WO2017031271A1

WO2017031271A1 - Box separator

Info

Publication number: WO2017031271A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/047475
Authority: WO
Inventors: Krzysztof Wojciech KORCZ; Steven James JOHNSON
Original assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
Priority date: 2015-08-19
Filing date: 2016-08-18
Publication date: 2017-02-23

Abstract

An electrical box assembly that includes a box housing and a box separator is provided. The box housing has four sides and a bottom, and the box separator is secured within the box housing and configured to create at least two isolated compartments within the box housing.

Description

BOX SEPARATOR

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure is based on and claims benefit from co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/207,147 filed August 19, 2015 entitled "Box Separator," the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to electrical boxes for electrically conductive cables, and more particularly, to electrical boxes having a separator or divider to permit AC line voltage wire connections and low voltage wire connections to share a common electrical box while being separated by the divider.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] Electrical boxes are mounted in various residential, commercial and industrial locations depending on the particular application. Current electrical codes typically require electrical cabling for AC line voltage wiring to be separated from cabling for low voltage wiring, and electrical boxes used for AC line voltage wiring connections to be separated from electrical boxes used for low voltage wiring connections. As a result, electrical cable manufactures developed separate AC line voltage cabling and low voltage cabling. However, that requirement is changing and cable manufacturers are beginning to manufacture electrical cabling that includes wires for AC line voltage transmission and wires for low voltage transmission. SUMMARY

[0004] An electrical box assembly is provided. The electrical box assembly includes a box housing and a box separator. In one embodiment, the box housing has four sides and a bottom, and the box separator is secured within the box housing and configured to create at least two isolated compartments. The box housing may be any suitable sized electrical box that can be used with the box separator of the present disclosure. For example, the box housing may be 4x4 square box or other multi-gang boxes such as switch boxes, floor boxes, 3 gang or large size multigang boxes or raceways. In one embodiment, the box separator includes a first plate having a first wire passage, a second plate having a second wire passage, and a connecting wall between the first plate and the second plate. Preferably, the first plate, second plate and connecting wall form a wire passage channel, and the first wire passage is offset from the second wire passage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The figures depict embodiments for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles described herein, wherein:

[0006] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an electrical box assembly according to the present disclosure, illustrating a box housing and a box separator;

[0007] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the box separator according to the present disclosure, illustrating parallel dividing plates and offset wire passages;

[0008] Fig. 3 is a left side view of the box separator of Fig. 2, illustrating a first dividing plate and a wire passage in the plate;

[0009] Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the box separator of Fig. 2, illustrating the offset wire passages, a wire channel between the plates, and a pair of wire catching prongs;

[0010] Fig. 5 is a right side view of the box separator of Fig. 2, illustrating a second dividing plate and a wire passage in the plate; [0011] Fig. 6 is a front elevation view of the box separator of Fig. 2, illustrating the wire channel between the dividing plates;

[0012] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the electrical box assembly of Fig. 1, illustrating AC line voltage wire connections in an AC wiring connection compartment and low voltage wire connections in a low voltage wire connection compartment;

[0013] Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the electrical box assembly of Fig. 7;

[0014] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrical box assembly according to the present disclosure, illustrating a box housing having a box separator secured within the box housing and a box extension secured to the box housing and having a box separator secured within the box extension;

[0015] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a box separator according to the present disclosure;

[0016] Fig. 11 is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrical box assembly according to the present disclosure, illustrating a box housing having the box separator of Fig. 10;

[0017] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a box separator according to the present disclosure;

[0018] Fig. 13 is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrical box assembly according to the present disclosure, illustrating a box housing having the box separator of Fig. 12;

[0019] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a box separator according to the present disclosure; and

[0020] Fig. 15 is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of an electrical box assembly according to the present disclosure, illustrating a box housing having the box separator of Fig. 14. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present disclosure provides a description of electrical box assemblies with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. The specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. Various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims.

