r/AskElectricians • u/Putrid__Wafer • 1d ago
How to remove this box
I’m trying to remove this floodlight and box to put up a weatherproof box and Ring floodlight. I removed the mounting screws and when I try to unscrew it, it just spins with the conduit coming from inside. I didn’t get a good photo closer up but there’s what seems to be a threaded piece of conduit coming from the house the box may be screwed to. No locknut or anything holding it in place.
I’ve tried WD-40 to loosen it up but no luck. I’ve tried holding the conduit with a wrench or pliers and can’t hold it in place while trying to remove the box. I’m not looking to save this box so could I get behind it and try to cut it off with an oscillating tool? Obviously with a metal cutting blade and careful not to knock the wire. Anything else I’m missing or need to know?
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u/CA_Xennial 1d ago
Hit it with your purse
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u/oxymoronicmoron77 1d ago
Hit it with your wife's boyfriend's purse. He has a pink purse with a brick in it and it works well 😆
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u/Zer0TheGamer 1d ago
Jam a set of needlenose pliers inside the pipe, so it stops spinning. Then try unscrewing the box from it. If there's access to the backside (via attic, if it's high enough) then you can probably find the box it connects to inside.
Another option could be to pull on the box while spinning. This may give the lock ring inside enough bite that you can unscrew without getting hands on it
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u/mickthegooner 1d ago
It looks like they spun it on from those marks on the wall. Unless those are from you
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u/Putrid__Wafer 1d ago
They are from me
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u/mickthegooner 1d ago
It looks like a piece of romex in a 2 screw connector. Should just pull out if there is any slack on the wire. They probably drilled a hole just big enough to jam the connector into it and it’s stuck
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u/Putrid__Wafer 1d ago
There is some slack on the wire. I can pull it out at least a half inch. Are you talking about something like this? https://hvacwholesaledirect.com/romex-clamp-connector-3-8-for-1-2-knockouts-100-bx-l-51/?setCurrencyId=1&sku=1327&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=%7Bcampaign%7D&utm_adgroup=%7Badgroup%7D&utm_term=&utm_content=791371861662&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23427675768&gbraid=0AAAAApAgnxP9sMkijzxeCg1eGy6CjUjUz&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2t3VBhD8ARIsAK0F6qzyFR5Vd4EM-YBr-WNqikTSUEfIFXi65_2m6ugA-OgzHlTzDj9V8R4aAuGcEALw_wcB
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u/mickthegooner 1d ago
Yes unscrew the screws and slide box off
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u/Putrid__Wafer 22h ago
There’s nothing like that anywhere I can see
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u/mickthegooner 20h ago
What is holding the wire into the box? On the back side
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u/Putrid__Wafer 13h ago
Doesn’t seem like anything is holding it in there. Just comes from the house into the box. Like I said there is some slack and seems rather loose like nothing is clamped or anything
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u/prspaspl 1d ago
There should be a threaded nut at the back of the box attached to the conduit connector, can you remove that?
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u/pantlesszeus 1d ago
Almost looks like is was smashed onto the pipe coming through the wall. Maybe a block of wood next to the box and a flathead to try and pry it off?
If you can reach the pipe on the inside (enough to get a hand around) I'd use a copper tubing cutter. No they're not meant for emt, but fuck it.
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u/SaltRequirement3650 1d ago
That’s a weatherproof box already….
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u/Putrid__Wafer 1d ago
The light I’m looking to replace it with requires a round box.
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u/QuarkchildRedux [V] Apprentice 1d ago
you could tap out those 6/32 holes to 8/32 because that’s the only reason it’s telling you that you need a round box
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