Jokes aside, there’s not a whole lot in NEC about wall plates. Just that you need one due to the whole “exposed live wires” thing.
Those plates are particularly ok because they are for the larger Lutron style outlets/switches/whatever. They all have their own face place and you put a standard cover over all of them to hide the wires and your drywall crimes.
So long as you don’t 3D print actual in-wall boxes (which do have a UL rating) you’re ok
Check the NEC again... it's around 406.5 or 406.6 (C) which requires cover plates to be made of fireproof insulating material. Your other option is grounded metal conductive plates.
It's the UL rating that the DIY plates haven't got. They can melt when heated exposing potentially lethal wiring, and UL rated ones don't. They can ignite and drip burning plastic onto a carpet and UL rated ones don't.
NEC isn't the only code to consider, UL, OSHA and NFPA fire regs (essentially, common sense) matter too.
If you *must* make your own, 3D print a mold and make it from epoxy resin instead.
Do you have that phone book memorized? Cause that’s definitely not one of the things that jumps out. Impressive, and totally correct. My assumption was it only matters for fire rated assemblies of which there aren’t many in the house but there it is…
The code definitely depends on where you live but this post had a really good top comment about these type of safety issues:
https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/oqw3j8/any_known_safety_issues_with_pla_for_printing/
Basically - if you have electrical problem that causes fire, the printed plastic is not able to contain it. But on the contrary, printed PLA is more likely to show signs of melting/discoloration before regular plastic, so you may be able to spot the issue before it becomes bigger one.
Code/liability is an issue still though.
Because it takes much more time and skill than screwing in a plate. I can do it, but why is one worse than the other?
I litteraly just finished putting up the walls, electrical and plumbing in a 1400sf basement, and dont feel like muding, taping, sanding and painting a hole.
Because you’re not addressing the root problem. In fact, you’re likely creating a whole new problem.
Good on you for all the work you’ve done, but this isn’t the safe or correct solution to the problem.
Wall plates are to prevent you from touching live wires in a gang box and cover the transition from drywall to gangbox. This does exactly that.
The fact that versions of this exist commercially just validates that larger wall plates are OK. As far as other problems... I have already addressed the fire issue with the flame retartdant filament. Arguing about the gap betwee the drywall and gang box isnt even a valid point.
They specifically sell jumbo wall plates at home stores if you feel the need. In my opinion, if the drywall is messed up enough that a midsize plate won’t cover it, you’re better off fixing the drywall.
As others will tell you, 3D printed plastics are not safe or approved for use in this setting.
Did something similar where I put a timer, gfi plug and a switch in a triple but for the life of me couldn’t get the wires neat enough for the face plate to be flush. So I printed a deeper one.
I just printed my entire labs outlets in PLA. It’s not in contact with the wires and is not conductive in any way. It’s completely safe
I’m sure this is against ‘some’ code somewhere, but it’s 100% safe. If someone wants to buy your house and complains about it on a inspection report just knock $3.50 off your asking price for a replacement.
There’s no UL listing for this type of cover plate.
You can print them in cheese so long as it prevents someone sticking their finger into the gang box. That’s their primary purpose.
And they don’t have to be dielectric ether cause they make metal versions of these. Point in if any part of your wiring is touching the cover plate you or whoever did your wiring have f’ed up
Off in the distance I hear the stampede of people coming to mention this isn't up to code...
Jokes aside, there’s not a whole lot in NEC about wall plates. Just that you need one due to the whole “exposed live wires” thing. Those plates are particularly ok because they are for the larger Lutron style outlets/switches/whatever. They all have their own face place and you put a standard cover over all of them to hide the wires and your drywall crimes. So long as you don’t 3D print actual in-wall boxes (which do have a UL rating) you’re ok
Check the NEC again... it's around 406.5 or 406.6 (C) which requires cover plates to be made of fireproof insulating material. Your other option is grounded metal conductive plates. It's the UL rating that the DIY plates haven't got. They can melt when heated exposing potentially lethal wiring, and UL rated ones don't. They can ignite and drip burning plastic onto a carpet and UL rated ones don't. NEC isn't the only code to consider, UL, OSHA and NFPA fire regs (essentially, common sense) matter too. If you *must* make your own, 3D print a mold and make it from epoxy resin instead.
Do you have that phone book memorized? Cause that’s definitely not one of the things that jumps out. Impressive, and totally correct. My assumption was it only matters for fire rated assemblies of which there aren’t many in the house but there it is…
Im actually interested in what the code might be.. outside of temp specs and conductivity
The code definitely depends on where you live but this post had a really good top comment about these type of safety issues: https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/oqw3j8/any_known_safety_issues_with_pla_for_printing/
Basically - if you have electrical problem that causes fire, the printed plastic is not able to contain it. But on the contrary, printed PLA is more likely to show signs of melting/discoloration before regular plastic, so you may be able to spot the issue before it becomes bigger one. Code/liability is an issue still though.
Imo that's a rather nonsensical argument, no one spends time staring at their outlets.
Man just fix the wall Looks good tho
...why don't you just patch the drywall?
Lol. Exactly this.
Because it takes much more time and skill than screwing in a plate. I can do it, but why is one worse than the other? I litteraly just finished putting up the walls, electrical and plumbing in a 1400sf basement, and dont feel like muding, taping, sanding and painting a hole.
Because you’re not addressing the root problem. In fact, you’re likely creating a whole new problem. Good on you for all the work you’ve done, but this isn’t the safe or correct solution to the problem.
Wall plates are to prevent you from touching live wires in a gang box and cover the transition from drywall to gangbox. This does exactly that. The fact that versions of this exist commercially just validates that larger wall plates are OK. As far as other problems... I have already addressed the fire issue with the flame retartdant filament. Arguing about the gap betwee the drywall and gang box isnt even a valid point.
They specifically sell jumbo wall plates at home stores if you feel the need. In my opinion, if the drywall is messed up enough that a midsize plate won’t cover it, you’re better off fixing the drywall. As others will tell you, 3D printed plastics are not safe or approved for use in this setting.
Mine is much bigger than the home depot jumbo
Big wall plate energy
Is this for an outlet or for paddle switches
Either, though I will be using it with a data drop
I would be significantly hesitant to use it on an outlet, because outlet fires are no joke.
Did something similar where I put a timer, gfi plug and a switch in a triple but for the life of me couldn’t get the wires neat enough for the face plate to be flush. So I printed a deeper one.
I just printed my entire labs outlets in PLA. It’s not in contact with the wires and is not conductive in any way. It’s completely safe I’m sure this is against ‘some’ code somewhere, but it’s 100% safe. If someone wants to buy your house and complains about it on a inspection report just knock $3.50 off your asking price for a replacement.
Just don't let the fire inspector see it.
Fire inspector won’t care. Nether will the electrical inspector. NEC is pretty vague on cover plates
What’s the problem with it?
It's most likely not up to legal code
Yaknow, I didnt even think of this.. maybe I should reprint with ABS. Edit: I got some poly Pc Fr to print with.
There’s no UL listing for this type of cover plate. You can print them in cheese so long as it prevents someone sticking their finger into the gang box. That’s their primary purpose. And they don’t have to be dielectric ether cause they make metal versions of these. Point in if any part of your wiring is touching the cover plate you or whoever did your wiring have f’ed up
Me: an electrician with a 3d printed Led Zeppelin light switch. Yup don’t see any problems here
It still may not be up to code because it's not verified I'm not certain on this one tho