[0022] Referring to Fig. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an electrical box assembly according to the present disclosure is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the electrical box assembly 10 includes a box housing 20 having four sides 20a-20d and a bottom 20e, and a box separator 50. The box housing 20 can be fabricated from metal, e.g., steel or galvanized steel, or from non-metallic materials, such as plastic. An example of a suitable plastic material is injection molded thermoplastic. In the embodiment shown, the box housing 20 is a conventional 4x4 square box (or what is also known in the industry as a 4" square box or a 1900 box), however any suitable sized electrical box may be used for the present disclosure. For example, multi- gang switch boxes, floor boxes, and additional multi-gang boxes, such as 3 gang boxes or raceways, may be used with the box separator of the present disclosure. Further, the depth of the box housing 20 may vary. For example, the box housing may be 1¼ inches, 1½ inches, 2½ inches, or 3½ inches in depth. The box housing 20 may also include one or more mounting tabs 22 with threaded or tapped mounting holes where threaded screws 24 (e.g., 8/32 machine screw) can be inserted to secure a cover, e.g., a blank cover, a switch cover or a receptacle cover, or to secure an extension ring or plaster ring to the box housing 20. The box housing 20 may also include one or more knock-outs 26 used to secure cable clamps 28 (or cable connectors) to the box housing, seen in Fig. 7. The knock-outs 26 can come in many sizes. For example, the knock-outs 26 can be ½ inch, ¾ inch, 1 inch or greater in diameter. To connect the box housing 20 to electrical ground, a ground screw aperture may be included in the box housing 20. In conventional 4x4 electrical boxes, the ground screw aperture is typically on a raised surface 20f of the bottom 20e of the box housing 20, as seen in Figs. 7 and 8. The ground screw aperture is typically a threaded or tapped hole for insertion of a ground screw, e.g., an 8/32 machine screw, that is typically color coded as green. [0023] The box separator 50 is secured within the box housing 20, as shown in Fig. 1, to create at least two wiring connection compartments. In the embodiment shown, the box separator 50 creates two wiring connection compartments; an AC wiring connection compartment 52 and a low voltage wiring connection compartment 54. In this exemplary embodiment, as will be described in more detail below, wires or conductors can pass from one compartment to another compartment through one or more wire passages in the box separator. For example, wires can pass from the AC wiring connection compartment 52 to the low voltage wiring connection compartment 54, or wires can pass from the low voltage wiring connection compartment 54 to the AC wiring connection compartment 52.

[0024] Referring to Figs. 2-6, an exemplary embodiment of the box separator 50 is shown. The box separator 50 can be fabricated from metal, e.g., steel or galvanized steel, or from non- metallic materials, such as plastic. An example of a suitable plastic material is injection molded thermoplastic. In this exemplary embodiment, the box separator 50 is a U shaped member having two parallel plates 60 and 62 and a bottom connecting wall 64 that form a wire passage channel 66. Plate 60 includes a wire passage 70, such as a wire passing slot, an aperture or other opening or passageway, which is configured and dimensioned to allow one or more wires, e.g., AC line voltage wires or low voltage wires, to pass through the plate 60. To prevent damage to wires passing through wire passage 70, the edges of the wire passage 70 can include a flange 60a that is rounded to a smooth surface, seen in Fig. 2, so that insulation around wires passing between AC wiring connection compartment 52 and wire passage channel 66 does not become damaged to a point where wire conductors within the insulation become exposed to the environment. In another embodiment, especially when the box separator 50 is made of metal, an insulating sleeve or member (not shown) may be secured to the wire passage 70 by, for example, an adhesive such as glue or epoxy.

[0025] Similar to plate 60, plate 62 includes a wire passage 72, such as a wire passing slot, an aperture or other opening or passageway, which is configured and dimensioned to allow one or more wires, e.g., AC line voltage wires or low voltage wires, to pass through the plate 62.

However, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the wire passage 70 in plate 60 is preferably offset from wire passage 72 in plate 62 to eliminate direct wire access to either compartment 52 or 54 so as to make it difficult to have an inadvertent cross-over of wires into the wrong compartment. To prevent damage to wires passing through wire passage 72, the edges of the wire passage 72 can include a flange 62a that is rounded to a smooth surface, seen in Fig. 2, so that insulation around wires passing between low voltage wiring connection compartment 54 and the wire passage channel 66 does not become damaged to a point where wire conductors within the insulation become exposed to the environment. In another embodiment, especially when the box separator 50 is made of metal, an insulating sleeve or member (not shown) may be secured to the wire passage 72 by, for example, an adhesive such as glue or epoxy.

