Junction Boxes

What Are Junction Boxes?

Junction Boxes are a crucial part of electrical wiring systems, and you can use junction boxes for both households and commercial buildings. Junctions boxes come in metal or plastic, and this electrical junction box protects a building’s electrical connections. 

A junction box is also sometimes called a terminal box or a j-box. Inside the box-like structure, the electrical junction box houses all your wiring systems. Junctions boxes are a great protective and organisational tool. Almost every house or office has junction boxes installed in them. You can install junction boxes into the roof, concrete plaster, or walls. 

Most junction boxes come in two sizes; these are 5 way and 3 way junction box. You can find all the different variations of junction boxes, such as the three way junction box at Meteor Electrical. Meteor Electrical has a wide range of junction boxes, including the three way junction box, to meet all your electrical wiring needs. 

All junction boxes have an enclosure made from plastic or metal that stores all the wiring connections, and this box structure protects the wires from hazardous elements and vandalism. Junctions boxes don’t house ordinary wiring connections. These connections are one step lower than the primary power grid system. 

Junction boxes house wires that supply power to almost the entire building, and they also have a control mechanism that you can use in the case of an emergency. Junction boxes allow easy wiring access, and they are built with ample space inside the box structure to allow free air circulation and leave enough space for all the wires to operate safely. 

You need junction boxes in any building or infrastructure that uses electricity. Most of the time, you can identify junction boxes outside buildings with more than one electricity unit. 

Most junction boxes come in white colour, but you can also find black junction boxes. These make for perfect outdoor junction boxes. A black junction box especially works well as an outdoor junction box because it is specially designed to withstand multiple elements. 

In terms of the most durable outdoor connection box, a black junction box is your best bet. A black junction box has a weatherproof casing that protects your wiring the outdoors. A black junction box has a solid impact-resistant coating that prevents weather damage. To safely secure your wiring unit outdoors, you must use a black junction box. Electrical junction box wiring lasts considerably longer than bare wiring, especially in outdoor or external installation. 

How Do Junction Boxes Work?

The electrical junction box acts as a communal meeting place for all your electrical wiring. Junction boxes are where your wiring meets before they reach the connection area. These junction boxes contain live (brown), blue (neutral), and earth (green or yellow) electrical wires. There may be some other wire colours for secondary purposes and lighting. 

In the electrical junction box, the electrical wire runs from the main electrical panel or a subpanel to the electrical junction box. Usually, the electrical wire is a non-metallic sheathed electrical wire commonly used for residential wiring units. 

Other electrical wires connect to the sheathed wire, and the power supply from these wires gets distributed to other fixture boxes. If you want to connect junction boxes successfully, you need to ensure that all the wire gauges or the sizes of the wire’s diameters are the same throughout. 

All junction boxes should be covered and installed correctly to ensure efficiency. It’s also important that you fit your junction boxes according to your building’s regulations codes, as failure to do so will result in wiring problems. The cover for junction boxes is important as it removes dust and dirt and prevents moisture from getting inside the box. 

The cover is also important for avoiding sparks that could ignite combustible materials in the event of a loose connection or short circuit. At Meteor Electrical, you can find a wide selection of junction boxes with strong cover cases. All the junction box covers are made from high-quality materials, so make your next junction box purchase at Meteor Electrical. 

What Are The Wiring Basics For Junction Boxes?

An electrical junction box typically houses a wire connection to split power from a single source. The split power flows to multiple outlets. For example, an electrical junction box may contain one wire power connection that joins multiple wires to power numerous different lights. 

Junction boxes are typically between 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long and are made of solid metal or hard plastic to keep wiring safe. The main functional difference between metal and plastic depends on whether the junction box can support any weight or not. 

Some metal junction boxes can support light fixtures; however, plastic junction boxes don’t have the capability to withstand such weight. In addition, there are also installation differences between these materials. 

Plastic junction boxes are easier and quicker to install than metal junction boxes. If you are unsure which type of junction box to get, remember that standard junction boxes are designed to cover simple wire splicing, and they can be either metal or plastic. You can find several quick and easily installable junction boxes at Meteor Electrical. 

