Applying drywall over a junction box
is never a good idea
. According to the code, your junction boxes should always remain accessible, regardless of how good of a splice you made. … So, the best option you have is to not cover junction boxes.
Can I cover up an electrical junction box?
Junction box covers must remain accessible
; they cannot be covered with drywall or other surface material. A junction box is most often used where an electrical circuit branches off in two or more directions from a location where an outlet or fixture is not practical.
Why can't you cover a junction box?
It is
against most building codes to bury a junction box in the wall
. … Short-circuits and wiring issues are possible in junction boxes; if one of these issues took place in a box hidden from view, it could light and catch the interior of the home's wall on fire before you noticed.
Should junction boxes be covered?
A:
It is important to cover an electrical junction box no matter where it's located
. When one or more electrical wires are twisted together, the connection causes resistance to the flow of electricity, which in turn creates heat. With several wires in one box, the heat generated can be multiplied.
It is
against most building codes to bury
a junction box in the wall. … Short-circuits and wiring issues are possible in junction boxes; if one of these issues took place in a box hidden from view, it could light and catch the interior of the home's wall on fire before you noticed.
Do you need a junction box for a ceiling light?
If you're wondering how you install a light fixture without an electrical box, the short answer is that
you don't
. … You can't install a light fixture without a junction box, but the fact that there's no box at the spot where you want to install the light doesn't mean you can't install the light.
Can you hide a junction box behind drywall?
Registered.
Yes any concealed box is a code violation
. All splices must be accessable. Now practically speaking if the splice is made properly with wire nuts and the cables properly clamped in the box, you can cover it without concern.
A safety-related problem with hidden junction boxes is that
they can make it impossible to evaluate and correct dangerous conditions that might arise in future
. If e.g. a home gets hit by a high-voltage surge, it may be necessary to inspect all of the junction boxes for signs of damage.
When can you cover a junction box with drywall?
As long as there are no wires inside the box
, you can cover it with drywall. If the box is still acting as a junction box, however, and wires are joined inside it, the electrical code mandates a removable cover. Covers come in plastic or metal, and you attach them with machine screws.
Can you use a junction box to extend wiring?
Yes
. You can definitely use a junction box to extend your wiring. To do this, start by turning off the power. Then inspect the place and cut the required openings.
Can a junction box be inside a cabinet?
Remodeler.
Yes
, it would be against code to have a cabinet cover the junction box. Anywhere you connect wires to wires, or wires to fixtures, the connection needs to be accessible. Since your cabinet would be permanently affixed to the wall and covering the junction box, it wouldn't be allowed.
Can I put a junction box in the attic?
The primary requirement for junction boxes is that they remain permanently accessible. … However,
the accessibility requirements do not prohibit you from installing a junction box
in the attic. A common solution to accessibility problem is to have the box open to the underlying room's ceiling.
Can you splice wires in a wall?
Electrical splices can never be left on their own in
a wall or ceiling cavity. Instead, all splices must be contained within an approved junction box or fixture electrical box. … The old, informal method of splicing wires together with electrical tape should never be used.
Can you splice wires without a junction box?
Short answer:
NO
. Long answer: All splices must be in a junction box, and the junction box must be accessible.
Can a light fixture be used as a junction box?
For example, if you have a light fixture that doesn't need a box for mounting, but the wiring connections are not protected by some kind of cover, then
you can't use the fixture without a junction box
. Or, if a fixture meets all of the criteria of a box but lacks a cable clamp, don't use it without a box.
