cable

box contains 9 #14

wires and 4 insulated
caps. M in. box size
required is 4 x 2118 in.
deep. A1 A2 A4

This box contains 5- #14 conductors,

2 insulated caps and a switch. M in.
box size required is 3 x 2 x 2.5 in. deep
'\__ This box contains 4 - # 14 con-
Using pigtails this box contains 4# 14 wires, 3 ductors, 1 insulated cap and one
V' / insulated caps and a standard receptacle. M in. standard receptacle. M in. box
/ box size required is 3 x 2 x 2112 in. deep. required is 3 x 2 x 2 in. deep.

Nmtrnl
r~quirrd This box contains 6 - # 14
~~ conductors, 3 insulated
caps a nd a receptacle.
See a Quick Note
M in. box size required is
011 Neutrals p. 72
3x2x3in. deep.
Min. box size re-
quired is 3 x 2 x Top half of this duplex outlet is
2112 in. deep. controlled by the switch above. A5
Lower half is always hot .

. ........... ~
A7 This box contains 5- #14 con-
ductors, 1 insulated cap and a
switch. Min. box size required is
3 x 2 x 2112 in. deep .
This circuit now sup- R~mo-ve breakaway
plies 2 outlets, it may section, seep. 81
supply 10 more.

This box contains 6 - #14

/ conductors, 4 insulated caps
~ and one receptacle. Min. box N~utrnl
size required is 3 x 2 x 3 in. r~quir~d 3 Way switches
R emove b reak- ~ .___.. controlling A5
away tab

C l& Dl ....__ ___.. This box contains 3 - #14 conduc-

tors, no insulated caps and a switch.
M in. box size required is 3 x 2 x 1112
This circuit now supplies one
in. d eep. See a Quick Note on Neutrals p. 72
split llit. receptacle, it may sup- ~ This circuit now supplies 8 outlets, it
ply one more. ~ may supply 4 more.

• 78 I PS Knight Co Ltd
 SECTIONAL METAL GANG BoxEs
Rule 12-30 10 - Meral gang boxes may be supporred wirh a brace, as shown below, or wirh wood backing.

Two sectional metal

boxes asumb led to
form a two gang
metal box.
Wood member toe-nailed to the stud on each
side. Each box section con then be jiud to the
boord .

• The bondi11g co11ductor in a multi-gang box

must b~ connt!cttd to each st!ctiotJ. St!e text for
details.

Only bonding conductor• shown.

Meral secrional boxes can be easily rransformed inro mulri-gang boxes by assembling secrions unril rhe desired box size is
achieved. This is an advanrage when a single secrional box has been insralled and is already wired and a change in rhe wiring
requires a rwo gang box. The conversion ro a rwo gang box is easy bur rhe addirional supporr requ ired for a secrional mulri-
gang box may be more work rhan replacing rhe single gang box wirh a fixed rwo gang box rhar can be fixed ro a srud on only
one side. The secrional mulri-gang box is nor srable enough for single side mounring, each secrion needs ro be individually fixed
ro a wood member behind rhe box.
Meral secrional boxes musr be secured wirh meral supporrs or have a header board fixed berween rhe sruds. Meral supporrs are
rhe easiesr ro use. For meral secrional gang boxes use one of rhe meral side plares which were removed ro form rhe gang box.
Use rhe side which has rhe nail-on lugs and fasren one end ro rhe back of rhe gang box wirh one of rhe bonding screws insralled
from rhe back of rhe box. T he orher end of rhe brace is nailed ro rhe srud, as shown.
An alrernarive merhod is ro fasren rhe gang box ro a wood member insralled behind rhe box. This is usually an unhappy
experience because of rhe many screws prorruding rh rough rhe back of rhe box.
Caurion - For bonding of secrional meral boxes, see "Bonding of Boxes," p. 104.

SET FLUSH
Rule 12-30 16 - Ser all boxes so rhar rhey are flush wirh rhe finished surface. Pay parricular arrenrion ro rhe fearure walls of
wood paneling. When mounring boxes, don' r forger ro allow for rhe rhickness of rhe wood srrapping, in addirion ro rhe wall
finish marerial.

- ~ Nailonlug
.

00

.
~ Box must be set flush
with the fi nish

This part of the receptacle must be flush with the cover plate
or
in the case of a metal plate, must project through the plate at least 0.015 in. - not likely
you will find an inspector measuring how far it projects through but he is concemed that
it does project through the plate. The concern is that the terminal screws in some attach-
ment caps may contact the metal plate and cause a short circuit.

