How To Remove Old Metal Ceiling Electrical Box

Turn the power off to this circuit.

How to remove old metal ceiling electrical box.

The typical metal box in a ceiling is either an 8 b octagon or a 1900 4 x4. The current electrical box in the ceiling is a very old type as shown in the picture i attached. If a bar hanger supports the box between two ceiling joists cut through the bar with a hacksaw. Outlets light switches ceiling lights ceiling fans and transition wires are just a few of the items that are installed in electrical boxes.

When used in a ceiling the 1900 will generally have a square to round device ring installed. Both are typically mounted using a metal strap spot welded to the side of the box. Number 10 x 1 5 sheet metal screws were used to secured the pancake box to the ceiling joist. Electrical boxes are the workhorse of electrical repairs and remodels serving as end or transition points for electrical cables.

The 8 b does not usually have a mud ring installed. Any tips on how to remove a metal outlet box the older ones that have ears on the top and bottom that are nailed into the studs. Remove the box from the ceiling. These welds don t break very easily.

Repairing a loose ceiling electrical box. Remove the box and pull the bars from the ceiling joists. After you take down a light fixture from the ceiling and remove the wiring you re left with the ceiling box. Without disconnecting the wires that are inside of the ceiling light electrical box pull them down and away from the sides of the box.

I have searched high and low even looking for older products and their manuals but no luck as this box seems to be ancient. Many ceiling boxes are plastic and. Use pliers to remove the nuts and release the box. How does one go about removing this.

Unfasten the screws if the box is held to the ceiling joist with screws. If the box is nailed to the joist loosen the box by striking it with a hammer. Removing the screws releases the box. Go into your attic to identify and remove an old ceiling light box.

Both metal and plastic boxes can be mounted to the side of a ceiling joist by driving screws through the bracket permanently attached to the side of the box. How to remove a plastic ceiling electrical box. Some plastic boxes have nails permanently installed through flanges and nail to the side of the joist. Remove the fixture mounting bracket by taking out the 8 32 screws holding it in.

If the box is installed in the ceiling two nuts in the top of the box may be holding the box in place. I posted some time back regarding this and someone mentioned to take a bar and bend it out.