What Is Wire Splicing In An Electrical Junction Box?

All wire splicing should remain within a junction box for a building to comply with its electrical code successfully. However, sometimes splices are missed, which might present hazards to the electrical unit. 

Any form of exposed wiring is dangerous, but exposed wire splicing is extremely prone to accidents because people can trip over them, and it can emit sparks or cause harm to children and animals. To curb such dangers, junction boxes allow individuals to locate the wire splice area to reduce hazards easily. 

What Are The Various Application Of Junction Boxes?

There are multiple applications for junction boxes. Apart from housing wiring connections, junction boxes are important for the safety of electrical connections. Junction boxes are important because they protect electrical wirings from animals and people. 

Most wires look unassuming; however, not everyone knows which wires are dangerous and which aren’t, which is why electrical junction boxes protect your wiring system not just for the safety of your circuits but also for the protection of everyone around the wires. The junction box also maintains the security of wiring, which helps them stay in operation for a long time. 

The junction box’s encasing protects the wiring from external factors that might affect its operating capabilities. Apart from these applications, junction boxes are also used for applications such as:

• Preventing humans from getting into contact with electrical circuits and connections.
• Protects the cables from dust contamination and moisture
• Prevents rodents from chewing up the wires
• Organises electrical floor plan into small units
• Avoids the spread of fire within the junction box unit

Junction boxes are also great at simplifying the electrical wiring of a building. In most cases, each electrical junction box in a building represents a separate wiring section. 

Large junction boxes provide protection for the entire house. This type of coordinated and organised arrangement makes it much easier for any sort of electrical work. Without junction boxes, an electrician’s work would be far more difficult. 

What Are The Different Types Of Junction Boxes?

Like the different amperages and terminals for junction boxes, these boxes also come in various sizes and shapes depending on the function they are created for. 

Some junction boxes are small enough to be used for domestic purposes, while some junction boxes are larger and used for commercial electrical needs such as manufacturing plants. Here are the different types of junction boxes. 

Standard Residential Junction Box

The residential boxes are regular junction boxes that are used for residential properties such as homes and small business establishments. The standard residential boxes are made with simple materials and are much smaller than other junction boxes. 

Residential junction boxes house the main wiring from the central power line. These boxes have a series of carefully arranged wires to avoid any electrical hazards. Despite the smaller sizes of encasing, these boxes have ample space to prevent any wires from overlapping. 

Most people find dealing with residential junction boxes much easier than other boxes because they don’t have many wires inside. All the wiring is straightforward without any major complications as the average house requires low power.

Round Pan Electrical Junction Boxes

Round pan junction boxes are shaped like pans, and they have a rounded shape. Most of these junction boxes are ¾ inch deep. Round pan boxes are best suited for creating electrical units in the ceiling or the wall for electrical light components in a house. 

Round pan junction boxes are usually made of metal and are very reliable for isolating wires in all house areas. Round pan boxes are a great organisational electrical component for your house wiring. 

As with any other electrical junction box, the wiring inside the round pan box is very organised and maintains the safety of your circuits. Since round pan boxes are smaller, ensure you don’t overcomplicate and overload the wiring system, as this will become dangerous. 

Outdoor Junction Box

Outdoor junction boxes are specialised boxes that house the entire electrical connection of a particular building. These outdoor boxes provide housing for wires from the central power supply on the street to the building complex. 

Outdoor junction boxes are made from the toughest and most long-lasting materials to prevent damage and vandalism. Such boxes are usually made from metals. Another reason outdoor junction boxes are made from tough materials is that they protect the wiring from weather elements. 

If you are using outdoor junction boxes, they must meet all the electrical regulations. Most outdoor outdoor electrical boxes also come with locks for added protection. 

Octagon Junction Box

Octagon junction boxes are shaped like octagons, and the shape of these boxes provides convenience for the electrical application of a house. 