103 I PS Knight Co Ltd

 PIGTAILS REQUIRED FOR BoNDING CONNECTIONS
Rule 10-612 - As nored above, where mere are cwo or more bare bond wires rhey muse be properly
joined and connecred co borh rhe box and rhe recepracle. T he may nor be cwisred rogerher and
wrapped around a bonding screw. Rule 10-612(6) pennies only one wire connecred co any one
bonding screw. If you have cwo or more bonding wires connecr one co rhe bonding screw in rhe
box bur leave ir long enough so char rhe ocher wires can be spliced co ir as shown. Ir muse be
possible co disconnecr a plug recepracle wirhour inrerrupring or inrerfering wirh rhe bonding
connecrions of downsrream ouders on rhe circuir.

PIGTAILS REQUIRED FOR NEUTRAL WIRE CoNNECTIONS

Rule 4-030(4)- Neutral wire in 3-wire cable - Rule 4-030(4) requires a pigrail co make chis
connecrion in every case where 3-wire cable is used. Wirhour rhe pigrail borh neurral wires would
need co be connecred co rhe recepracle. W irh such a connecrion anyone removing rhe recepracle
would auromarically inrerrupr rhe balancing effecr of rhe neurral so char ocher loads downs cream
would be subjecr co exrreme flucruarion in volrage. Neurral conducror connecrions, when insralli ng
3-wire cables, are even more imporram chan rhe hoc conducror connecrions. An opened, or failed,
neurral connecrion can easily resulr in downstream ouders raced 115 voles, suddenly operaring ar
more chan 200 voles. Any elecrronic devices plugged inro such an ouder is desrroyed insrandy. To
prevenr chis siruarion rhe Code requires rhe connecrion co be made us ing pigrails as shown.

PIGTAILS NOT REQUIRED FOR HoT CoNDUCTOR CoNNECTIONs

The rules do nor require pigrails bur where rhere are more chan cwo hoc conducrors, for example, chen rhe solurion may be co
use pigrails as shown in rhe illusrrarions. This has been one of rhe mosr conrenrious issues, calked abour over rhe free coffee
ar elecrrical wholesalers. Pigrails on "Hoc" conducrors, alrhough nor specifically required by rhe code may be required by rhe
connecred device. How would you properly connecr mulriple wires w1der rhe rerm inal of a device like a swirch or recepracle? As
a rrade pracrice, I would pigrail everyrh ing and never use a device as rhe means of conrinuiry for a circuir. Pigrailing jusr makes
good sense.

I 105 I PS Knight Co Ltd

•............
0

AcTUAL Box fiLL PERMITTED TABLE

Rule 12-3036
Box size and number of Volume of Using #14 cable this box may c ontain: Using #12 c able this box may contain
sec tions in the gang. boxes in . {ml}
Single gang - metal box.
- 8 (131) One switch or one plug ourlets plus: One switch or plug ourlets plus:
CJ>
•
Box size 3x2x1.5 in. deep 3 3 2 Wires
•
2 2 Wires
•
(5) I -
0 1 2 Caps I ~ 0 1 Caps I II
16 (262)
-
2 gang - meral box. Two switch or rwo plug ourlets plus: 1
Two switch or rwo plug ourlets plus:
•
Q Box size 3x2x1.5 in. deep 6 6 5 5 4 Wires I
5 5 4 Wires I
Q
• ~
•
I 0 I 2 3 4 Caps
~ 0 I 2 Caps
~
- - T hree sv.-itch or three plug outlets plus:
3 gang - metal box. • • 24 (393) T hree switch or three plug outlets plus:
Box size 3x2x I. 5 in. 0•
B g
I

10
•
10 19
•
9 8 WiresI '
I I 7 17 6 16 5 Wires
•
deep
I
0 • • I 0 I 2 3 4 Caps ~ 0 I 2 I 3 4 Caps
1\\
-
Single gang - metal box. 10 (163) One switch or one plug outlets plus: One switch or plug outlets plus:
(5) Box size 3x2x2 or 2 Wires
•
2 2 Wires
•
• 4 4 3 3 3 3
CJ> 3x2x2.25 in. deep
I 0 1 2 3 4 Caps ~ 0 1 2 3 Caps
.I
• 2 gang - meral box. 20 (327)
- Two switch or rwo plug ourlets plus: Two switch or rwo plug ourlets plus:
~
• ~
Box size 3x2x2 or
3x2x2.25 in. deep
9 9 8 8 7 7 Wires
L 7 7 6 6 5 Wires I
11101 II•
I I30 (491) 10 I1 I
2
I
3 4 5 Caps
1\ 0 1
/ 3 4 Caps
~
2 gang - metal box. T hree switch or three plug ourlets plus: T hree switch or three plug ourlets plus:
Box size 3x2x2 or tU
• •
g
-
3x2x2.25 in. deep
• ~ 14 14 13 13 12 12 Wires II II 10 10 9 9 Wires
(!::;)
• • I 0 I 2 3
I

