Outlet Box Advice

Hillbilly61
Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
edited February 2010 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Hi Everyone!

Here's my situation:

I live in a log home, so running speaker wires through the wall is not doable. However, I can run them underneath the floors and bring them up near the walls there. The idea is to have speakers near there and then construct two ended banana plugged speaker wires to tie the speaker back to the amp.

I've got the right outlet face plates, wiring, etc figured out, but cannot find an appropriate box for floor surface mounts.

I want the floor mounted outlet box to sit just above the floor, not beneath it as water and dirt will eventually creep in if mounted there. I've worked in offices where AC outlets are configured this way, so this must be in code and speaker voltage is low volt power anyway.

Is there a suggestion where I can find such boxes?

Thanks!
Post edited by Hillbilly61 on
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Comments

  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    These would work. May want to paint them.

    http://www.lowes.com/pd_71209-15527-14250_0_?productId=1098639&Ntt=electrical%20box&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?rpp=60$Ntt=electrical%20box
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    Thanks, this will work! Monoprice has faceplate covers for banana speaker plugs. They also have a "control center" version for near where the amp would be located - has all of the plugs in one face plate. I was hoping to find one of them too but that requires an oversized box.

    I'll buy eight of these - a pair for each of the surrounds and the rears and eight face plates from Monoprice.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited February 2010
    Hillbilly!!! Log Cabin!!!! WAAAHHHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAA!!!! I knew it!! Do you have an old hound dog and spitoon next to the rockin' chair on the porch?!!! YEEEEEEHAAAA!!!!!
    Perfect!
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Hillbilly!!! Log Cabin!!!! WAAAHHHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAA!!!! I knew it!! Do you have an old hound dog and spitoon next to the rockin' chair on the porch?!!! YEEEEEEHAAAA!!!!!
    Perfect!

    Yep, it brings me back to home. Except I have over 3K sq ft of private space, a 2K deck on the front of the house and swimming pool too. When my home insurer saw my place she corrected me to tell me to stop stating that it was my log cabin....

    However, running new wires the house was not built with creates it own challenges when logs surround your house.

    That said, I still wanna check out your tubes!

    Lee
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited February 2010
    Your tellin' me brother. I've wired a few log homes in my day and every one took 5 years off my life. No room for error or expansion. Those aluminum j-boxes that kcoc linked will do the trick. They're pretty rugged if you're gonna use them on the floor. Water proof and paintable.
    I'll keep y'all posted on the little integrated.

    No spitoon on the porch?
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    lightman1 wrote: »

    No spitoon on the porch?

    I am pretty well set on those boxes based on his advice. They look good!

    About the porch, no spitoon, but I do pretty much often piss between the banisters at will... accidentally hitting one has its own consequences. I live in the woods up here in NY and do not have to fret about neighbors observing me doing such a thing.

    However, seeing bears cut through the yard or trying to raid my bird feeder during the spring can be pretty unnerving.... One time, I forgot and left garbage in bags outside of my house. The fooker(s) grabbed them up as a lunch bag and took them out into the woods about a 100 yards or so at various places to rip open... had a helova mess to clean up.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited February 2010
    You need to mark your territory better. That'll keep 'em away.
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    lightman1 wrote: »
    You need to mark your territory better. That'll keep 'em away.


    Hee Haw!

    :D
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    Hillbilly61 wrote: »
    Thanks, this will work! Monoprice has faceplate covers for banana speaker plugs. They also have a "control center" version for near where the amp would be located - has all of the plugs in one face plate. I was hoping to find one of them too but that requires an oversized box.

    I'll buy eight of these - a pair for each of the surrounds and the rears and eight face plates from Monoprice.

    The main speaker connection plate should fit in a standard double gang box, least the last one I put in did.

    http://www.lowes.com/pl__0__s?rpp=60&Ntt=electrical%20box
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    The main speaker connection plate should fit in a standard double gang box, least the last one I put in did.

    http://www.lowes.com/pl__0__s?rpp=60&Ntt=electrical%20box

    Kcoc!

