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Home Wiring 5 - Stud Preparation

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Home Wiring 5 - Stud Preparation
Intro - Checklist - Prep - Rough In & Box Placement - Stud Preparation - Wire Installation - Terminal Placement - Wire Connection I - Wire Connection II - Fixtures & Outside Wiring - Track Lighting - Wiring Extensions - Breaker Box

Preparing the Studs for Wire

Margin of Error: Exact - Always wire according to code - No room for error!

Drilling with a right-angle drill and an auger bit is the most common way to run the wire through interior, uninsulated walls. Some of the larger drills have right-angle attachments, or you can rent a right-angle drill from a local tool rental establishment.


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Drill your holes dead center in the studs. Brace yourself and the cumbersome drill so that it does not spin around if it binds.

Notching rather than drilling the studs works best when you have insulation you don't want to compress. To notch:

  1. Use a chalk line to snap two lines 1" apart across the studs. These will indicate the path the wire will follow.
  2. Use a circular saw set to cut 1/2" notches at those lines on each stud.
  3. Then use a chisel to carefully remove those blocks.
  4. After placing the cable, cover the notches with nail guards to prevent accidental nailing into the wire.
Intro - Checklist - Prep - Rough In & Box Placement - Stud Preparation - Wire Installation - Terminal Placement - Wire Connection I - Wire Connection II - Fixtures & Outside Wiring - Track Lighting - Wiring Extensions - Breaker Box

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