I used the blue plastic Carlon boxes from home depot in the detached
garage. When I was puttign a new fixture in the hallway to my house, I
noticed a tan looking ceilign box was used and there was a "black
plastic thing" for lack of a better word inside the box against the
wires coing into the box.

What are those and were those needed in my detached garage with the
blue plastic outlet boxes? I did wire staple the wires within 6 inches
of the box.

stryped fired this volley in news:ba32b92a-2053-
:

hen I was puttign a new fixture in the hallway to my house, I
noticed a tan looking ceilign box was used and there was a "black
plastic thing" for lack of a better word inside the box against the
wires coing into the box.


Those are pressed phenolic resin boxes -- often made of sawdust and
resin. You'll see them a lot in mobile homes, even of late-model
manufacture. The cable clamp is an option in most jurisdictions, so long
as the run is fixed to a structural member close to the box; 6" is good.
Still, it's not a bad idea to use that strain relief that is in the box.
Just be gentle when clamping Romex.

LLoyd

On Dec 2, 7:28*am, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
stryped fired this volley in news:ba32b92a-2053-
:

hen I was puttign a new fixture in the hallway to my house, I
noticed a tan looking ceilign box was used and there was a "black
plastic thing" for lack of a better word inside the box against the
wires coing into the box.

Those are pressed phenolic resin boxes -- often made of sawdust and
resin. *You'll see them a lot in mobile homes, even of late-model
manufacture. *The cable clamp is an option in most jurisdictions, so long
as the run is fixed to a structural member close to the box; *6" is good. *
Still, it's not a bad idea to use that strain relief that is in the box. *
Just be gentle when clamping Romex.

LLoyd

These blue boxes did not come with these clamps. Should i attempt to
find some?

stryped fired this volley in news:aad458e2-f792-
:

These blue boxes did not come with these clamps. Should i attempt to
find some?


If the Carlon boxes are acceptable under your local codes, then just use
whatever they provide. Some of the older Carlons have simple knockouts.
The newer ones have a swinging gate style of strain relief that allows
Romex to be inserted, but not withdrawn, if you use the device correctly.
The 'gate' should just be pushed into the box far enough to allow the
Romex to be pushed in against the tension of the gate. Then the sharp
edge on it will dig into the outer sheath, and prevent extraction.

Make sure you staple the run outside the box.

LLoyd

The black plastic thingie is probably a "strain relief" to protect the wires from rubbing against
the edges of the box. It is not necessary in most cases. You can replicate it with several turn of
black tape if you wnat to.

Bob Swinney
"stryped" wrote in message
...
I used the blue plastic Carlon boxes from home depot in the detached
garage. When I was puttign a new fixture in the hallway to my house, I
noticed a tan looking ceilign box was used and there was a "black
plastic thing" for lack of a better word inside the box against the
wires coing into the box.

What are those and were those needed in my detached garage with the
blue plastic outlet boxes? I did wire staple the wires within 6 inches
of the box.