How to install junction box in wall

A variation on this has side clamps that move out and toward the front as screws are tightened. Yet another type right uses separate mounting brackets that slide in after the box is inserted and bend over the sides of the box to lock it in place. Attach lightweight fixtures onto drywall or plaster without wall studs. Follow these expert tips to easily install an electrical box. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.

If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. Bedroom with bedside lamps and wooden nightstands. Credit: Edmund Barr. Follow our step-by-step instructions for installing an electrical box in drywall.

Stud finder Torpedo level Utility knife Screwdriver Hammer Drill Drywall saw or rotary cutter or jigsaw Remodel boxes acceptable under local code Cable clamps, if needed. Credit: Dave Toht. Saber Saw Reciprocating saw. Comments Add Comment. Back to story Comment on this project. Tell us what you think Thanks for adding your feedback. All rights reserved.

If the hole is too small, use your jab saw to file down edges until the box fits carefully. Do not try to cut away slivers of drywall. Instead, just use the saw as a kind of sanding tool to slough off gypsum to widen the hole. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads.

Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Project Overview. Featured Video. When in doubt, always go with a bigger size. Turn off the main power. Find the main electrical panel in your home. Flip the main circuit breaker or unscrew the fuse to turn off all power in your home. Test that the circuit has no power with a voltmeter.

Get a voltage tester and touch its probes to the wires. Part 2. Mount the junction box on the wall. Always use the designated holes or brackets on the junction box to secure it to the wall. Many junction boxes come packaged with the proper fasteners. They can be screwed onto wall studs or ceiling joists.

You may also attach them to adjustable brackets placed between studs or joists. The box should be flush with the wall For brick or concrete, attach it with masonry anchors. Pull the cables into the junction box. All of the cables should enter through different holes and only touch inside the box. Armored cable tends to be used in commercial wiring rather than residential homes. Hammer these out to create openings for the cables. If the box has breakaway plastic tabs most often found on boxes that will be nailed to the surface , push the tabs out by hand or with a screwdriver.

Fasten the cable using a wire staple within 12 inches 30 cm of the box to secure it. For junction boxes installed on the ceiling, run the cable from the ceiling down into the box. Strip the wires with wire strippers. The wires must be the same size. The AWG wire gauge size will be printed on the outer sheathing. If the wires are new, find the gauge number on the packaging. Mismatched wires lead to fires.

Strip down a ground wire. This wire, also called a pigtail wire, is only needed if you are using any metal junction box as well as if you are connecting 3 or more wires. If you are using a metal junction box, you need a scrap ground wire.

The casing of these wires is green or copper-colored. When connecting three or more same-colored wires, get scrap wire for each color. Part 3. Twist together same-colored wires. Creating the electrical circuit is a matter of color-matching. Gather the black wires, for instance, and hold the exposed ends side by side. Use a pair of lineman pliers to twist them clockwise until they have a solid connection with one another.

All you have to do is plug the wire ends into the terminals, then screw wire nuts over them. Use a wire nut to connect multiple wires. When attempting to connect 2 or more wires, use the proper size wire nut.