[0026] Continuing to refer to Figs. 2-6, plate 62 also includes a mounting tab 74 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the plate 62, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The mounting tab 74 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 76, seen in Figs. 2 and 6, and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 50 within the box housing 20. More specifically, a mounting screw 78 (seen in Fig. 1) can be inserted through an aperture 25 in a side wall, e.g., side wall 20a, 20b, 20c and/or 20d, of the box housing 20 and into the threaded mounting hole 76 and tightened to secure the box separator 50 to the box housing 20. In another embodiment, one end of plate 60 may include a mounting tab 74 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the plate, and one end of plate 62 may include a mounting tab 74 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the plate. Preferably, the mounting tab 74 on plate 60 is at an opposite end from tab 74 on plate 62. In such an embodiment, each plate could then be secured to the box housing 20. In still other embodiments, the box separator 50 can be secured to the box housing 20 by;

welding, a spring action snap-in structure, bending mounting tabs in the box housing over corresponding flanges in the box separator, and/or by including apertures in the bottom connecting wall 64 of the box separator 50 and threaded or tapped mounting holes in the bottom 20e of the box housing 20 that are aligned with the apertures in the bottom connecting wall 64, and inserting threaded screws to the bottom 20e of the box housing 20.

[0027] As described above, in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 1-8, wires or conductors can pass from one compartment to another compartment. For example and referring to Figs. 7 and 8, two cables 27 and 29 are connected to the box housing 20 using cable clamps 28. In this exemplary embodiment, each cable 27 and 29 is a metal clad power, control and signal (MC-PCS) type cable with an armored sheathing. Such MC-PCS cables include AC line voltage wires for supplying AC power, and low voltage control or signal wires for controlling devices such as solid state dimmer switches. Using MC-PCS type cables, low voltage wires in the cable can pass from the AC wiring connection compartment 52 through the wire channel 66 and into the low voltage wiring connection compartment 54. As another example, if the cables 27 and 29 are connected to the low voltage wiring compartment 54 side 20a of the box housing 20, AC line voltage wires can pass from the low voltage wiring connection compartment 54 through the wire channel 66 and into the AC wiring connection compartment 52. In another embodiment, one or more cables connected to the box housing 20 can be a standard AC line voltage cables, such as 12/2 Rom ex cables, and one or more cables can be a low voltage cable, such as shielded two conductor low voltage control cables. Using separate AC line voltage cabling and low voltage cabling, low voltage wires in the AC wiring connection compartment 52 can pass through the wire channel 66 and into the low voltage wiring connection compartment 54. Similarly, AC line voltage wires in the low voltage wiring connection compartment 54 can pass through the wire channel 66 and into the AC wiring connection compartment 52.

[0028] To ensure wires within wire channel 66 remain within the wire channel, each plate 60 and 62, may include one or more wire catching prongs 80 extending from a top surface of the respective plate into the channel 66. Preferably, the wire catching prongs 80 are bendable tabs cut in each plate 60 and 62 so that the wire catching prongs 80 are initially parallel to the respective plates and then after all wires are positioned within the wire channel 66, the wire catching prongs 80 can be bent towards the wire channel 66 to about 90 degrees relative to the respective plate. In another embodiment, the wire catching prongs 80 may be welded to the plate or may be snap fitted to the plate.

[0029] As noted above, the box housing 20 and box separator 50 can be made of metal or non- metallic materials. In some combinations, the box housing 20 and box separator 50 can be made of the same material, e.g., metal or non-metallic material, and in other combinations the box housing 20 can be made of one material, e.g., non-metallic material, and the box separator 50 can be made of another material, e.g., metal. If the box separator 50 is made of metal or other conductive material, the box separator when connected to electrical ground, by for example mounting tab 74 and threaded screw 78, can provide additional shielding for the low voltage wire connections to help minimize negative effects from AC transients on the AC line voltages within the box assembly 10. [0030] As described above, the box separator 50 may be a U-shaped member. However, the present disclosure contemplates other shapes and configurations of the box separator that creates two or more compartments within the box housing and provide for the passing of wires between the compartments.

