Exterior outlet on pole barn/corrugated metal

[drumminj]

I've wired up the inside of my shop building and now looking to add an exterior outlet on the side-shed/porch. The inside isn't finished -- just metal fastened to the girts with thin foil-faced insulation in between.

How do folks normally mount outlets in this situation? Surface-mount outdoor rated box and just drill a small hole to pass the wire through from inside? Or mount a new construction/interior junction box to the posts and do a rectangular cut-out into the siding with a weatherproof cover?

If an outdoor junction box, do you just use sheet metal screws to secure it to the building? In either case, how do you ensure a weatherproof seal with the siding?

I'm sure I can figure something out that will work but would love to hear what others recommend, or recommend against.

 

[drumminj]

Adding another option I can think of: using an interior junction box mounted to the post but then using a bell box extender (like seen here: Commercial Electric 1-Gang Metallic Weatherproof Extension Ring with (4) 1/2 in. Holes, Gray WSE450G - The Home Depot) on the exterior to better seal around, mounting the weatherproof cover to this.

 

[oosik]

I think that's what I saw on my neighbors hay barn. A square, water proof cover on a square hole. Swing open the cover - reach inside and connect the extension cord. When the cover is shut there is a waterproof recess in the bottom of the cover to accommodate the extension cord.

That way everything, that could be affected by weather, is kept inside the barn.

 

[ponytug]

You have a great metal barn. I would not run an outlet through a wall. I would go down, under up and out. It greatly reduces leaks.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Citydude]

I went through the metal since I had a concrete floor. I used an approved out door weather proof receptacle box surrounding the receptacle.

 

[drumminj]

You have a great metal barn.I would not run an outlet through a wall. I would go down, under up and out. It greatly reduces leaks.

All the best,

Peter

This won't work as like Citydude I have a concrete floor. So I'm at least drilling a hole big enough to run romex or armored cable through.

 

[drumminj]

I went through the metal since I had a concrete floor. I used an approved out door weather proof receptacle box surrounding the receptacle.

Thanks for the info. Did you just screw the box to the sheet metal siding then? Or somehow secure it to a girt?

 

[Citydude]

Thanks for the info. Did you just screw the box to the sheet metal siding then? Or somehow secure it to a girt?

I secured it to the girt. I did this before finishing the interior.

 

[2manyrocks]

You could possibly substitute steel (not aluminum) rivets instead of sheet metal screws if your metal panels are strong enough. I wouldn't use them on thin metal panels. They also make backers for rivets if you want to reinforce the panel so the rivet doesn't pull through.

 

[jyoutz]

This won't work as like Citydude I have a concrete floor. So I'm at least drilling a hole big enough to run romex or armored cable through.

That would be all I would do to the siding. Drill hole, run romex, then screws waterproof box to the siding and into a pole barn support post.