4 I5 Caps ~ 'o II 12 3 4 5 Caps

~
1
Single gang - metal box. 1 12.5 (204) One switch or one plug outlets plus: One switch or plug outlets plus:
0 Box size 3x2x2.5 in. deep - •
6 6 5 5 4 4 Wires 5 5 4 4 3 Wires
CJ> I -
0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps ~ 0 I 2 3 4 Caps
Jllll\
• 2 gang - meral box. 25 (409)
- Two switch or rwo plug outlets plus: Two switch or rwo plug outlets plus:
Q Box size 3x2x2.5 in. deep 12 Wires
- j iO Wires
• ~ 1' 2 I" II 10 10 j lO J9 9 8 8 I

Q I I

• 0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps
Jill\\ 0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps
1\\
•....
....
....
""0 Box size and number of Volume Using #14 cable this box may contain: Using #12 c able this box may contain
Cl'l
sections in the gang. of boxes
~

-
<0
:::;;
(") - One switch or one plug outlets plus:
37.5 (614) T hree switch or three plug outlets plus:
One switch or plug outlets plus:

- 3 gang - metal box. • Three switch or three plug outlets plus:

0
r
c. Box size 3x2x2.5 in. ~
•
•
5 ~ 19 19 1S 1S 17 17 Wires
- 15 15 14 14 13 13 Wires '
deep -
G::J)
• • I 0 1 2 3 4 5 Caps ~ 0 1 2 3 4 5 Caps
1\
Single gang - metal box.
- 15 (245) One switch or one plug outlets plus: One switch or plug outlets plus:
G3) Box size 3x2x3 in. deep - '
• s s 7 7 6 6 Wires 6 6 5 5 4 4 Wires
GY I - -
0 1 2 3 4 5 Caps ~ 0 1 2 3 4 5 Caps
II
- -
2 gang - metal box. 30(491) Two switch or two plug outlets plus: Two switch or two plug outlets plus:
<!:!)
•
Box size 3x2x3 in. deep - ] 11
• ~ 16 16 15 1 15 14 14 Wires 13 13 12 12 II Wires
- I
(!:;)
• I 0 I 2 I 3 4 5 Caps
ll!l\\
0 I 2 3 14 5 Caps
- J!ID\
3 gang - metal box. • • 45 (737) T hree switch or three plug outlets plus: Three switch or three plug outlets plus:
Box size 3x2x2 in. Q
g
- '
~ 24 24 23 23 22 22 Wires 19 19 IS IS 17 17 Wires
deep
•
G::J)
I -4 -
• • 0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps ~ 0 I 2 3 5 Caps
11
Single gang - plastic box
- 16 (262) One switch or one plug outlets plus: One switch or one plug outlets plus:
- -
T hese boxes usually have their volume clearly -
marked.
s s 7 7 6 6 Wires 7 7 6 6 5 5 Wires I
0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps
II 0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps
- 1\
Single gang - plastic box IS (294) One switch or one plug outlets plus: One switch or one plug outlets plus:
Is Is I
I
T hese boxes usually have their volume clearly
10 10 9 9 s s Wires 17 6
'
Wires
marked.
7 16
-
0 1 2 3 4 5 Caps 13 0 1 2 3
14
5 Caps
1\
I
.....
.....
N

"tJ
Cl'l
GFCI RECEPTACLE DEPTH TABLE
5' Volume of box Using #14 cable Using #12 cable
-
cc
:::;;
(") GFCI receptacle I0 Cu. in (163 mL) 2 2 Wires 2 2 Wires

-
0
r 0 I Caps 0 I Caps
c.

12.5 Cu. in (204 mL) 4 4 3 3 2 Wires 3 3 2 Wires

1 1/8n. deep 0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 Caps
(2.857 em •
i' 11
deep) •
15 Cu. in (245 mL) 6 6 5 5 4 Wires 5 5 4 4 3 Wires
r• 0 I 2 3 4 Caps 0 I 2 3 4 Caps

16 Cu. in (262 mL) 6 6 5 5 4 Wires 5 5 4 4 3 Wires

0 I 2 3 4 Caps 0 I 2 3 4 Caps

18 Cu. in (294 mL) 8 8 7 7 6 Wires 7 7 6 6 5 Wires

0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 3 4 Caps

G FCI receptacle 10 Cu. in (163 mL) 2 2 Wires 2 2 Wires

~
0 I Caps 0 I Caps

I
12.5 Cu. in (204 mL) 4 4 3 3 Wires 3 3 2 Wires
1 ll4n. deep 0 1 2 3 Caps 0 1 2 Caps
(3.175 em •
F 11
deep) •
15 Cu. in (245 mL) 5 5 4 4 3 Wires 5 5 4 4 3 Wires
[ 0 I 2 3 4 Caps 0 I 2 3 4 Caps

