So I am wiring my cabin, and here I have a crawlspace which I will button up with some mesh & skirting, but for all intents & purposes, I am considering it open to everything (dogs, rodents, armadillos, pterodactyls, you name it … this is North Texas) … But I need power outside, so I have two of these outlets to wire.
They will be supplied by a 20A GFCI breaker just for these two 20A receptacles. I plan on putting PVC (or metal?) in-use boxes for them. Under the cabin I plan to run properly supported 1/2in grey PVC using the little t-boxes shown below where the wire splits out to the receptacles. Wire will be 12 GA THHN/THWN copper stranded hot,neutral and ground, and making wire-nut connections in the t-box.
The receptacles are the kind where you insert the wire and the clamps down on it. It's this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-20-Amp-Commercial-Grade-Duplex-Outlet-White-R62-CBR20-00W/202066702
So, I like the first method, where the box sort of "hangs" from the rim joist, except of course I'll have it backed by a 2×6 screwed to the inside of the rim joist and hanging down. In this way I imagine I can get a cleaner install by drilling though the back of the board, and joining up the PVC to the center of the back of the box.
- Is there a better way?
- Have I thought this out correctly?
- Am I being too cautious with the PVC, when just UF (or heck even romex) will do?
- Should I also use a combo AFCI/GFCI? Seems like GFCI-only is the
right choice here.
You guys have been really terrific with the advice, which I appreciate in advance!
–Kerry
Best Answer
If I were doing this I would use Carlon Type FS boxes and rigid NM conduit. These boxes can be fitted with water-tight covers and have screws for surface mount to the existing rim joist. I would run conduit under the joist then up to the boxes. Either with a T as you suggest or use one Type FSC box for inline connection. If you need more volume the 1-gang Type FD boxes are 25 cu. in. and 2-gang versions are also available.
If this were a home and not a cabin I might go to the trouble of mounting boxes flush inside the rim joist. But that seems unnecessary here.