[0031] Referring to Fig. 9, another embodiment of the box assembly of the present disclosure is shown. In this exemplary embodiment, the box assembly 90 includes a box assembly 10 as described above having a box housing 20 and a first box separator 50, and a box extension 92. The box extension 92 has four sides 92a-92d and an open bottom surface with a mounting tab 93 that extends around the periphery of the box extension 92, as shown. To secure the box extension 92 to the box housing 20, one or more threaded screws 24 in the box housing 20 can be inserted through apertures in the mounting tab 93 and into the one or more mounting tabs 22 with threaded or tapped mounting holes, described above. A second box separator 50 may be secured to the box extension 92 in alignment with the first box separator 50 secured to the box housing 20, as shown in Fig. 9. In this exemplary embodiment, the depth of the AC wire connection compartment 52 and the depth of the low voltage wire connection compartment 54 may be increased to accommodate a larger number of wires. The box extension 92 may also include one or more mounting tabs 94 with threaded or tapped mounting holes, where threaded screws 96 (e.g., 8/32 machine screws) can be inserted to secure a cover, e.g., a blank cover, a switch cover or a receptacle cover, or to secure a plaster ring to the box extension 92.

[0032] Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, another embodiment of a box separator 100 and box assembly 140 according to the present disclosure are shown. The box separator 100 can be fabricated from metal, e.g., steel or galvanized steel, or from non-metallic materials, such as plastic. An example of a suitable plastic material is injection molded thermoplastic. In this exemplary embodiment, the box separator 100 includes a first plate 102 and a second plate 104. The first plate 102 includes a first wire passage 106 and a second wire passage 108. The first plate may also include a mounting tab 114 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the first plate 102, as shown. The mounting tab 114 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 116 and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 100 within a box housing in a manner similar to the embodiments described above. [0033] The first wire passage 106, such as a wire passing slot, an aperture or other opening or passageway, is configured and dimensioned to allow one or more wires, e.g., AC line voltage wires or low voltage wires, to pass through the first plate 102. To prevent damage to wires passing through wire passage 106, the edges of the wire passage can include a flange 110 that is rounded to a smooth surface, seen in Fig. 10, so that insulation around wires passing through the wire passage 106 do not become damaged to a point where wire conductors within the insulation become exposed to the environment. In another embodiment, especially when the box separator 100 is made of metal, an insulating sleeve or member (not shown) may be secured to the wire passage 106 by, for example, an adhesive such as glue or epoxy.

[0034] The second wire passage 108, such as a wire passing slot, an aperture or other opening or passageway, is configured and dimensioned to allow one or more wires, e.g., AC line voltage wires or low voltage wires, to pass through the first plate 102. To prevent damage to wires passing through wire passage 108, the edges of the wire passage can include a flange 112 that is rounded to a smooth surface, seen in Fig. 10, so that insulation around wires passing through the wire passage 108 do not become damaged to a point where wire conductors within the insulation become exposed to the environment. In another embodiment, especially when the box separator 100 is made of metal, an insulating sleeve or member (not shown) may be secured to the wire passage 108 by, for example, an adhesive such as glue or epoxy.

[0035] The second plate 104 is attached to the first plate 102 at a point on the first plate between wire passage 106 and wire passage 108 as shown in Fig. 10. The second plate can be integrally formed into the first plate 102 or secured to the first plate by, for example, welding, mechanical fasteners or using adhesives. The second plate 104 may also include a mounting tab 120 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the second plate 104, as shown. The mounting tab 120 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 122 and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 100 within a box housing in a manner similar to the embodiments described above.

