The boxes on outdoor electrical outlets can be quite cumbersome to maneuver, not to mention a bit of an eyesore. Do they have a purpose beyond looking clunky?

Q: I have a light set in my backyard that is plugged into an electrical outlet that has two silver flaps to cover the plugs. The system works fine except that I get very nervous when it rains. My f ...

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published ANSI/NEMA OS 3-2007 Selection and Installation Guidelines for Electrical Outlet Boxes. It provides designers, installers, and ...