Read on as we\u2019ll be going into junction boxes, how to install them onto a crawlspace, and all the considerations that you\u2019ll need to make for a project like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Junction Box: What are they?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Junction boxes are used to allow wires to connect safely; this is important as electrical systems are dependant on each other to execute their functions properly. Remember that there are three types of wires that operate within a home\u2019s electrical system which are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The live wire(also called the hot wire)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is the wire that electrical currents pass through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The dead wire (also called the neutral wire)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The wire redirects any unused electricity back towards the system, which allows your system to make the most out of the electricity being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- The grounding wire.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
A failsafe wire that activates when something goes wrong. This wire redirects electricity towards the copper plate on the ground to safely remove electricity from the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that we\u2019ve gone into the different types of wires in your home, you can begin to understand better how helpful junction boxes are for your electrical system. You can imagine how messy it would be if every wire were independent of each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where junction boxes come in. As we mentioned earlier, this is where the different wires can connect and \u201chelp\u201d each other out in fulfilling their respective tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow will they fit into crawlspaces?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Junction boxes will be able to fit into any crawlspace. Your main concern is if you can access it without having to tear your house apart. Just because a junction box can fit doesn\u2019t automatically entail that you should put it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s recommended that your crawlspace should have a clearance big enough for you to be able to work with tools while you\u2019re underneath it; around 1 meter should be good. It would be difficult to check on your junction box when something goes wrong if your movement is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aside from that, having a crawlspace with that sort of spacing helps ensure that your junction box is well-distanced from the ground, and as we know, things that tend to be in contact with soil tend to deteriorate at a fast rate if it isn\u2019t designed to handle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHow to put a junction box in a crawlspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Since you looked up this article, we\u2019re assuming that you plan on extending your wiring to meet at a junction box below your crawlspace. Perhaps you\u2019ve found that this is the most optimal location for wires to converge at, and we\u2019ll now be going into how you should go about installing a junction box here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First off, we\u2019ll start with a few basic safety tips when handling anything related to electricals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Turn off the circuit.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Since you\u2019ll be working with a junction box, we recommend that you turn off your entire electrical circuit before working with them. You can do this by switching off the main breaker of your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Using the right tools<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Ensure that your tools are designed to work with electricals, a good rule of thumb is to make sure that they have rubber ends and that they are insulated well, meaning they don\u2019t conduct electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Staying dry<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
As we all know, water and electricity don\u2019t mix. Since you\u2019ll be working on a crawlspace, make sure that your working environment is dry to prevent you or your tools from getting wet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Safety gear<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Rubber gloves and safety goggles are always a must-have when working with electricals. Especially with junction boxes in crawlspaces because you\u2019ll most likely be working directly underneath your wires (the last thing you would want are sparks falling into your eyes!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that we\u2019ve covered that, we can begin going into how the installation process should go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Setting up the Junction Box<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Firstly, you\u2019re going to have to decide where you want to mount your junction box. A good place would be the ceiling of your crawlspace. You should know the number of cables that will be passing through it and the appropriate size of your junction box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Setting up the Wiring<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re going to need to secure your wires with a clamp. The last thing you\u2019d want is for your wires to start moving around, and having them clamped will prevent them from dropping down since we\u2019re installing your junction box on a ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Putting it all together<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
To connect your wires, you\u2019re going to need to strip them of their insulation materials. From there, you\u2019ll have to run them through a wire connector. Once everything is connected correctly, you should try turning on your circuit and check if the connection has worked. If everything goes well, you can close up your junction box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We think it\u2019s best to give you a general overview of how installing a junction box would go in a crawlspace. We can\u2019t go into the technicals because it varies very differently per homeowner (ex. What your crawlspace is like, how many wires you plan on running through, how old your wire are, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/whatblueprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Can-You-Put-a-Junction-Box-in-a-Crawlspace-01.jpg\")
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\n\n\n\nOther concerns for junction boxes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In this section of the article, we just want to give you a few critical parts of the electrician\u2019s code related to junction boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- They should always be accessible.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
You can\u2019t put junction boxes in places such as inside your walls, inside your floors, and the like. As a rule of thumb, you should put your junction box in a discreet place, such as your crawlspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Get the right size<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Your junction box should have enough space to fit in all the wires you wish to connect with enough clearance from each other. We do not want connectors to be too close to each other, nor do we want wires to be bunched in with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Configuration<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
When fitting your different connections into your junction boxes, it\u2019s recommended that you plan out how you\u2019ll be covering the different wires together. Configurations such as straight, curved, and U-shaped should be used to ensure that the cables are neat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Securing your wires.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Aside from considering the wires configured inside your junction box, you also have to consider the parts of the wire right outside it. You can secure your wires by stapling them to the ceiling of your crawlspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Label your wires<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s easy to get lost with all the connections being made inside your junction boxes. When something goes wrong with a fixture, it\u2019s essential to know which wires supply its power to check if there\u2019s anything that went wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re inexperienced with working with electricals, consider hiring an electrician to check on your electrical system and install the junction box for you. Electrical malfunctions are the most common fire hazard in a home, and it doesn\u2019t hurt to shell out a bit extra to ensure that everything is done correctly and safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, crawlspaces can be a viable place to put a junction box in. You\u2019ll only need to ensure that the junction box is reachable and can be work with future changes or repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Junction boxes help keep electrical circuits from getting entangled by serving as a place where wires can safely connect with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nSources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/junction-box-1798574<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.thomasnet.com\/articles\/automation-electronics\/junction-boxes\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/how-to-install-junction-boxes-1152327<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Label your wires<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Securing your wires.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Configuration<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Get the right size<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- They should always be accessible.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Putting it all together<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Setting up the Wiring<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Setting up the Junction Box<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Safety gear<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Staying dry<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Using the right tools<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Turn off the circuit.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- The grounding wire.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The dead wire (also called the neutral wire)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n