[0036] Referring to Fig. 11, the box assembly 140 in this exemplary embodiment includes a box housing 20 as described above and the box separator 100. When the box separator 100 is secured within the box housing 20 three wiring connection compartments are created. In the embodiment shown the three wiring connection compartments include an AC wiring connection compartment 130, a low voltage wiring connection compartment 132 and a pass through compartment 134. In this exemplary embodiment, wires or conductors can pass from one wiring connection compartment, through the pass through compartment into the other wiring connection compartment using the wire passages 106 and 108 in the box separator 100. For example, wires can pass from the AC wiring connection compartment 130 through the pass through

compartment 134 to the low voltage wiring connection compartment 132, or wires can pass from the low voltage wiring connection compartment 132 through the pass through compartment 134 to the AC wiring connection compartment 130 as shown.

[0037] As noted above, the box housing 20 and box separator 100 can be made of metal or non-metallic materials. In some combinations, the box housing 20 and box separator 100 can be made of the same material, e.g., metal or non-metallic material, and in other combinations the box housing 20 can be made of one material, e.g., non-metallic material, and the box separator 100 can be made of another material, e.g., metal. If the box separator 100 is made of metal or other conductive material, the box separator when connected to electrical ground, by for example mounting tabs 114 and/or 120 and threaded screws 78, can provide additional shielding for the low voltage wire connections to help minimize negative effects from AC transients on the AC line voltages within the box assembly 140.

[0038] Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, another embodiment of a box separator 200 and box assembly 240 according to the present disclosure are shown. The box separator 200 can be fabricated from metal, e.g., steel or galvanized steel, or from non-metallic materials, such as plastic. An example of a suitable plastic material is injection molded thermoplastic. In this exemplary embodiment, the box separator 200 includes a wire routing member 202 and a plate 204. The wire routing member 202 has a first wall 206 and a second wall 208 joined by a base 210 which form a U-shaped structure. A cross-plate 212 is secured between the first and second walls 206 and 208 as shown. The first wall 206 and/or second wall 208 may include a mounting tab 214 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the wall, as shown. The mounting tab 214 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 216 and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 200 within a box housing in a manner similar to the embodiments described above. [0039] The plate 204 is attached to the wire routing member 202 at a point along the cross- plate 212 as shown in Fig. 12. The plate 204 can be integrally formed into the wire routing member 202 or secured to the wire routing member by, for example, welding, mechanical fasteners or using adhesives. The plate 204 may also include a mounting tab 218 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the plate 204, as shown. The mounting tab 218 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 220 and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 200 within a box housing in a manner similar to the embodiments described above.

[0040] Referring to Fig. 13, the box assembly 240 in this exemplary embodiment includes a box housing 20 as described above and the box separator 200. When the box separator 200 is secured within the box housing 20 three wiring connection compartments are created. In the embodiment shown the three wiring connection compartments include an AC wiring connection compartment 230, a low voltage wiring connection compartment 232 and a pass through compartment 234. In this exemplary embodiment, wires or conductors can pass from one wiring connection compartment, through the pass through compartment into the other wiring connection compartment using the pass through compartment 234 in the box separator 200. For example, wires can pass from the AC wiring connection compartment 230 through the pass through compartment 234 to the low voltage wiring connection compartment 232, or wires can pass from the low voltage wiring connection compartment 232 through the pass through compartment 234 to the AC wiring connection compartment 230 as shown.

[0041] As noted above, the box housing 20 and box separator 200 can be made of metal or non-metallic materials. In some combinations, the box housing 20 and box separator 200 can be made of the same material, e.g., metal or non-metallic material, and in other combinations the box housing 20 can be made of one material, e.g., non-metallic material, and the box separator 200 can be made of another material, e.g., metal. If the box separator 200 is made of metal or other conductive material, the box separator when connected to electrical ground, by for example mounting tabs 214 and/or 220 and threaded screws 78, can provide additional shielding for the low voltage wire connections to help minimize negative effects from AC transients on the AC line voltages within the box assembly 240. [0042] Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, another embodiment of a box separator 300 and box assembly 340 according to the present disclosure are shown. The box separator 300 can be fabricated from metal, e.g., steel or galvanized steel, or from non-metallic materials, such as plastic. An example of a suitable plastic material is injection molded thermoplastic. In this exemplary embodiment, the box separator 300 includes a wire routing member 302 and a plate 304. The wire routing member 302 has a first wall 306 and a second wall 308 joined by a base 310 which form a U-shaped structure. The first wall 306 and/or second wall 308 may include a mounting tab 314 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the wall, as shown. The mounting tab 314 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 316 and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 300 within a box housing in a manner similar to the embodiments described above.