    Upon further research, it was found that Monoprice has a 4 pair banana plug outlet that works for a single outlet box. BINGO! This works. All I want to do is have on floor (could be used as an in wall) runs to outlets for the surrounds and rears. Nothing fancy.

    So here's the solution found:

    A) 5 boxes w/half inch outlets containing two plugs found at Lowes, thanks to you, Kcoc! By the way, they are all metal and now have a white version for $3.25 apiece. Very sturdy and somewhat attractive (not naked metal looking).

    B) To make the surface mount boxes securely fit though the floor, half inch diameter, 2 inch iron water pipe nipples were found in the plumbing department. They fit the boxes to a tee.

    (I'm shameless in a hardware store, as I will rip open a package and fit things together when assembling a system that I am buying). :o

    C. Nipple nuts (back to the electrical dept) tightly ties things back.

    All that I need now is to order code are rated in wall speaker cable and the jack outlet plates from Monoprice.

    Thanks again, Kcoc!

    Hillbilly,

    P.S. My Lowes pretty much suck. They did not have the double sized outlet box you mentioned. I spent much time in there yesterday prowling for parts to make it all come together after finding the box solution you offered. This particular store is too much into suburban solutions ... their lighting (including low voltage outside path stuff) and faucet offerings are magnificent for this market.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    Right on, Sounds (hehe) like you are on your way.

    As they say...pictures or it didn't happen. LOL
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    Right on, Sounds (hehe) like you are on your way.

    As they say...pictures or it didn't happen. LOL

    You do not get something around here. I will send install pictures to trusted folk around this forum. Not because of someone prompted me to do so in a public forum. Look for "leadership points" elsewhere......

    You just gave good advice and that is all that it is.
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    Huh?
    I wanna see you setup, what it looks like done......and rockin

    They give out "leadership points"??? Do we get to cash them in for a new set of spearker cables or what??
    :D:D
    Hillbilly61 wrote: »
    You do not get something around here. I will send install pictures to trusted folk around this forum. Not because of someone prompted me to do so in a public forum. Look for "leadership points" elsewhere......

    You just gave good advice and that is all that it is.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2010
    leadership points?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    Huh?
    I wanna see you setup, what it looks like done......and rockin

    They give out "leadership points"??? Do we get to cash them in for a new set of spearker cables or what??
    :D:D

    The family here oft work through to a solution without being asked for pictures to prove that the suggested solution was actually implemented with photos to back up.

    Your advice was critical for getting me out of this mental log jam. It was not perfect, just helpful. ;)
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    Hillbilly61 wrote: »
    .....to prove that the suggested solution was actually implemented with photos to back up.

    Hillybilly, Why are you getting so worked about? You are totally misunderstanding the intent of my wanting to see pictures. Maybe using the saying "No pictures or it didn't happen" confused you. It is just a saying that gets bantered around. I am sure you can implement the simple installation of a couple of boxes. I just wanted to see that it all worked out decently for you.

    I was not looking for any "leadership points" or anything else. I just was helping someone out, with some info I did know about. I may not know everything there is to know about audio, and I just wanted to give something back. Forget about the pictures, ect....
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,793
    edited February 2010
    You two silly mother-f*ckers need to knock it off or I'll get my belt!
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    Hillybilly, Why are you getting so worked about? /QUOTE]

    Sorry for the "edgy" sounding reply. The folk that regularly ply this forum are interpreted to being pretty handy folk. No need to supply pictures on this problem. They can figure out any particular detail from my info provided to fit their particulars - no need for a photo step by step....
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    lightman1 wrote: »
    You two silly mother-f*ckers need to knock it off or I'll get my belt!

    So you are into **** spanking???? With or without assless chaps???? :eek:

    (I'll never let you live down the "assless chaps" statements you have made in this forum). :D
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  • Krazyz1
    Krazyz1 Posts: 256
    edited February 2010
    I live in the country and FULLY understand the relief value of the wind on your weiner taking a leak. Peeing through the lattice can be tricky too! LOL!
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