16 Cu. in (262 mL) 7 7 6 6 5 Wires 5 5 4 4 3 Wires

0 I 2 3 4 Caps 0 I 2 3 4 Caps

18 Cu. in (294 mL) 7 7 6 6 5 Wires 7 7 6 6 5 Wires

0 I 2 3 4 Caps 0 I 2 3 4 Caps
Bsthrooms

Get a dimmer

Dimmer

Dimensional Drawings

rw~
1-- 1. 73

I .93 1-

J_..·-: o
-·· - ~ ~

.12 3.81 3.28 ~ 2.7 0

~
m J c ~

·-
""
-~

I& "iiiii.' --
1-

GFCI

1.31 (33.3) 1.03 (26.1)

1.69 (~2.7) 1.32 (33.6)

lSA SmartlockProe Self-Test GFCI

•......
w
""C
Cll GFCI receptacle 10 Cu. in (163 mL) 2 2 Wires 1 1 Wires
5' 0 1 Caps 0 1 Caps
-
<C
::r
( ")
12.5 Cu. in (204 mL) 3 3 2 Wires 3 3 2 Wires
-
0
r
c. 1 3/Sn. deep 0 1 2 Caps 0 1 2 Caps
(3.492 em •
deep)
~
• I 15 Cu. in (245 mL) 5 5 4 4 3 Wires 4 4 3 3 Wires
[ 0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 3 Caps

16 Cu. in (262 mL) 6 6 5 5 4 Wires 5 5 4 4 3 Wires

0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 3 4 Caps

18 Cu. in (294 mL) 7 7 6 6 5 Wires 6 6 5 5 4 Wires

0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 3 4 Caps

GFCI receptacle 10 Cu. in (163 mL)

- 1 Wires 1 1 Wires
0 1 Caps 0 Caps

12.5 Cu. in (204 mL) 3 3 2 Wires 2 2 Wires

1 1/:ln. deep 0 1 2 Caps 0 1 Caps
(3.81 em deep)
15 Cu. in (245 mL) 5 5 4 4 Wires 4 4 3 3 Wires
0 1 2 3 Caps 0 1 2 3 Caps

16 Cu. in (262 mL) 5 5 4 4 3 Wires 4 4 3 3 Wires

0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 3 Caps

18 Cu. in (294 mL) 7 7 6 6 5 Wires 6 6 5 5 4 Wires

0 1 2 3 4 Caps 0 1 2 3 4 Caps
•
.....
.....
.j:o,

"tJ LIGHT OuTLET Boxes, JuNCTION Boxes, OTHER Boxes TABLE

Cl'l

5' Box Dimensions Volume of Box Light outlet boxes

- Light outlet boxes
-
cc
:::;;
( '")
Maximum combination wires and caps
using #14 wire
Maximum combination wires and
caps using # 12 wire
-
0
r
c. 4x 1- 1/2 in. deep metal 15
octagon box (245 mL)
W ires 10 10 9 9 8 8 Wires 8 8 7 7 6 6
Caps 0 I 2 3 4 5 Caps 0 I 2 3 4 5

~ !ill]\
4x2- 1/2 in. deep metal 21
octagon box Cu. in.
(344 mL) Wires 12 12 Wires 12 12
14 14 13 13 11 11 11 10 10
Caps 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Caps 0 1 2 3 4 5

~ !ill]\
Shallow saucer type box 5
(81 mL) Wires 2 Wires 2 2
3 3
Caps 0 I 2 Caps 0 I

Limited Use
~ 1\
4x2- ll2 in. deep metal 26
octagon box (426 mL)
W ires 17 17 16 16 15 15 I Wires 14 14 13 13 12 12
Caps 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Caps 0 1 2 3 4 5

~ 1\
Courtesy N u-tek

Code Table 22
Note - T he above table is based on the fact that these boxes are used for light outlets and
as junction boxes. They will not contain any devices other than wires, connector caps and Usable Space Required for Each
in some cases, cable connectors Insulated Conductor
Size of Conductor
To the Right is Code T able 22. It also has the Imperial values as well as the metric values.
Cubic Inches
Some of us still have a bit of difficulty with metric. We hear metric, quickly convert it AWG (Cubic Centimetres)
to imperial, and then we understand. Is that illegal? I hope not because the whole idea
motivating this book is to make the Electrical Code, the Safety Code, easy to understand. 14 1.5 (24.6)
12 1. 75 (28. 7)
10 2.25 (36.9)

8 2.75 (45.1)
6 4.5 (73. 7)