Box Connector Debacle

Digital Dawg

Installing a 40 circuit panel in a 2 story home and will be running quite a few circuits out of it. The panel will be behind 1/2" sheetrock, and some of the openings for wire on top and bottom of the panel are too close to the front to meet code (1-1/4" min. from face of stud) ... if I used those nearest the front, the wire would just barely be behind the sheetrock when it's put on. The 1/2" box connectors I'm using are big enough to accomodate two 12-2 NM wires through them, but is that against code? Can you run two 12-2 wires through a single box connector? Can't find anything about it in the NEC. Otherwise, it's going to be nearly impossible for someone to use all 40 circuits in a 40 space panel, if they had to.

CookeCarpentry

I'm no sparky, but what does the NEC say about that?

Digital Dawg

I mean it's going to be flush mounted with the sheetrock, and not surface mounted.

macmikeman

This is not a direct nec code issue, but rather one of a UL listing issue.
The bad news is that the nec code mandates that you follow UL listings and instructions. The good news is most every romex connector is listed for use with two cables installed. Some may even allow three.

Digital Dawg

That sounds good to me macmikeman. Two 12-2 wires through a single box connector will give me all the circuits I need, and more.

macmikeman

You know, if you are installing an electrical panel and you are not even sure about something so basic as this, perhaps maybe I might be able to suggest to you that you hire an electrician to perform this work for you. Stay safe.

Digital Dawg

Well, I'm not doing it for someone else. It's for my own home ... I've followed every code to a T, except I couldn't find anything on this. I'm no dummy, I'm just not an electrician .... I'm a class B contractor with a few questions. I'm here to learn

crazyboy

You don't need to maintain the 1-1/4" minimum between the last staple and the connector in the panel.

Celtic

Tell us why....documentation would help.

__________________

Digital Dawg

Because you don't need a staple at the box, there's a box connector there. Right? But that still doesn't prevent someone in the future who may live there after me from deciding to hang a large picture over the panel door, to hide it, nailing through a wire at one of those front-most panel openings.