Bubblebox rant

[CORT]

Rant on.

Ok, what idiot decided that bubbleboxes, a/k/a in-use covers are required by code? The bubbleboxes that the electricians installed on my house are absolute junk and break just by looking at them. The likelihood of bodily injury or property damage from a broken in-use cover is far greater than from leaving an extension cord plugged into an exterior outlet. I have since replaced all the exterior plastic junk covers with metal non-in-use covers, and I feel that my house is a safer dwelling with the junk plastic covers in the trash. I think this is one area where the code is simply trading one bad idea for another.

Rant off.

Here is a sample of the junk Intermatic cover that is now in a landfill somewhere:

Here is the box that I should have installed from the beginning. I wish that I had known about Arlington Industries In-Box before construction. It is an elegant solution to the perceived problem

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

I'm not a code expert, but I don't think your installation is up to it as you don't have a plate over the front of the outlet itself.

All the exterior boxes I've installed here (plastic and metal) have this cover in place. I can provide pics if you would like.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Check out THIS How-To for pics of the dual exterior outlets to see what I mean.

 

[CORT]

Here is the deep well box with the plate over the receptacle:

And it barely protrudes from the wall when closed:

 

[electron]

Checked out their site, I really like this product, but I would be concerned if the company ever goes out of business, and you need replacement parts :/

 

[CORT]

Checked out their site, I really like this product, but I would be concerned if the company ever goes out of business, and you need replacement parts :/

Good point. Maybe I will keep the spare, unused box just for this concern. For what it is worth, the Arlington plastic boxes are pretty solid.

 

[opie]

Checked out their site, I really like this product, but I would be concerned if the company ever goes out of business, and you need replacement parts :/

Arlington has been around since 1949 so I would think they might make it a few more years.

They have been coming out with a lot of cool low voltage products lately and were showing a bunch of new wall plate options at CEDIA.

 

[DrunkenLizard]

I just tore my bubblebox off with the cat when I was putting in the back patio. well the bubblebox, outlet, and a chunk of wire.

 

[judge_l]

I just tore my bubblebox off with the cat when I was putting in the back patio. well the bubblebox, outlet, and a chunk of wire.

It's amazing how much damage a diesel powered feline can do