How much weight can an old electrical box hold?

50 pounds





The B618R is a round old work outlet box and is not listed for fixture support in the ceiling. Only approved ceiling boxes are allowed to support fixtures in the ceiling. These boxes will be permitted to support a minimum weight of 50 pounds. The B618R can be used in the ceiling as a junction box.

Can you hang a ceiling fan from a pancake box?

You’ll use a half-inch pancake electrical box to secure your ceiling fan to the joist. Hold it up to the ceiling, centered on the joist, and trace its outline with a pencil. Cut out the hole with a drywall saw. You’ll need to make a new hole for the ceiling fan pancake box, usually right next to the light fixture hole.

How do you replace an old electrical ceiling box?


Quote from Youtube video: Pull the cable out of the box. You can leave the box inside the cylinder. The new box will be supported by a ceiling fan brace. You can get one at any Home Center slip the brace into the ceiling.

What are pancake electrical boxes used for?

Orbit Industries’ Round Pancake Boxes with shallow depths of 1/2″ or 2/3″ are used to mount lighting fixtures on walls and ceilings. They include conduit knockouts and non-metallic clamps on selected models for easy installation. Do not use as a ceiling fan support box.

How much weight can a old work box Hold on a wall?





Suitable for fixture support up to 50 lbs. With the the old work version(B618R), it states. Not listed for fixture support in ceilings.

How do you install a surface mount electrical box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Surge impact driver to drive the screws into the underside of the truss. And this will make up what's referred to as a surface mounted junction.

Are Pan boxes fan rated?

Some types of specially rated metal pan boxes may be used for mounting ceiling fans, but not all pan boxes may be used for this purpose. It’s important that the fixture wires can be properly connected and fitted within the round pan box.

How much weight can a ceiling electrical box hold?

All ceiling boxes are required to support at least 50 pounds (NEC 314.27(A)), so you can assume the box will be able to support a simple light fixture. Boxes that are designed to support ceiling fans must be labeled as such, and must have a label listing the weight it can support if over 35 pounds (NEC 314.27(D)).

How do I know if my outlet box supports a ceiling fan?



The manufacturer must have marked the outlet box system to indicate that it is acceptable for ceiling fan installations. If the original box is not listed for this purpose, it must be retrofitted and attached securely to the building structure.

Can you surface mount a pancake box?

In many instances the existing fixtures are mounted on 3 inch pancake boxes that are surface mounted. Some of the fixtures have a shallow canopy, and where they are mounted on a pancake box the canopy does not sit flush with wall or ceiling exposing the connections to the weather.

How do you attach a pancake box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Okay now you can see that I installed the pancake box right up against the wood I ran my wire through here and nicely stapled up there and for right now I'm just going to wrap this wire in here.

How can I secure my electrical box without studs?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You slide it into the hole that you cut out and when you start to tighten this screw down it flips this wing up and compresses the drywall in between the front lip and the wing.

How much weight can a plastic electrical box support?

Conventional metal or plastic rough-in boxes aren’t supposed to hold any more than 50 pounds, and most fans exert more force than that.

Can I use old work box for light fixture?

Old work round boxes are not designed for light fixtures. You need to use a fan style bar box that goes between the joist unless you get lucky and hit a ceiling joist.

Can I hang a light with an old work box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You'll screw it in and as you turn it these wings. Will pop out like that. So they'll pop out all around. And they end up gripping the drywall so this box isn't really hanging on the stud.

How do you use an old electrical box?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The box and feather the opening with the edge of the utility knife until the box fits snug to install run wires into the box and position it in the hole.

How do you remove knockouts from plastic electrical boxes?

How to Remove Electrical Knockouts on a Plastic Enclosure

  1. Place a flat-head screwdriver into the slot of the electrical box knockout that is to be removed. …
  2. Hit or tap the end of the screwdriver to remove the knockout and dislodge the rest of the knockout by hand if needed.


How do you cut a hole in a round old work box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You can also cut the hole manually with a jab saw I took the drywall circle out and put the new electrical sealing box in place.

How do you install an old work metal electrical box?



Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: They would just go up against the sides top and bottom of the box if it was a fully enclosed. Device. Box put that into the hole. Into the opening. Snap it in tight.

Can you drill a hole in an electrical box?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: It has a very sharp point so holes are always accurate was really. Light is it breaking through even up and back up on the RPM. This allows the carbide cutter to start cutting evenly.