Identifying parts of a plastic external electrical enclosure

ToolbeltDandy · 30 Dec 2012

I bought a box for electrical connections. It's cheap but it's the only one Wilkos had and it's a long walk to Screwfix so I'd like to make do. I have some queries regarding the box.

What's that thing in the middle; it appears to be threaded and goes to a raised square on the inside. The box came with a cap to cover the raised square post-installation.

The long raised parts that run diagonally - are they for screwing a terminal block into place or something else?

Inside

Outside/back

sparkydude · 30 Dec 2012

As previous posts on the subject have stated the box is not suitable for your purpose and so would not be safe used in the manner in which you are proposing. If you do not value your own safety then carry on , but think of others before you do the work, what would happen if a young child were to pop off the cover exposing live parts inside???

My advice is bite the bullet and buy the correct part for the job.

Nick

333rocky333 · 30 Dec 2012

Theres an optional bracket you fix to the wall then you push the box on to the bracket, therefore not drilling the box to let water in
similar to the fast mounting clip shown here
http://www.wiska.de/eng/294,wiska-combi.html

The two oval slots inside are for alternative fixing and there should be two clip on covers to fit after to cover the screws, again to prevent water ingress

The internal raised sguare is for an optional terminal block to clip on, or possibly for one screw fixing if you say they supply a cover

The internal long slots are for fixing anything including din rail or terminals using short screws without peircing the box to prevent compromising water tightness

The 4 small oval raised bits inside are the drain holes and the relevant lowest one can if desired be drilled out to allow any water ingress to drain out, though in a position not to allow water in

ricicle · 30 Dec 2012

Did you chew open the large rear hole with your teeth ?

bernardgreen · 30 Dec 2012

ToolbeltDandy said:
and it's a long walk to Screwfix so I'd like to make do.

How far is the nearest Accident and Emergency department.

If I am not mistaken that box has a softer flexible material formed around the holes. This means any strain on the glands can pull the gland out of the box. The approved method for fixing SWA glands to this type of box is to use a metal backing plate inside the box.

Lectrician · 31 Dec 2012

These look a bit ****ty, the brass plate isn't threaded...

sparkydude · 31 Dec 2012

True they are not, but the enclosure is and gives a very good tight fit when tightened up properly.

Nick

bernardgreen · 31 Dec 2012

sparkydude said:
True they are not, but the enclosure is and gives a very good tight fit when tightened up properly.
Nick

But the box in the picture is not the box the OP has bought

sparkydude · 31 Dec 2012

never said it was did I ??? Was simply replying to Lectrician ,

if the OP had bought a Wiska box then none of these problems would be an issue

Nick

bernardgreen · 31 Dec 2012

I made the point to ensure the OP was aware that the box he bought was not the type in the picture of the box with threaded holes.

kai · 31 Dec 2012

Cheap Box - The OP's box is only suitable for either extra low voltage connections, say twelve volts or less, or telephone and data cabling, or TV aerial lead connections, NOT mains voltage applications.

diynot

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Identifying parts of a plastic external electrical enclosure

kai

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