[0043] The plate 304 is attached to the wire routing member 302 at a point along the base 310 as shown in Fig. 14. The plate 304 can be integrally formed into the wire routing member 302 or secured to the wire routing member by, for example, welding, mechanical fasteners or using adhesives. The plate 304 may also include a mounting tab 318 extending at a right angle from an upper portion of the plate 304, as shown. The mounting tab 318 includes a threaded or tapped mounting hole 320 and is used to facilitate the securing of the box separator 300 within a box housing in a manner similar to the embodiments described above.

[0044] Referring to Fig. 15, the box assembly 340 in this exemplary embodiment includes a box housing 20 as described above and the box separator 300. When the box separator 300 is secured within the box housing 20 three wiring connection compartments are created. In the embodiment shown the three wiring connection compartments include an AC wiring connection compartment 330, a low voltage wiring connection compartment 332 and a pass through compartment 334. In this exemplary embodiment, wires or conductors can pass from one wiring connection compartment, through the pass through compartment into the other wiring connection compartment using the pass through compartment 334 in the box separator 300. For example, wires can pass from the AC wiring connection compartment 330 through the pass through compartment 334 to the low voltage wiring connection compartment 332, or wires can pass from the low voltage wiring connection compartment 332 through the pass through compartment 334 to the AC wiring connection compartment 330 as shown. [0045] As noted above, the box housing 20 and box separator 300 can be made of metal or non-metallic materials. In some combinations, the box housing 20 and box separator 300 can be made of the same material, e.g., metal or non-metallic material, and in other combinations the box housing 20 can be made of one material, e.g., non-metallic material, and the box separator 300 can be made of another material, e.g., metal. If the box separator 300 is made of metal or other conductive material, the box separator when connected to electrical ground, by for example mounting tabs 314 and/or 320 and threaded screws 78, can provide additional shielding for the low voltage wire connections to help minimize negative effects from AC transients on the AC line voltages within the box assembly 340.

[0046] While illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a box housing having four sides and a bottom; and

a box separator secured within the box housing and configured to create at least two isolated compartments.

2. The electrical box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box separator comprises: a first plate having a first wire passage;

a second plate having a second wire passage; and

a connecting wall between the first plate and the second plate;

wherein the first plate, second plate and connecting wall form a wire passage channel, and wherein the first wire passage is offset from the second wire passage.

3. The electrical box assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first wire passage comprises a slot, and wherein the second wire passage comprises a slot.

4. The electrical box assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first plate and second plate are configured to extend from a first side of the box housing to a second side of the box housing.

5. The electrical box assembly according to claim 4, wherein the second side of the box housing is opposite the first side of the box housing.

6. The electrical box assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first wire passage comprises a first wire passing slot having a substantially smooth flange on an outer surface, and wherein the second wire passage comprises a second wire passing slot having a substantially smooth flange on an outer surface.

7. The electrical box assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first wire passage comprises a first wire passing slot and an insulating sleeve secured to the first wire passing slot, and wherein the second wire passage comprises a second wire passing slot and an insulating sleeve secured to the second wire passing slot.

8. The electrical box assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first plate has at least one wire catching prong.

9. The electrical box assembly according to claim 8, wherein the at least one wire catching prong is at a top of the first plate and is capable of extending at substantially a right angle relative to the first plate.

10. The electrical box assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second plate has at least one wire catching prong.

11. The electrical box assembly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one wire catching prong is at a top of the second plate and is capable of extending at substantially a right angle relative to the second plate.

12. The electrical box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box housing and box separator are made of metal.

13. The electrical box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box housing and box separator are made of a non-metallic material.

14. The electrical box assembly according to claim 13, wherein the non-metallic material comprises injection molded thermoplastic.

