Full Answer
What size screw goes in a ceiling box?
On normal electrical boxes, screws are usually 6-32... this being a bit light for a fan, also expect 8-32 or 10-32. Ground screws are 10-32.
What size are screws for electrical boxes?
The most common electrical box screw sizes are 6-32 and 8-32. Be sure to get round head or hex-head screws for inside the box, to prevent arcing. Use oval-head screws to attach cover plates.
What size screw holds a light switch to box?
Standard screws for toggle, duplex and blank plates are 1/2" in length. If your box is recessed into the wall you can buy longer screws. Rocker switch plates and some other specialty wall plates have 5/16" screws because longer screws will hit the wall surface underneath the plate.
What is a 8 32 screw?
The first number is the diameter. The bigger the number the bigger the screw. The second number is the number of threads per inch.
What is a 10-32 screw?
10-32 Threads The number “10” is a size designator with no numerical meaning. The number “32” refers to 32 threads per inch. You can identify a 10-32 screw by measuring the diameter at exactly 3/16″ (4.76 mm).
What boxes are tapped for 8-32 screws?
8-32 screw diameter oval head: #8 equals . 164" (a little over 5/32", 4.166 mm). The pitch of the screw head is 0.794" and diameter is 19/64". This larger size is used for diagonal screws in 4x4 square boxes, 1900 boxes, round or octagon boxes when mounting mudrings, etc.
What size are Square D panel screws?
Q:what size are these screws? A: 10/32'' by 3/4''. These screws are only available through Square D distributors and retailers.
What size are the screws in a light switch?
All modern sockets have standard size M3. 5 (3.5mm) diameter screws. The lengths can differ, so measure one that you haven't lost just to be sure. If you've lost them both, unscrew one from another nearby socket or switch.
What is the size of a switch box?
Device (switch) boxes are 6-32. Junction boxes like that one are 8-32. Ground screws are 10-32. Also, you could buy a ceiling hugger style fan instead of a stem mounted one, and fasten it directly to the ceiling with toggle bolts or similar fasteners, instead of just the box, since that box is most likely not rated for a fan.
Do I need a ceiling fan box?
Pretty much everywhere code in the USA states that you need a ceiling fan rated box. The box is stronger and comes with all mounting hardware in multiple types from joist to between joist options. I personally used this product for all my interior and deck fan mounts and I have 60 inch fans on the porch deck. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Raco-1-Gang-Gray-Steel-Interior-New-Work-Standard-Ceiling-Fan-Electrical-Box/1099543
Can you use a ceiling hugger fan instead of a stem mounted fan?
Also, you could buy a ceiling hugger style fan instead of a stem mounted one, and fasten it directly to the ceiling with toggle bolts or similar fasteners, instead of just the box, since that box is most likely not rated for a fan.
How long is a ceiling screw?
Both ceiling and wall box screws are typically about 1-1/4" long, combo head. Secondly, what size are light fixture screws? There are better plastic boxes and Wayne is correct the round box (8-32 screw) is what you want to hold a light fixture. the rectangular boxes are for devices and receptacles (6-32 screw).
What is a 10/32 machine screw?
The 10/32 machine screws are designed to hold a fan (as opposed to the 8/32's in standard boxes).
Special offers and product promotions
Create your FREE Amazon Business account to save up to 10% with Business-only prices and free shipping. Register today
Product Description
These machine screws are used with nuts or directly into a female threaded receptacle to fasten metal parts together. They are installed into an existing or predrilled, pre-tapped hole and are fully threaded. Measurements are made from the underside of the head to the tip of the screw to obtain fastener length.
What size screw for electrical box?
The most common electrical box screw size is 6-32. However, for many applications, 6-32 is too light duty, so we use an 8-32 or even a 10-32 instead. The thread pitch, however, is always 32.
What size screw to use for a 6-32?
If the 6-32 is just slightly too small, then you need an 8-32. If the 6-32 is noticeably too small, you need a 10-32. A 6-32 screw is .138 inches in diameter. So in a pinch, you can use a drill bit to measure.
What size drill bit do I need for a GFCI outlet?
The length can vary, but I find 1/2-inch to 1-inch length screws almost always fit, except in the case of GFCI outlets. It’s safest to go with 5/16-inch for GFCI.
Can a 10-32 screw be ground?
But in a pinch, a regular bare metal 10-32 screw will work for ground. It just has to be a conductor, and bare metal conducts electricity pretty well. Hex heads are common on ground screws.
What type of electrical box do I need for a ceiling fan?
They are used most commonly for ceiling- or wall-mounted light fixtures that weigh no more than 50 pounds. Some types of specially rated metal pan boxes may be used for mounting ceiling fans, but not all pan boxes may be used for this purpose.
What size is a wall plate screw?
The two most common sizes of wall plate screws are 5/16” and 1/2”.
How much does it cost for an electrician to install a ceiling light?
When you can use the existing wiring, installing new light fixtures will cost whatever you pay for the light itself, plus $50 – $100 per hour for an electrician to install them. Most people spend $150 to $500 to install a light fixture; the average is right around $400.
How much does it cost to install a ceiling light fixture without existing?
Expect to pay anywhere between approximately $80 and $200 for labor and supplies. That's not including the price of the fixture itself. The total cost to install your light fixture will depend on: whether there is pre-existing wiring in place.
How long does it take to install a light fixture?
How long does it take to install a light fixture? It can take 1-2 hours to install a standard light fixture, but installing wiring to a new site may take up to a full day. The time needed to install a fixture varies, depending on its location and the difficulty of running and connecting wires and switches.
What is a 10 32 screw?
10-32 threads are historically the original rack screw type. The term 10-32 comes from Unified and American Screw Threads for Bolts, Nuts, and Machine Screws standards published by ANSI B1. 1-1974. The number “10” is simply a size designator with no numerical meaning. The number “32” refers to 32 threads per inch.
Can you screw an electrical box to a stud?
Nail-on plastic electrical boxes are affordable and easy to use. Electrical boxes that are mounted to wall studs during new construction must be positioned so that, when drywall is added, the face of the box will be flush with (or very slightly inset from) the wall's surface.