How many 12 AWG conductors can be accommodated in a metal box sized 3.75 in. x 2 in. x 3.5 in.?

To determine how many 12 AWG conductors can be accommodated in the specified metal box size, it is important to refer to the National Electrical Code (NEC) standards for box fill calculations.

The NEC provides guidelines that specify how to calculate box fill based on the volume of the electrical box and the space needed per conductor. For a metal box, the fill calculation considers that each 12 AWG conductor requires 2.0 cubic inches of volume for proper spacing to prevent overcrowding that can lead to overheating.

The dimensions provided for the box indicate that the volume can be calculated using the formula for volume ( V = L \times W \times H ). In this case, the dimensions (3.75 in. x 2 in. x 3.5 in.) result in a total box volume of 26.25 cubic inches.

When accounting for the fill needed for each conductor, dividing the total box volume by the individual volume needed for each 12 AWG conductor (2.0 cubic inches) yields how many conductors can be safely fitted in the box. Specifically:

26.25 cubic inches (total volume) ÷ 2.0 cubic inches per conductor = 13.125 conductors