Flush-mounted boxes – which model should I choose?
Installation boxes are designed for installation in specific conditions. We place them inside the wall so that they are safe and can be used if necessary. The choice of individual elements depends on the needs of the individual electrical installation. You can choose from among installation boxes designed for installation inside plasterboard, brick or polystyrene walls. Each box will be different because different safety standards must be met when insulating cables in soft material and different for hard materials such as masonry wall.
When choosing a flush-mounted box, you should also take into account possible unfavorable external conditions. High levels of humidity (often in the basement), extreme temperatures (attic, external walls) or ultraviolet radiation (in the case of boxes installed outside the building) will adversely affect cable installations. If a given model is resistant to a specific factor, the manufacturer will include the relevant information in the technical documentation.
Flush-mounted or surface-mounted boxes?
Cable installation boxes can be divided into two major groups. The first is flush-mounted boxes. These are products that allow you to mask the installation elements inside the wall. They provide better protection of electrical connections compared to surface-mounted boxes, but access to them is a bit more difficult. It often requires breaking up a fragment of the wall. According to the overarching assumption, however, these boxes are not devices that are to be used frequently.
Another type of installation boxes for cables and branches are elements placed directly on the plaster. Surface-mounted boxes are easier to install and easier to get to when there is a need to repair or replace electrical system components. However, they are less aesthetic, so they are more often used in workshops, garages, factories, warehouses and other places where the appearance is not particularly important. The presented choice is therefore a choice between aesthetics (flush-mounted boxes) and practicality (flush-mounted boxes), where the most depends on the individual use and the building parameters.
Installation boxes – the most important parameters
When choosing flush-mounted boxes, you should pay attention mainly to the size. The most popular cans are 60 mm in diameter and 40 mm deep (shallow cans) to about 60 mm (deep cans). Deep junction boxes are easier to install. They make it possible to later change the electrical equipment to one that takes up more space without having to replace the entire box. However, they also have their drawbacks.
First of all, these are products that will not be suitable for installation in very hard or thin walls. In such a situation, it is best to choose a shallow box. Other important features that should be determined prior to purchase are the number of segments (usually one to three), the number of leads, the material of manufacture (usually non-flammable plastic, but metal cans can also be found). The method of mounting the installation box also differs. The most popular installation methods are screws, wall plugs, silicone or special glue.