15. The electrical box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box housing comprises a switch box.

16. The electrical box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box housing comprises a 4x4 square box.

17. The electrical box assembly according to claim 1, wherein the box housing comprises a floor box.

18. An electrical box assembly comprising:

a box housing having four sides and a bottom;

a first box separator secured within the box housing and configured to create at least two isolated compartments in the box housing;

a box extension having four sides secured to the box housing; and

a second box separator secured within the box extension and configured to create at least two isolated compartments in the box extension.

19. The electrical box assembly according to claim 18, wherein each of the first and second box separators comprise:

a first plate having a first wire passage;

a second plate having a second wire passage; and

a connecting wall between the first plate and the second plate;

20. The electrical box assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first wire passage comprises a slot, and wherein the second wire passage comprises a slot;

21. The electrical box assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first plate of the first box separator is configured to extend from a first side of the box housing to a second side of the box housing, and wherein the first plate of the second box separator is configured to extend from a first side of the box extension to a second side of the box extension.

22. The electrical box assembly according to claim 19, wherein the second plate of the first box separator is configured to extend from the first side of the box housing to the second side of the box housing, and wherein the second plate of the second box separator is configured to extend from the first side of the box extension to the second side of the box extension.

23. The electrical box assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first wire passage comprises a first wire passing slot having a substantially smooth flange on an outer surface, and wherein the second wire passage comprises a second wire passing slot having a substantially smooth flange on an outer surface.

24. The electrical box assembly according to claim 16, wherein the first wire passage comprises a first wire passing slot and an insulating member secured to the first wire passing slot, and wherein the second wire passage comprises a second wire passing slot and an insulating sleeve secured to the second wire passing slot.

25. The electrical box assembly according to claim 19, wherein the first plate has at least one wire catching prong and the second plate has at least one wire catching prong.

26. The electrical box assembly according to claim 25, wherein the at least one wire catching prong on the first plate is at a top of the first plate and is capable of extending at substantially a right angle relative to the first plate, and wherein the at least one wire catching prong on the second plate is at a top of the second plate and is capable of extending at substantially a right angle relative to the second plate.

27. The electrical box assembly according to claim 18, wherein the box housing, box extension, first box separator, and second box separator are made of metal.

28. The electrical box assembly according to claim 18, wherein the box housing, box extension, first box separator, and second box separator are made of a non-metallic material.

29. The electrical box assembly according to claim 23, wherein the box housing comprises a switch box.

30. The electrical box assembly according to claim 23, wherein the box housing comprises a 4x4 square box.

31. The electrical box assembly according to claim 23, wherein the box housing comprises a floor box.

32. A box separator for an electrical box comprising:

a first plate having a first wire passage;

a second plate having a second wire passage; and

a connecting wall between the first plate and the second plate;

33. The box separator according to claim 32, wherein the first plate and second plate are configured to extend from a first side of an electrical box to a second side of the electrical box.

34. The box separator according to claim 32, wherein each of the first wire passage and second wire passage comprise a slot;

35. The electrical box assembly according to claim 34, wherein the first wire passing slot has a substantially smooth flange on an outer surface, and wherein the second wire passing slot has a substantially smooth flange on an outer surface.

36. The box separator according to claim 34, wherein the first wire passing slot has an insulating sleeve secured to the first wire passing slot, and wherein the second wire passing slot has an insulating sleeve secured to the second wire passing slot.

37. The box separator according to claim 32, wherein the first plate has at least one wire catching prong, and wherein the second plate has at least one wire catching prong.

38. The box separator according to claim 37, wherein the at least one wire catching prong on the first plate is at a top of the first plate and is capable of extending at substantially a right angle relative to the first plate, and wherein the at least one wire catching prong on the second plate is at a top of the first plate and is capable of extending at substantially a right angle relative to the second plate.

39. The box separator according to claim 32, wherein the first plate or the second plate further comprises a mounting member used to secure the box separator to an electrical box.

40. The box separator according to claim 32, wherein the first plate and the second plate further comprise a mounting member used to secure the box separator to an electrical box.