Homemade Electric on/off box

[TupeloTechie]

I have know idea what this is called, but a few years ago I was working on a show and the TD made a box out of wood that housed about 4 residential light switches (on the top) and a residential electrical outlet on the back. He had it wired so you could plug a cable in and it would supply power to all 4 switches, we used this to control a couple of florescent blacklights, a strobe, and a disco ball, because we didn't want to dim them. I need to make one of these for an upcoming show, I have built the box and installed all the switches and outlets from memory, but, I can't remember how he wired it. I was wondering if anybody knew how to wire it so I could get switchable power to each outlet from one plug?

[Footer]

A firetrap is what I call it. You can not have any type of connections inside a wooden box without being encased in metal, period. I would suggest going out and getting about 4 or so double gang boxes, mounting them on a piece of ply, and then do all the connections inside the junction boxes and running cable with retention clips between the boxes or something along those lines. One of the last theaters I worked in had about 10 AB switches built in wooden boxes next to the dimmers, and the first thing i did there was rip them out. They each had evidence of charred wood, so take that into account. As far as the wiring goes, I assume you want 1 120v in, going into 4 switches, then going to 4 outlets. Its as simple as splitting the hot wire to each switch, then running the switched hots to each outlet, and then split the neutral and grounds and run it to each outlet.

[TupeloTechie]

Do you think if I covered all of the inside of the plywood with a thin sheet metal it would work? If knot I'll just go buy some gang boxes, thanks!

[ship]

Agreed... (not the tin coated plywood box but the "fire trap") and also, if you don't remember how to wire it, you should not be wiring it. WAY TOO MANY DETAILS, that is beyond the - how it's wired to wiring it safely.

Get supervision with the TD or ME in doing this or a qualified licenced electrician to teach you both how to do it, and how to do it safely for this thing.

If nobody about to help... don't do it or try harder to find someone that knows the NEC and how to do it according to the code / much less safe and normal standards.

Could be that the old TD had it in a plywood box to house the thing, and it's possible, but either it was metal boxes in that box and the box was to make it nice, or it was "old school" you are best off not re-producting. What ever the case, more instruction and especially supervision is required. We all learn somewhere - better now when your interest is high than learning after it catches fire or shocks someone.

... Wiring... dangerous! Remember that - get proper instruction before doing it.

[Van]

I think footer explained the wiring perfectly and ship explained the issues. If you didn't understand exactly what footer said then do not attempt this project. Find someone to help or teach you how. Find an electrcian, and ask them to supervise, a lot of guys would be happy to help you out. I can't impress on enough how dangerous improperly wiring even a simple device such as this can be.

[ship]

Of these cautions, you will hopefully note that we are not attempting to say that you cannot do this persay, or should not at least be very much involved with doing it, it's only that you should not by way of to what extent we understand the question be doing it in innitial or subsiquent reply questioned which sort of throws up a red flag.

Believe me, we have most all of us including me started doing such things in the industry such as to the extent of your understanding and intended materials. Harsh way to learn and it's intended by all to save you of potential life and safety risks we learned by way of. Been there, done that with the plywood box type stuff. Done in the past, don't do it any longer.

A book called "Old Electrical Wiring" goes into great detail about even applications of the past where wood were thought a sufficient insulator, and it is as long as dry and there is no sparks such as a non-commercial grade switch just might have as a part of it. Use of other than commercial grade switches and receptacles and or plugs on stage is against the NEC. Many applications of outlet boxes (1900) boxes are also against code to use, but can be - note the plywood backing but there is rules to it - it's a support structure to the boxes when painted and installed for temp. use. Lots of details about what you intend. Simple enough but lots of little assumed details to learn one would not otherwise consider.

Hope it helps more than telling how to do it. Eyes on your project will in this case be much more help than advice on line. Need to see what type of wire you are using, what the length of stripped wire is, what cord and strain relief is in use etc. In theory, there must be overcurrent protection on this "device" and a incicator light that indicates it's of live power... many other details that are either NEC or waver type things but very specific.

[BillESC]

Why anyone would build such a device is beyond me.

This is an 8 channel switch panel, the on/off rocker switches are rear lit when on, it is rack mountable and each switch has a corresponding grounded outlet on the back of the panel. All for around $ 25.00

[soundlight]

I second BillESC's response, there are a number of pre-built switch packs out there that are going to cost about the same as you trying to build one yourself.

If you end up building it, have an electrician check it for you, and use double, triple, quadruple, whatever gang you need boxes. Just build a box that you can nail the multi-gang box(es) in to. Make sure that everything is properly grounded, and that everything has wall plates.

I built a dimmer box once, with household dimmers, and I used a triple gang box for three dimmers. I had a separate input and output circuit for each. So, unless you're dimming, get something that already exists for your project!

Again, I'm with everyone else - DO NOT USE WOOD AS THE PRIMARY ENCLOSURE - USE WALL BOXES!! This could be a huge fire hazard, and could be a dissaster if not wired properly. If you know an electrician, or if you are in a school system (in which you can contact the school our county electrician), have them check this out for you before and after you finish it! And maybe even help you build it. Mak sure that you do all of your grounding properly.

[TupeloTechie]

ok, the reason I am building one is that I have all the materials, (except gang boxes), which I will buy, I know that you all are trying to help me, but I need this very soon, I have read a book about home wiring, and my brother has helped an electrician one summer, so he knows alot about them, but I was wondering what it the safest way to split the hot and neutral. And the best way to ground this box.

Thanks to all who helped, I probably would have blown myself up by now if it wasn't for you.

[n1ist]

Judging from your questions, I would also suggest you don't try to build this yourself and use it in a public place. The liability and safety issues are too great.

You say that you have all of the parts except the box - what kind of power cord are you using? What kind of cable clamps (no romex/mc clamps allowed)? What kind of wire inside the box? How are you grounding the box? What size wire nuts will you use to split the hot wire to the switches? What kind of box do you plan to use (no boxes with knockouts)? If the receptacles mount to the covers, do they mount with more than one screw (code requires that now...)?

I'm not saying that you couldn't do this safely, but you have to be very careful. If you do build this box (or any other electrical project), have someone who really knows electrical code look it over, and don't believe everything you hear at the local home improvement or hardware store; you would be amazed what I have heard there...

To answer your questions, I would use a wire nut to split the incoming hot to the pigtails for each switch (check the box to know if it can handle the 5 14ga wires you plan to use). You can do the same for the incoming neutral or daisy chain it from one recept to the next. Tie all of the grounds together and run a wire to the green screw at the back of the box; you can get ground pigtails with the screw from the hardware store.