Steel City 6837112 1/2" 1-Gang Utility Box, PGalv Steel

The 68371 1/2 handy box is ordered in four configurations: the standard box (68371 1/2), the B15948 version, the B15948 supplied without a box cover (6837112B15948W/OBC), and the CN version (6837112CN). The suffix is the only thing separating them, so put the full code on the purchase order. If you already have covers on hand or are using a device plate, the W/O Box Cover version is the one that ships without a cover.

Steel, in a pre-galvanized silver finish. The zinc coating handles the ordinary moisture you get in a basement, garage, or unfinished utility space, which is why steel handy boxes are the standard choice for exposed surface-mount work where a plastic box would not take the abuse. It is not a weatherproof box, so outdoors or in a wet location you want a cast or gasketed enclosure instead.

It is a 1-gang utility (handy) box, so it takes one device: a single switch or a duplex receptacle with the matching raised handy-box cover. For two devices side by side you need a two-gang box or a two-gang device ring on a 4-inch square box.

Depends which configuration you order. Three of the four (68371 1/2, 68371 1/2 B15948, 6837112CN) are ordered as the box itself, while 6837112B15948W/OBC is specifically the without-box-cover version. Handy box covers, whether flat blank, single-toggle, or duplex receptacle, are selected to match the device you are installing, so plan on specifying that cover separately with the box.

Yes, that is the normal use for a 1-gang steel utility box. The pre-galvanized steel body mounts flat against block, brick, or a stud face and is typically fastened with masonry anchors or screws through the back, with conduit or cable entering through the knockouts. For flush work inside a finished wall you would use a nail-on or old-work device box instead.