A metal or plastic enclosure used to house wiring connections. It protects splices from physical damage, contains sparks in the event of a short circuit, and prevents accidental contact with live wires. Every splice must be accessible inside one of these enclosures rather than buried in a wall.
Make sure you put a blank cover on that junction box above the drop ceiling.
Never bury a junction box behind drywall. Code requires them to remain accessible for future troubleshooting.
Also heard as
- J-box
Related terms
Four-square box
Square steel box, 4 inches on a side, that takes a mud ring or cover and serves as the workhorse junction and device box.
Splice
A physical and electrical connection joining two or more conductors.
Make up
To splice, pigtail and fold the wires in a box so it is ready for a device or cover.