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Electrical Question??

RUGERGUNZRUGERGUNZ Member Posts: 5,638 ✭✭
edited November 2007 in General Discussion
When I bought my double-wide I ordered tons of extra outlets but guess I didn't order enough.

I want to put an outlet in the entrance. Very easy to get wire from the panel to the outlet and I know how to do house wiring.

My question is How do you put in a new box in an existing wall? Are there specialty boxes that do not need to be nailed to a stud?

If there are, what are they called so I can ask for one at Home Depot or better yet if you have a link to what I am talking about.

Thanks
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Comments

  • pogybatepogybate Member Posts: 3,150
    edited November -1
    Buy a set of metal plaster ears, they fold around the box and hold it secure. Dont know your wall depth but you may also need a shallow box. This works with paneling or whatever.
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  • matwormatwor Member Posts: 20,594
    edited November -1
    Ask for an "Old Work" box. In the opposite corners there are "wings" that will flip up when the screw on the front is tightened, they hold against the back of the drywall.
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  • OleDukOleDuk Member Posts: 1,195 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Ruger-- Go to the local Home depot or whatever and ask their sales person. Some of them know what to tell you.
    What you need is an "old work" box which is held in the opening by flat springs when you push it in the opening, or a pair of "plaster ears" which are stuck in the hole and bent into the box to hold it.
    Then pull your wire (2 conductor #12 with ground) from the panel or another receptacle and hook it up. Don't fuse the circuit for more than 20 amperes (or 20 amp breaker). Oh, if the hole is not deep enough for the normal outlet box, get a "shallow box" which works the same way.
    Cheers,
    OleDuk[:)][:)]
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  • RUGERGUNZRUGERGUNZ Member Posts: 5,638 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sweet! Thanks guys. I want an outlet to dry workboots by. It will be directly below the breaker panel. I plan to wire it on a seperate 15A breaker, and need only about 6' of 12/2 or 14/2 and also plan to wire it as a GFCI outlet where the boots can be very wet.
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "Ask for an "Old Work" box. In the opposite corners there are "wings" that will flip up when the screw on the front is tightened, they hold against the back of the drywall."

    I have installed dozens of these from Home Depot. Plastic boxes, the little wings pop up when you tighten the screws, and hold the box tightly against the sheet rock. These things work very well. Be careful not to cut the hole too big!
    If you are going to use a 15A breaker, you only need to use 14 gauge wire, although 12 gauge would work.
    In the event that you might want to put it to heavy use, you could use a 20 amp breaker, and 12 gauge wire. You would also use a 20 amp GFI. Costs very little more.
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  • matwormatwor Member Posts: 20,594
    edited November -1
    Here is a link that has pics for you.

    http://www.passandseymour.com/pdf/P04.pdf
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  • interstatepawnllcinterstatepawnllc Member Posts: 9,390
    edited November -1
    That odd, I always heard of them as "zip" boxes, must be a Florida thing. BTW, great advice from all contributors. Whadda forum eh?[^]
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    Being in a mobile home I am sure you will need a shallow box!

    I have done a few here in my mobile and a standard depth box is about 1/4" too deep.
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