Residential power wiring: mounting electrical box outside?

[DaveC]

Need to put an alarm buzzer (outside rated) on an external stucco wall. The buzzer has a 3/4 opening on the back of the 4x4 cast housing for a standard conduit / flex fitting or strain wire clamp / bushing.

Have outdoor (NEMA 3, I think) 6x6x4 box.

Buzzer needs to face away from stucco wall.

So, how best to mount these? If I use NEMA box, cover is on face (away from wall), and I don't think you can mount anything on a cover (inspector might not like that : -). Any other surface faces the buzzer in a direction other than away from the wall.

If I mount the buzzer directly on the wall, this puts the 3/4 hole against the wall. Is it acceptable to put conduit or flex through the wall directly to the back of the buzzer?

Other orientations?

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks,

[Phil Scott]

stucco wall. The

for a standard

face (away from

(inspector might

direction other

3/4 hole against

the wall directly

Sure, use urethane roof sealant in a calking tube on the back of the box and around the wall penetration... use 3 cement screws to hold the box aganst the wall (drill first) you can also run romex though the wall into yer box if the building is not over 3 stories. you dont need conduit in a wall.

Phil Scott

[DaveC]

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 17:16:54 -0700, Greg wrote (in article ):

The 3R box I have has no hole. Planned on making my own hole (not threaded). Buzzer has 3/4 hole on back (not threaded). Is it the *threaded* hole that makes this OK?

Can't I just use an electrical close nipple and nut between the two non-threaded 3/4-inch holes? Probably lots of caulk / sealer, too.

Thanks,

[DaveC]

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 20:19:13 -0700, Greg wrote (in article ):

So you would recommend using the NEMA 3 box and not directly mounting the buzzer to the wall?

Can I run conduit or flex or romex directly into the back of the NEMA box from inside the stucco wall? As someone else suggested, using lots of caulk or other sealant between the box and the wall...

Thanks,

[Richard J Kinch]

Soffit?

[Checkmate]

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 15:24:17 -0700, DaveC put forth the notion that...

Sure. As long as it's a weatherproof box, and the buzzer can be removed from the front to allow access to the splices.

[Greg]

BTW I heard a discussion in an inspector meeting that a normal 3R box outside an exterior wall was a wet location and you couldn't run Romex into it. It was far from a unanimous opinion but inspectors can be quirky guys so don't be surprised if you hear this again.

Vote me for "this is BS".

[DaveC]

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 10:46:28 -0700, Checkmate wrote (in article ):

Thanks,

[Checkmate]

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 09:39:16 -0700, DaveC put forth the notion that...

I've done similar installations where I had a 4S box on the inside of the wall, and a nipple through the wall to the outside box. If you're not going to have anything surface mounted on the inside of the building, you can still use flex or Romex (depending on local codes) and terminate it on the back side of the box with an approved connector. When you screw the box to the wall, slobber some silicone behind it and you'll be fine.