I took off a bathroom fixture hoping to replace it, thinking it would be a simple job. Well it turns out there's no junction box. I could just wire things up and it'll work, but that doesn't seem right.
Upon closer inspection, I realized why they installed it this way. The fixture is centered to the vanity, and there is a stud. But right alongside it is a black PVC pipe, which I imagine is some kind of a venting pipe (this is a top floor bathroom). This is the opened up cavity below my vanity, so I'm assuming the top would be the same.
So the right screw here goes into wood, and the left one goes into a drywall with an anchor.
Looking at other answers on here, most people suggest a pancake junction box like this one, which I understand can be mounted to a stud directly and will be flush with drywall.
My problem is, how do I run the Romex cable through the back of a pan box, if there is a PVC pipe in the way?
Best Answer
The vent pipe is smaller in diameter than the thickness of the stud.
You should be able to mount the pancake box with a knockout toward the vent pipe side. Then have enough room to sneak the cable in the box. Don't forget to use a strain relief/ insulator .