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Light fixture junction box

e hilton

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Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
3,248
Location
Virginia
I’m having a discussion on a contractor forum about a junction box for a recessed light fixture. The discussion is about the “clamp” that secures the romex. The factory clamp is a spring strip of metal that prevents the romex from being pulled back out. I’m saying that not a clamp, and it actually presents a hazard to the romex, because if you pull hard enough the edge of the metal will bite into the cable.

https://link.shutterfly.com/ybiCxC4kfqb
 
Without knowing manufacturer and listing if any of hard to say. Not much different than the plastic boxes with the blade clamp that does the same thing, though may be less likely to cut into sheathing.

If it's listed, I'm having trouble on opening and strain relief being listed for 2 pieces of Romex.
 
These are made as cheaply as possible. The cover for the junction box has no screws. The cable enters with no connector that would fill the hole. If the cable is fished, there is no requirement to secure it within 12" of the J-box. It is an example of a (for profit) NRTL listing that shouldn't have happened. Inspection is problematic in that the installation is complete when the inspector shows up and the J-box is not visible.
 
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I'm with steveray, if the NM is properly secured prior to entering the J-box, that should be good enough. Now if when your there doing the inspection and the NM sheathing is damaged, now you got em!
 
I would be leery of it if I saw it on inspection. If they could provide listing docs, I would accept it, if not I wouldn't.

I'm not so much concerned about springy piece of metal as I am about the sharp edges on the KO itself that the spring is pushing the Romex against.
 
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