Octagon junction boxes are commonly installed on the ceiling and provide housing for advanced wiring. The shape of the octagon box offers enough space for these and doesn’t take up too much space when installed. 

What Features To Look For In Junction Boxes? 

When you are looking for a good junction box, there are two important things you must consider. There is a wide range of junction boxes based on their design and the number of wire connections. 

Due to this wide range, it is important that you choose the appropriate junction box based on your wiring needs. Here are the two important factors that will determine your choice of junction boxes. 

The Amp Rating 

Since there are a wide variety of amp ratings, you might wonder What amp junction box for lighting? or what amp rating for small appliances? The amp rating is an important determiner for choosing the best junction box. 

Your preferred amp rating should be based on the circuit you want to use with the junction box. Generally, most electricians recommend using a 20 amp junction box lighting circuit and a 30 amp junction on other circuits. However, it’s important to note that you can’t switch between amp ratings for your junction box lighting circuits or other types of circuits. 

If you want to use a higher amp rating, such as a 40 amp junction box, you must consult a qualified electrician. A 40 amp junction box works best for showers and cookers. For such electrical uses, you must use a 40 amp junction box as it has the capabilities to withstand such functions. 

However, you must consult a qualified electrician before installing a 40 amp junction box. 40 amp junction boxes are far more complex than other junction boxes; therefore, you must ask a professional to install a 40 amp junction box. 

The Number Of Terminals

The number of terminals determines the number of connections you need. Make sure to check how many connections you require before purchasing a junction box. The terminal is the number of connection areas where you can connect the cable cores to the circuit. 

Most junctions come in three, four, five, and six terminals. The more terminals your junction box has, the more cable can be joined. Check how many connections you need before choosing your preferred junction box. 

What Is The Best Configuration For Junction Boxes?

Most junction boxes come in a variety of configurations, such as a 5 way or 3 way junction box unit. A 3 way junction box is one of the most common configurations for junction boxes. A 3 way junction box is a good medium-sized option for many electrical units are you can add 4 electrical connectors to this unit. 

A 3 way junction box allows cables to go in three different ways and opens up multiple wiring possibilities. With a three way junction box, you can wire your lights and other appliances. 

A 3 way junction box also has enough space to keep connecting wires without any overlapping. This space prevents hazardous wiring problems within the 3 way junction box. You can find several 3 way junction box options at Meteor Electrical. 

What Amp Junction Box For Lighting?

When it comes to junction boxes, one of the most commonly asked questions is What amp junction box for lighting? Since lighting is one of the most common uses of power in households and commercial buildings, many people think about what amp works best for a lighting connection box. 

Getting your lighting wires installed is incredibly important, and you need the correct junction box for your wirings to work effectively. Many professionals and qualified professionals recommend using a 20 amp junction box for lighting. 

20 amp junction boxes have enough capabilities to withstand the power loads for lighting sockets. At Meteor Electrical, you can find a wide range of 20 amp junction boxes and socket junction boxes for your lighting needs. To learn more about junction box lighting circuits for outdoor applications, read our super detailed blogpost!

What Is An IP Rated Junction Box?

One of the most important jobs of an outdoor electrical box or junction box is to keep debris, dirt, and moisture from getting inside the box. To ensure these qualities, manufacturers created IP rated Junction Boxes. 

When you start looking for junction boxes, you look for an IP rated junction box. An IP rated junction box is capable of resisting liquid and solid elements that could ruin the wiring system. However,  it’s important to note that all IP rated junction boxes are not the same. Each IP rated junction box has a value assigned based on its protective abilities. 

Most people prefer using IP55 junction boxes. IP55 junction boxes are strong and last long no matter the weather conditions. IP55 junction boxes ensure your personal safety and the safety of the person installing the junction box. 

Your IP55 junction boxes can withstand any number of tools, and the IP55 junction boxes are impervious to dust particles. IP55 junction boxes also provide protection against heavy rains and physical intrusions. At Meteor Electrical, you can find several purchasing options for IP55 junction boxes. Shop from our wide selection of socket junction boxes, indoor and outdoor junction boxes here!